Page 70 of Center Ice
“To stick?” Walsh asks.
“Yeah. She’s worried I’ll leave her, either because Boston won’t sign me again at the end of my contract, or just that I’ll change my mind.”
“There’s not much you can do about the contract except play to the best of your ability and show AJ that you’re the kind of player she wants to keep around,” McCabe says.
“And what kind of player is that?”
“Honest. Hardworking. Dependable.” McCabe doesn’t even have to think before listing these qualities off. “Your talent will continue to develop, but she also wantsgoodmen on this team.”
“I can be all of those things.”
“Youcan be, or youare?” McCabe’s voice is no-nonsense, and I know that everything hinges on my answer.
“I’m honest and hardworking, and I’m working on being dependable.”
He nods, and I assume that means my answer satisfies him. Colt’s still eerily silent.
“So the part youcancontrol,” Walsh says, “is showing Audrey that you’re committed to her and that nothing’s going to change your mind.”
“How do you know, in less than a month, that you’re not going to change your mind?” Colt asks, and he sounds genuinely curious. It makes me wonder if there’s never been anyone he’s felt this way about.
“I’m not really sure how to explain it,” I say, feeling a bit awkward getting all up in my feels with my teammates. But they’re all looking at me like they want to know the answer to this question as well. “When I’m with her and Graham, everything feels right. I was really into her in college, but she hardly gave me the time of day. She had feelings I didn’t know about, and same. It feels like we’ve just picked up right where we left off, only somehow, it’s better. The chemistry is hotter than before, but I also legitimately just like spending time with her.”
I think about coming to her house when she had cramps, and how relaxed I was when we were watching the movie and talking. Sure, it was great when things heated up, but that’s not why I came over, and I was in no way expecting that to happen.
“Sounds legit,” McCabe shrugs. “So what’s the problem?”
“I accidentally told my sister, in front of Audrey, that Audrey was the mother of my child and my future wife.”
“Shiiiiiiiit,” Colt hisses out.
“Yeah, she stormed out of there so fast.”
“What?” McCabe says. “I thought women loved shit like that?”
“We’d sort of agreed we weren’t going to tell my family about Graham yet. And she thinks that my feelings for her are just because everything between us is new and the shine hasn’t worn off. I don’t know how to change her mind.”
“That’s easy,” Colt says. “You just gotta shower her with gifts so she knows you’re always thinking about her.”
“And show up for her whenever she needs you,” McCabe says. “But, like, not so much she thinks you’re a stalker.”
“If she likes you,” Zach says, “she’s going to want to spend time with you. Just don’t smother her.”
Walsh shakes his head. “You guys are idiots.”
“Oh yeah, family man? Then do share all your wisdom,” Colt mocks.
“No two women are alike, so you can’t treat her like she’s anyone else. You need to know whatshewants out of a relationship.” Walsh looks at me, pausing until I meet his eyes. “She’s a single mom, and she’s been doing this by herself for years. So either she’s happy on her own, or she wants a partner and hasn’t found the right person yet. Which is it?”
“Ugh…”
“If you don’t even know what she wants, how can you be the person she needs you to be?” he asks me.
“Well, shit,” Colt mutters. “Walshy’s dropping some truth bombs tonight.”
“She wants a partner,” I say more confidently. “Someone who can share the load of parenting. But she also wants to be seen as more than someone’s mom.”
“You mean she wants sex,” McCabe says, his voice certain.
