Nils and I spend a ton of time together—we live in the same building, and our training schedules are pretty much identical given that we’re both forwards on the same line. And yeah, it helps that I haven’t gelled this well or this quickly with any other linemate before. Nils and I just work, on and off the ice.
All that talk about him adopting me or whatever seems to have been a success.
After what feels like three hours in the cold but is really closer to five minutes, we make it to the bar where we’re meeting Silja for post-practice drinks. The blasting heat is a welcome reprieve from the icy hellscape outside, and I make quick work of my coat to let the warmth sink in faster. Nils spots Silja at a booth in the back, and we head straight over.
“Hey guys, how was practice?” she asks, scooting over to give us space.
“Not bad,” I reply.
“That’s all you’re gonna say?” Nils turns to Silja. “This guy smoked our poor starting goalie during shootout drills. You should’ve seen his face when Erik scored against him for the tenth time in a row.”
“Aw, you’re making him blush.”
“It’s true! I’m gonna miss this guy when the NHL inevitably poaches him.”
I groan. “Please don’t jinx me. I don’t think I can handle another move.”
“Ha. What if Toronto reaches out and offers you ten million to go back?” Nils asks.
“I’d have to consider my options closely.”
Until very recently, I’d move back to Toronto for minimum wage and a stale cup of burnt coffee. Now I’d think about it if they matched my current salary.
Well, maybe I’d take a pay cut. Being in the same city as Luke and picking up where we left off would be worth it.
Nils waves his hand in front of me, and I leave my wild speculations behind. “Erik. Beer. Order?” he says, fixing me with a bemused expression.
Right.
I order my go-to beer from the chatty server, and when he leaves, I notice Silja smiling at me, her eyes narrow.
“Our waiter is cute, isn’t he?” she asks.
Out of instinct, I swivel my head to take a look, and yeah, he’s pretty attractive. Clean shaven, nice hair, sharp jaw.
“I guess?”
Nils clears his throat. “He’s cute,andhe’s totally into you.”
Silja snickers into her drink while shooting me a humorous sideways glance. “You noticed, right?”
“No? He seemed excited, sure, but he wasn’t into me. Where are you guys going with this?”
“Are you blind?” Nils asks, chuckling. “I’mstraightbut I still noticed how the waiter was struggling to stay professional. The poor guy was going through it when he took your order.”
“I’m not blind,” I reply with a shrug. “He just didn’t do anything that I picked up on.”
Silja clasps her hands together and rests her chin on them. “And what signsdoyou pick up on?”
“I don’t know. I mean, when I first met Luke, we made eyes at each other across the room, and that was pretty clear to me.” I exhale, thinking back to September before struggling to shove my thoughts down.
“Wait.” Silja leans on her hands, thinking. “You’re still into him, aren’t you?”
I can’t answer before Nils breaks into a grin.
“You totally are!” he says. “Your face brightened as soon as you said his name.”
“Okay, maybe I am,” I mutter. “I know I’m a mess, so get your laughing out of the way.”
