“I do. But I’m not ready to get married and have kids. It’s just…” I sigh deeply. “I see her worn-out coat and the dry skin on her hands and it hits me how little she must have. How hard she must work. No matter how much I like her, I’ll never be a man who sweeps her off her feet and changes the rest of her life, you know?”
“If you can already see it ending, don’t begin it.”
“I can’t see it ending because I wanted it to. I like her a lot and I’d love to date her and only her. But you know my schedule, Cal. I travel all the damn time. I could get traded down the road. What if she wants more than I can give her?”
He shrugs. “Maybe no-strings sex is best for you right now. Just be honest with her about that.”
“She’s better than that.”
After a few seconds of silence, my phone buzzes on the table with a text from Hailey.
I’m worried, Jake. Txt me or I’m coming to the Dupont.
Oh, fuck no. She can’t do that. I grab my phone and write her back.
Me: Hey, in a meeting with my agent.
Hailey: When can I see u again?
Just the thought makes my dick shrink up inside my body. But I don’t have much choice unless I want to be at the top of George Hampton’s shit list.
Me: How about lunch tomorrow before I leave for my game?
Hailey: Perfect! In your room?
Christ, no.
Me: The deli on Franklin. 11:00.
Hailey: See u then, sexy ;)
“From your expression I’m guessing that’s Hailey you’re texting?” Cal asks, sounding almost amused.
I just grunt and set my phone back down. “You get a huge bonus if you can find me a way out of this one, Cal.”
“Be the most annoying asshole on the planet. Take all your ritualistic bullshit and multiply it by ten.”
I nod, considering. “Make her end it, then?”
“Everyone wins.”
“It’s worth a shot, right?”
Cal looks at his watch. “Sorry, man. Gotta run for a meeting.”
“So you’ll send me a new draft of the contract when you get it?”
“Yes.” He takes out his wallet but I shake my head.
“I’ve got it. Tell Denny I said hi.”
“Will do. Keep me posted on Miranda. And the sausage lover.”
“I live to amuse you.” I flip him off just as he turns to leave.
I’ve got to get rid of Hailey. I can’t risk Miranda hearing I’m dating another woman, even though I’m actually not. Somehow I don’t think she’d be very sympathetic if I told her the truth, given the way I got myself into this mess.
It’s pretty crazy that I’m feeling predate jitters. I need to burn off some of this nervous energy between practice and weight lifting.
Usually I’m the one in control. I keep myself on a schedule on practice days, game days and sometimes even off days. I know what I’m going to eat on a given day before I even wake up. Hell, I’m practically OCD on game days. Even with women, I set the rules. We always go to my place and there’s no morning-after cuddle session. I don’t kick them out of bed after we have sex, but I do expect them to leave the next morning.
With Miranda, though, it’s different. I’ve never chased a woman the way I feel myself starting to chase her. I have no idea what I want with her, I just know I want it really fucking bad.
Chapter 12
Miranda
I’m pacing—not an easy task in our tiny apartment. It pretty much consists of walking around the couch a thousand times.
“Will you relax?” Paige grumbles from the couch, where she’s scrolling through her phone. “You’re making me nervous.”
“I can’t help it. What was I thinking saying I’d go out with him? I should be next to you right now in my favorite sweats.”
She glares at me over the top of her phone as I pass through her line of sight. “Right. Because my night of mac and cheese and Gilmore Girls will be so much cooler than a date with a hot NHL player.”
“Emphasis on the word ‘player,’ ” I mutter.
“At least you’ll get a great dinner out of it. And you look gorgeous.”
I look down at the dark skinny jeans and dark heels I haven’t had a reason to wear in a very long time. I borrowed a black V-neck wrap shirt and some silver bracelets from Paige. It did feel good to have a reason to dress nice and wear makeup. Paige put my hair up in a fancy twist, and I actually feel slightly sophisticated.
“Thanks. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. This isn’t even a thing. We’re picking out flooring and getting something to eat.”
“It’s a thing, Miranda.”
I stop pacing and take a deep breath. Pacing in heels was a stupid idea. It’s making my feet sore.
“Oh, I know!” Paige sits up straighter on the couch. “Let’s play Drinking Up with the Kardashians.”
I roll my eyes. Paige is so proud of the drinking game she invented. We turn on the Kardashians and every time someone says the word “like,” we have to take a shot. The one and only time I played it with her, I had a hangover that lasted two days. Never again.
“I’d rather not be falling-down drunk when he gets here,” I say. “And let’s pay the water bill before we spend any money on alcohol.”
“Yes, Mom,” she says under her breath.
“How’s school going?” I ask her, hoping a distraction will help calm my nerves.
“It’s hard. This is the hardest semester yet.”
Unlike me, Paige has always known what she wanted to do with her life. We came to Chicago because it’s where her veterinary school is. She works her ass off to keep her grades up while holding down her waitressing job.
“Maybe you should study tonight,” I suggest.
“I’m going to. And I’m doing a study group meeting tomorrow.”
There’s a knock at the door and I swallow hard. Paige leaps off the couch to answer it.
“No!” I hiss. “I’m not ready.”
“Yes, you are,” she says with a glare.
She looks through the peephole and turns toward me, her mouth hanging open. “Holy ball sacs, you didn’t tell me he was that hot.”
“Don’t let him hear you,” I mumble. “He’s an egomaniac.”