He seems to think a moment. “You’re right. What the hell was I thinking?”
Some time later, we pull up to the Milwaukee airport and he parks at departures. I’ll keep the rental car until I come back later today to catch my own flight to Florida. He takes his bag from the back.
“Have a great flight and a great game. I’ll be watching.” I squeeze him tightly in a hug and he kisses the top of my head.
“I’m going to miss you like crazy,” he says.
“Me too.”
The traffic person blows her whistle at us, so we say one quicker goodbye and he hands me my phone. I smile when he puts it in my hand.
“Don’t go running off?” he says.
I get up on my tiptoes. “Never.”
We kiss one more time, then he walks through the sliding doors.
The crazy whistle lady blows extra hard and long at me.
“I’m going!” I yell and climb into the rental.
Although I’d love to check my phone, there’s no way that lady will let me, so I pull away from the curb, figuring I’ll check it when I get to the restaurant where I’m meeting my client.
I park in the lot of the restaurant, happy to be fifteen minutes early. Pulling out my phone, I go to Aiden’s Instagram first. As soon as I open the app, I see a bunch of likes and comments, but I go to his profile to find the post before I look at all that.
There we are on his parents’ land with snow behind us and our smiling faces pressed to one another’s. The caption reads, “Introducing my future wife to the family. No we’re not engaged yet, but you know when you know. ;)”
My heart feels as if it’s growing and might burst at any moment. Does he really see me as marriage material? We’ve hardly been dating that long. But even with all that being true, I can’t deny I feel the same way.
Ignoring all the comments, I pull up my texts and send him the Kristen Bell GIF with aww and her hands clasped over her heart. He responds with a heart. The man is impossible to read sometimes.
Going back into Instagram, I check a few clients’ accounts since I didn’t have a great signal at his parents’ house. Maksim posted a picture of two hot girls in thongs he saw on the beach. I delete that with the hopes that no one saw it. I swear, I’m this close to locking him out of his own account.
I steel myself as I press on the comments on the picture of Aiden and me. I know there will be some bad ones and I hope I can handle it.
Who is she?
Future wife? WTF
I didn’t know he likes the chubby ones.
What’s with her lips? She has no upper lip.
He’s so dating down.
My chest squeezes painfully. Okay, I knew that would happen. I continue scrolling. Surely there are some positive ones.
Let them be, he’s happy. You can see it in his smile.
She’s pretty, you’re just jelly.
Jealous because it’s not you?
Everyone stop judging. We should be happy he found someone.
I thought he was a manwhore?
I’ve heard he has a reputation. Hope she makes him wear a condom.
I finally click off, unable to read any more. I shake my head and close the app, taking a few deep breaths.
Realizing I can’t just sit in my car, I get out and head to the hostess stand to wait for my client. I’d rather wait inside than in my car with the temptation of reading all the nasty comments people leave.
Why is it always easier to believe the bad stuff over the good stuff?
My client picked a sports bar, so when I look up, I see Aiden’s name on the ticker at the bottom of the TV screen, talking about how Aiden Drake of the Florida Fury has a girlfriend and his fans are not happy.
Great. I bury my head into a menu and wish I could disappear. I told him this would happen.
I walk into my apartment, drop my bags, and flop down on the couch before turning on the television. After an unexpected layover due to mechanical issues—something you never want to hear when you’re about to board a plane—I’m barely home in time to see the end of the game.
I tried to find the AM station in the car but got aggravated when I couldn’t find it.
I turn to the channel the game is on and I’m surprised to see that the Fury are losing. From what Aiden said, the team in California isn’t very strong. He thought they’d have an easy time beating them.
The announcer comes on over the play. “I have to say, I haven’t seen this Aiden on the ice since before the holidays. It’s like he can’t find his footing on his skates.”
Another announcer chimes in. “I’m starting to think the announcement of the new girlfriend has someone distracted. How many times have we seen this before?”
I mute the television. I can’t listen to this.
Aiden comes into view. He has the puck, zigzagging between players. A quick glance at the scoreboard tells me that if he scores, he’ll tie the game. He shoots the puck, and it ricochets off the top of the net and lands on the stick of the opponent. That player skates away and passes down the ice. Maksim tries to get in the mix, but another guy pushes him into the boards and the guy scores. California wins.
My stomach sinks. I’ve yet to see Aiden after a loss, much less a game he didn’t play well in, and I’m not sure what to expect. It’s not like I thought they could go on winning forever, but I did kind of get used to it.
My phone rings right away, Tedi’s name flashing on the screen.
“Hey, Tedi,” I say.
“They lost. Can you believe it?”
“They were bound to lose at some point. Did you go to California?”
“Nah. Tweetie got his ass handed to him by the coach the other day. Apparently I’m a distraction.”
“I guess we’re both at fault then.”
She laughs. “I wonder how Aiden is gonna be. You threw the drink at him, right?”
I nod, though she can’t see me. “Yep.”
My eyes remain glued to the screen. Before Aiden can get to the locker room, the press tries to get him on camera. I quickly unmute.
“What can I say? It wasn’t our night. We had a few good opportunities to score some goals but couldn’t make it happen.” He lowers his head and disappears into the locker room.
Okay, he seems like a rational man who can deal with a loss.
Still, maybe I should’ve gone after my meeting to support him. But I would’ve been cutting it close. And I can’t follow a man around from city to city my entire life.
“I’m gonna go shower so I’m ready when he calls,” I say.
“Okay. See you tomorrow at the office.” Tedi hangs up, the both of us sounding depressed.
I shower and get lotioned up, waiting for a call and maybe a sexy FaceTime, but all I get is a text.
Aiden: Going out with the guys. Blowing off some steam after losing.
Me: Okay, be careful. I’m sorry :(
Aiden: Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.
I stare at his last text. Does that mean I won’t hear from him until tomorrow? It sounds like it, which makes me wonder… is this how Aiden deals with a loss? He goes out and gets drunk and forgets he has a girlfriend? I hope not. I’ve been here before and I’ll never go back.