We all laugh and file into the cars to head to the luncheon. None of our family from Wisconsin came because it’s hard for them to get off.
“Your mom sent the most beautiful arrangement,” Frankie says from the front seat.
Saige and I are wedged in the back with a child seat and Jolie’s wiggling body between us.
“And cheese curds,” Jolie says.
Frankie and I are distant from our parents in our own ways, although Frankie much more than me. She ran away young and met Jolie’s father. Her parents didn’t approve, and when they don’t approve, you don’t do it. Frankie did it without caring. I hope one day they’ll bridge that gap, but truthfully, I don’t blame her if she doesn’t.
“Tell me your mom knows how to make them for you?” I ask.
Frankie points at me. “Shut your mouth. I taught you how to make them.”
We pull up to a restaurant called The Porterhouse. Once we’re all out of the car, Jolie takes my hand and one of Saige’s. We lift her and she giggles. Our eyes catch over Jolie’s head, and for some weird reason, I see a vivid flash of myself in the future doing just this. I shake the thought from my head because that’s ridiculous.
We find our seats in the restaurant and order our drinks. Jax and Frankie disappear into the bathroom for a bit, and I get the distinct feeling they’re getting it on. Saige carries on a conversation with the other people at the table. The more time that passes, the sourer I get.
“You okay?” Saige whispers in my ear.
“I’m fine. Just didn’t sleep well last night.”
She cringes a bit. “Hotel beds.”
“Sure, that’s it.”
Frankie and Jax finally return to the table and the meal is served.
Frankie looks at my plate. “Why aren’t you having a steak?”
She’ll think this is pathetic, but I tell her how I decided to have the same thing I ate before the last game since I had two goals and two assists.
What the hell has happened to me? I used to have inherent luck. Hell, I was the guy who didn’t balk at wearing jersey number thirteen, and now I’m loading up on superstitions.
“You really think that’s going to make a difference?” Frankie asks.
“Dunno. But I have to perform. Trade deadline is in a few weeks.”
“Trade deadline?” she asks because she doesn’t know anything about hockey.
Saige nods. She’s probably crossing the days off on her calendar for when she can be rid of me. Too bad you’re stuck with me for the whole season, sweetheart.
“The last day they can trade me.”
“Aiden, you’re doing awesome. You’ve been a scoring machine,” Jax says.
I sip my water and nod. “Because I’ve been adhering to the superstitions—”
“The only good thing is that he doesn’t synchronize all his meals with a time,” Saige says.
I glance at her and smile. I start to extend my arm around the back of her chair, but I stop myself halfway and tuck my hand under the table.
“You really believe in all that?” Frankie asks.
“I didn’t until I fell into the slump of all slumps.”
“How do you know Saige isn’t your lucky charm?” she asks with a grin.
I devour the rest of my sandwich, swallowing with a big gulp of water. “She is.”
“Oh, that’s sweet,” Frankie says, looking at Jax.
“It’s not what you think,” Saige says, shifting in her seat and looking a little uncomfortable.
Frankie’s forehead wrinkles. “I don’t understand.”
I check my watch and wipe my mouth. “I have to get to the stadium.” I raise my hand at the server.
“You should take a steak to go and have it after the game. You’ll probably be starving,” Jax says.
The server comes over and sets down a glass of white wine like I’d arranged for earlier. I slide it over to Saige.
“Ready?” she asks.
“You don’t have to ask me that every time.” I put my arm on her chair and she briefly narrows her eyes at me.
“Fine.” She tosses the wine in my face.
Frankie gasps while it drips down my face, and everyone else in our private room stares at us.
“I was just being polite.” Saige shrugs. Seems my mood is rubbing off on her.
“I know. Sorry. Thanks though.” I wipe my face with a napkin and drop it on the table. “See you all tonight.”
I stand and Saige follows suit.
“Aiden,” Frankie says, standing and stopping me. “What—”
I place my hand on her shoulder. “She throws a drink in my face before every game for good luck. Long story.” I bend over and kiss Frankie’s cheek. “See you tonight. Tickets are at will call.”
“Thank you for having me. Lovely ceremony and family.” Saige touches Frankie’s hand and I pick up my wrist to look at my watch.
We head back to the hotel, where I have to pack my bags and head down to Maksim’s room.
At our doors, I ask, “Mind if I keep my bag in your room until after?”
“You’re paying the bill. It’s your room.” She uses her key card to enter her room while I go in mine.
“I’ll be over soon.”
My room is quiet, and my bag is already packed except for the suit I have to change into and the clothes I wore today. Watching my cousin have her happily ever after was awesome but gut-wrenching at the same time. I always told myself I’d be cool to wait to find my person until my career was over. Having a serious relationship while trying to be at the top of your profession is an impossible feat. Both require dedication and focus, and there’s only so much time and effort a person has to give.
Then Saige comes skipping along into my life and nothing seems as important as her, even my hockey career. I’m on the cusp of greatness in my field, could get a contract at the end of this year that would set records, and my mind is all tangled up in my feelings for a woman. A woman who doesn’t have any interest in me because I’m an athlete. Not that it matters because she’s already seeing someone. And I know something weird is going on with her and Joran because why is he never around? If they’re together, how can the bastard treat her like this?
I take two Advil because my head hurts from thinking about this frustrating situation I find myself in. I change into my suit, add the clothes I was wearing to my suitcase, and knock on her door. Rather than hanging out for the ten minutes I have left, I decide to leave right away.
“Thanks. Your ticket’s at will call. I have you next to Frankie. I hope that’s okay?” I say with the hotel door open.
She nods and slides to the end of the bed, her bare feet having small indentations from the heels she wore. Her nails are painted a bright red, which only makes me think of sex. Sex with her. Sex right now on that bed.
“See you tonight.” I shut the door and take a moment to breathe before heading to the elevator. The one good thing is my room won’t be right next to hers tonight.
Chapter Nineteen
Saige
I find my seat, which is in the first row as usual. Frankie, Jax, and Jolie are already seated with enough stuff from the concession stand to feed a small army. This is uncomfortable, especially since Aiden was acting like a bit of a class-A asshole today. I’m not sure why he woke up on the wrong side of the bed, but I hope he changes.