Page 25 of The New Guy
Her eyes light up. “Ooh! That’sgood. Okay, now a selfie?” She leans against my shoulder. “Cheese!”
I raise the phone to frame us both and smile. Then I snap the picture.
“Awesome! Can I take some?” Jordyn reaches for my phone.
I hand it over. Saying yes is easier than saying no.
Sometimes there’s hell to pay later. Ask me how I know.
EIGHT
Gavin
Workingthe women’s game is a surprisingly fun time, so I’m too busy to worry about Jordyn. Mostly.
There are no further texts from Hudson, so I assume everything is fine. During the third period, I finally get a text from Reggie confirming that she got all my messages and that she’s headed to the rink to collect my little girl.
I don’t get home until ten o’clock, though, and Jordyn is already asleep. I hang up my coat beside the door and tiptoe to the sofa, where Reggie is waiting.
Her smile widens when I flop down. “Omigod,” she whispers. “Our favorite neighbor issuperhot in person! I practically passed out when I met him. You should go right over there and give him a thank-you gift.”
“Yeah…” I consider the idea. “I owe him some cash for the concession stand stuff. But I guess it would be nice if I got him a good bottle of wine or something, too, right? I wonder if he drinks wine?”
“How about a blowjob? Every guy likes those.”
“Reggie.”
She cackles. “But seriously, I don’t think Jordyn ever had so much funin her life. Look.” She points at the table.
“Whatisall that?” The table is covered with lavender Bombshells swag. When I get up to inspect it, I find a set of pom-poms, and a Jordyn-sized T-shirt with Charli Higgins’s number on the back. Plus a Bombshells program with the players’ signatures, and the other jersey signed by the Bruisers.
And a hat. And a rain poncho.
“He got her one of everything at the gift shop.” She shrugs. “He told me the new kid at school needs a leg up.”
“Wow. That’s…That’s so nice I don’t even know what to say.”
“Sure you do. Gothankhim. It isn’t even late.” She makes a shooing motion in the direction of the hallway.
I glance toward the door, wishing I didn’t have to do it. When Hudson first blew me off at work, I was full of righteous anger. But that was before I went all emo on him in the treatment room.
I can’t believe I word-vomited like that.You were the most exciting thing to happen to me in two years. It sounds so pathetic. Even if it’s true.
Still, I gather up my courage and march myself out of my apartment to knock on his door.
For a lucky second I imagine he’s not home. He might have gone out with his teammates after handing Jordyn over to Reggie.
But no such luck. I hear footsteps approaching, and then the door opens to reveal Hudson looking edible in a threadbare T-shirt and low-slung sweatpants.
Yowza.
“Hi,” I say stupidly.
“Hi.” His brown eyes give nothing away.
“Um…” It’s really hard to think when his biceps bulge so perfectly in my line of sight. “I just wanted to say thanks. You didn’t have to bail me out, and I really appreciate it. Jordyn is passed out already, but Reggie says you spoiled her rotten. So thanks for that.”
“She’s a cute kid.” Mr. Serious flashes me a rare smile. “She got so excited seeing you on the bench, it was kind of hilarious. I don’t know anything about kids, though. Hell, I didn’t know you had a kid until the other morning. You don’t look old enough.”
