Page 35 of From Ice to Grace
“So you play with Lucas on the team?” My date asks as I step closer to the three of them. “Hannah said I should watch a game some time, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to follow.”
She’s dressed in a sleek black dress, the halter neck making sure everything is covered and leaving her shoulders and arms bare. She looks great, I can’t argue that. It’s strange to have a woman by my side who dresses and acts this…modestly.
Especially around me.
“I’m not much of a sports fan, but I know the Rangers are one of the best teams out there,” she says, her voice too sweet as she stares at me wide-eyed.
I don’t know if I like the fact that she doesn’t know what I do, or if it might just be refreshing.
“It must be crazy scoring touchdowns on the ice,” she says.
Nope. Not refreshing.
“I’m a defenseman,” I say, wondering how Lucas thought I’d be able to talk to someone who doesn’t even know how hockey works. “And touchdowns are for football.”
She blushes. “I’m sorry,” she says, tucking a strand of her brown hair behind her ear.
She’s not totally unpleasant to look at, but something about her seems…I don’t know. I wouldn’t pick this woman out of a crowd.
“How do you know each other again?” I ask her, looking between her and Hannah, wondering how they met if she doesn’t know anything about hockey.
Besides, Lucas knows how our lives look. What made him think it was a good idea to set me up with someone who wouldn’t be able to talk to me about something that takes up about ninety percent of my time.
I gesture toward the waiter making his rounds between the guests in the room carrying a tray of champagne. In my peripheral vision, I catch Jenn watching me like a hawk.
Perhaps we should’ve gotten coffee first, then I could’ve bailed on the date. But now, we all took the time to dress up and show up at the event. Plus not only is Jenn giving me the side-eye, I’m very aware of Harry’s gaze boring into my back.
The waiter comes over and instead of listening to what my date says, I turn to the waiter. “I need you to bring me some water,” I practically grit out. Lucas smiles at me, and I tighten my fists in my pockets. “With ice.”
The waiter nods and turns to the woman across from me. “Anything for you?”
“No, thank you,” she says with a cautious smile. “I’m fine.”
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” I ask as soon as the waiter left. “I was a bit preoccupied with my dry throat.”
Lucas glares at me, while Hannah gently rests her hand on his arm.
“I said, I know Hannah from Bible study.” The woman smiles at Hannah.
Bible study. Great.
The last time I went to church was with my aunt and my parents. Parents who, despite sitting through Sunday sermons, decided to get divorced. After which my dad decided to give his undivided attention to alcohol and my mom gave hers to whichever man she could find. When I started to make a name for myself in the NHL, my dad actually started calling me again, only to get a slice of the pie. My mom is still happily living somewhere with her newest husband. So I’m not sure what the purpose of going to church, or attending bible study is. It’s never really gotten me anywhere.
“And you agreed to this, why?” I ask as soon as the waiter brings me my water. I take a big sip, pretending it’s something stronger. “It doesn’t seem like you know me. Why would you agree to come to this event with me?”
She frowns, like the words that are coming out of my mouth were in some foreign language. She looks at Hannah with a nervous expression on her face.
“Isn’t that the definition of a blind date?” she says, a small laugh spilling from her lips. “I don’t know you and you don’t know me?”
“I guess so,” I say shrugging, rocking on my feet and sticking my hand in my pocket. I’m starting to feel antsy. The room and people in it are too perfect and I’m the mess of a person who has to talk to someone like—dang I forgot her name—in order to save my career.
“I thought you two would hit it off,” Hannah says. “Lynn here worked in Boston for three years before moving to New York.”
Lynn. Her name is Lynn.
I nod along, hoping that Hannah and Lucas really had a bit more than Boston to match me up with this woman. Or were they really just hoping to find someone who’s normal to stand by my side tonight, so I could save face with the media and with Harry.
I don’t know which is more pathetic.
