Page 77 of Hard Hitter
“You are a tough sell, Ariana.” He removed her hand from his face and kissed her palm. “I don’t know what I have to do to win you over. But I’m gonna keep trying. You hear me?”
She didn’t, though. Ari had finally fallen to sleep.
TWENTY-TWO
FRIDAY, MARCH 25TH
Standings: 4th Place
10 Regular Season Games Remaining
The next morning had a rough start.
Ari had woken up in Patrick’s bed with a pounding headache and a mouth the texture of old burlap. “Just kill me already,” she’d moaned into his pillow.
“How about I buy you a bagel and coffee instead?”
Later, at the rink, she gave massages to four players, including Patrick. He grinned at her every time she gave a little groan.
“I’m never drinking again,” she said more than once.
“You’re hot even when you’re hungover,” he insisted.
The liar.
Then it was time for a quick stop at home to pack for their overnight to Ottawa. She gave her house what was sadly a familiarly critical inspection when she went inside. But nothing was out of place. There was no sign of Vince, or of trouble. She threw some things into a bag and carried her portable massage table to Water Street, meeting Georgia,Leo, and the limo they’d hired to take all three of them to the airport.
“Does your head ache?” Georgia asked as they slung their bags into the trunk. “Mine is killing me.”
“We overdid it,” Ari agreed. “Thanks for helping me drown my sorrows, though,” she whispered, mindful of Leo, who had his phone pressed to his ear. “Who’s he talking to?”
“His mom. And we can’t leave for another minute, because we’re waiting for Becca.”
“Really? I didn’t know she was coming on this trip.”
“Me neither,” Georgia said, sliding onto the stretch limo’s leather seat. “But she sent me a text ninety minutes ago asking if she could bum a ride with us. So Leo upgraded the car.”
Ari patted the seat. “Nice. If my head weren’t killing me, I’d enjoy the trip.”
“Why’d you girls get so lit last night, anyway?” Leo asked, stashing his phone.
“Ari had a bad day,” Georgia explained.
“I’m here! We can leave,” Becca said, leaping into the car. She tossed her bag at their feet and slammed the car door.
Leo rapped a knuckle against the driver’s window, and it slid down. “We’re ready when you are,” he said.
“Yes, sir.”
The big car glided away from the curb, and Ari pulled out her water bottle, willing herself to feel better. Flying with a hangover sounded pretty miserable. “How’syourhead?” she asked Becca.
“Never better. Why?”
Georgia gave her friend a feeble smile. “Just ignore her. She’s one of those people who doesn’t get hungover. Why are you going to Ottawa with us, anyway, Bec?”
Becca blew out a breath. “Nate decided to go last minute, since he’s all stressed out about making the play-offs. And I had a total panic attack, because my sister has a midterm exam today, and I’d already told her I’d stay home with thebaby. My nephew can’t go to daycare because he had a fever last night, and they make you wait twenty-four hours. Or something. I don’t know. But I was supposed to babysit, and then Nathan called and said, ‘pack a bag.’ So I did the unthinkable.”
“What’s that?” Ari asked.
