“Did Tedi come?”
“Tweetie’s here, isn’t he?” She chuckles. “I ran into Tweetie coming out of the elevator on our floor when I was leaving. I’m not so sure about those two.”
She files into the taxi and I tip the doorman before sliding in right next to her.
“Pretty soon you’ll be a bridesmaid.”
She balks. “Tedi? Marriage? Never.”
“Why’s that?”
She shrugs. “You heard her. She has a fuck-it bucket list. Who has one of those and is looking for a serious relationship?”
She’s got a point. “You do know if I had a fuck-it bucket list, you’d think a lot less of me.”
She looks at me with my favorite smile of hers on her plump lips. The one that says I’m right but she’ll never admit it. “Maybe. Like if your buddy Ford said he had a list of women he wanted to sleep with—”
“I said myself. Why are you switching it to Ford?”
She laughs. “Because you’re not like that.”
I stretch my arm out along the back of the cab bench and give her my full attention. “How do you know that?”
Her eyes lock with mine for a second and her smile dims. “I guess I don’t.”
I lean across. “I’m kidding. You do know me. I’m not that type of guy.”
She doesn’t say anything and shifts to watch the world go by while we make our way to where the shoot is happening. The silence isn’t uncomfortable per se, but I get the impression she had something more she wanted to say to me but didn’t.
The taxi eventually stops, and I hand some money to the driver through the window then step out. I want her to know I’m not that guy, but more importantly, I want her to know for certain in her gut that that’s not me. I’m not out picking up women after games. Something in my own gut tells me she’s been hurt before, even if she’s never expressed as much.
I hold my hand out for her, helping her out of the taxi.
“Thank you,” she says.
We walk into the arena where the commercial is being shot and find Joran waiting for us. It’s one of the rare times he’s not on the phone. He smiles and heads over, shaking my hand before hugging Saige and kissing her cheek.
“Aiden Drake.” A woman comes out, her hand already poised for a handshake midway toward me. “I’m Gia Santos, and I’m your bitch today.”
I laugh and shake her hand. “I promise not to take advantage.”
Gia’s eyes sparkle. She’s attractive. Dark hair, dark eyes, and an exotic look I’m sure helps her with the guys. She points at me.
“He’s trouble, huh?” She poises her question to Saige, who looks momentarily put off by what she just witnessed, but she snaps on a fake smile quickly enough. I’ve been around Saige enough to know when her smile is genuine or not and this one isn’t.
“This is my agent, Joran Peters, and—”
“My girlfriend, Saige,” Joran interrupts, and my gaze falls to the floor.
Saige gives him an annoyed look, then returns her attention to Gia. “I’m also Aiden’s social media advisor. I hope it won’t be a problem if I create a little buzz about the commercial by taking some pictures?”
“I’ll talk to my boss, but as long as you don’t give away any details—since it’s a new product launch—I think we’re in good shape.”
“Perfect.” Saige smiles more genuinely this time.
The two women walk in front of me, and Gia talks as she escorts us to one of the locker rooms. “There will be two wardrobe changes today. First, we’ll have you on the ice with some kids. Second shoot will be in the locker room.”
I nod, understanding the drill. This isn’t my first shoot. I just hope I can concentrate with Saige here.
“We should probably let you get ready.” Saige hovers by the door with Gia.
“Yeah, I’ll kick it here with him if you’re cool with that, Saige,” Joran says.
Gia turns to Saige. “Hungry?”
“Sure.” She shrugs.
The women leave, and I turn to Joran. “You don’t need to stay with me.”
Joran sits on the bench across from me. “No biggie. I’ve barely seen you since your game’s back. Speaking of…”
I grab the outfit they want me to wear on the ice and undress. When you’ve spent almost your entire life in a locker room full of naked guys, you tend not to be too averse to nudity.
“Have you seen the psychologist yet?” Joran asks.
I shake my head. “No.”
“Well, Gerhardt was pretty firm on that. I’m sure he’s happy you’re playing well, but make that appointment pronto. You still have to be an altar boy until trade deadline.”
I shrug off my slacks and put on the track pants and team jersey they brought for me to wear. I eye the skates but decide to leave them until right before I get on the ice. There’s a makeup chair set up at the far end, so I head over there and take a seat. The next part of this will be them putting fucking eyeliner on me.
“He should be happy I’m scoring goals. Period.”
Joran leans forward. “I talked to him last week. He’s ecstatic, but you know how these things go. Once a player gets in a slump, that’s all people remember for a while. I’m just suggesting that you keep up everything he wants you to do. And keep Saige at your disposal to throw a drink in your face before every game.” He laughs and doesn’t notice that I don’t join in.
I clench my fists from hearing him say she’s at my disposal as though she’s a beach house I can stay at when he’s not using it.
“What’s up with you two anyway? Girlfriend?” My attempt to bring it up casually doesn’t come off as flippant as I would like, but if Joran senses anything, he doesn’t acknowledge it.
“What was I supposed to say? This is the woman I hook up with?”
I pull out my phone to distract myself and hope he can’t see right through me. “So that’s all she is… a hookup?”
He laughs. “What’s with the big brother act? I get that the two of you hang out now, but you know where I stand on relationships.”
I thought I did until I wanted the girl he saw first. “I’ve never heard you call someone girlfriend before, that’s all.”
“It was easier than to explain. Plus, what does that Gia care anyway?”
A knock sounds on the door and I’m thankful for the reprieve so I can compose myself and quell my incessant need to drill him with questions about Saige. It’s the makeup team, and I welcome them in.
Joran stands. “I’m heading out to meet up with Saige. See you out there, big guy.”
The makeup artist compliments me on my dark eyes and how mysterious they are. I don’t have to sit in the chair too long before Gia comes in and grabs me for the shoot. I pick up the skates they’ve supplied and head out to the ice with her. There’s no sign of Saige or Joran anywhere.
“You think you can beat us tonight?” Gia asks with a smile.
“Are you a hockey fan?”
She shrugs. “I don’t follow extensively, but I can’t say I mind watching hot alpha men skating on ice and letting their tempers flare.”