Fortunately, I did finally have another customer. Unfortunately, it was my boss. “Hey, Troy Hartman. In the flesh. What can we do for you, man?”
Troy’s reaction wasn’t what I’d imagine to a fan. In fact, I could have sworn I heard him huff a breath through his nostrils in aggravation.
“Um…hello. I was just—”
“Why you in a suit?” Frankie pointed out in a mocking way.
Troy’s eyes flicked to mine and I scanned him in his crisp, tailor-made, body hugging gray suit. I was so busy feeling flustered and focused on his face that I’d barely noticed what he was wearing.
And now that I have, I liked it a hell of a lot more than I should.
“I save my uniform for the ice,” he offered dryly.
Frankie laughed. “Aw, I’m just kidding. You’re obviously here for an interview, right? Who you here to see?”
“No sir, I’m actually here to see Harper.” His eyes trailed back to me. “She helped me out yesterday and I wanted to stop by and thank her.”
“Wait a second…” Frankie pointed a finger at him. “Harper, let me see that sketch of yours again.”
My chest tightened and I couldn’t swallow the ball in my throat fast enough to speak. “Umm…I don’t—”
“Here you go.” Nic yanked it out of the drawer and handed it to Frankie.
I could have strangled her and her pushy, well-meaning strategies.
“Ah, now I see it.” He flipped the obvious sketch of Troy himself, in uniform taking a shot at the goal. “This you, right? Number nineteen?”
“Frankie—” I closed my eyes but it didn’t help from feeling the heat of Troy’s gaze on me before he stepped toward Frankie and the drawing.
“Either me or my twin, yes,” he chuckled lightly.
I held my breath and shook my head lightly as Troy examined the unsolicited drawing of him. There was a restraining order in my future, I was sure of it.
“How talented is our girl here, ey?”
“Frankie,” I whined quietly. Then walked over and snatched the paper from him.
“What, I’m not going to use it.” He looked back to Troy. “Not that it shows anything bad, so I’m not sure why she’s all freaked out over it honestly,” he murmured to the hockey player as if they were old buddies.
Troy reached for his coffee. “Probably because I wasn’t aware of it, sir.” He added a smile for good measure.
Frankie looked over at me sheepishly. “Oh, sorry, Harp.”
“It’s fine, Frankie. I’m heading out soon. Nic will close up, have a good night.” I cocked my head toward his office hoping he’d take the hint.
“Alright, I know where I’m not wanted.” He shot up two index fingers toward Troy. “I’ll see you at tonight’s game, Hartman. Got company seats.” Frankie clasped his hands, wound up an invisible hockey stick and feigned a shot into a goal, cheering for himself.
Troy’s jaw tightened suddenly, and I wondered if he was nervous about the game. “It was great meeting you, enjoy the game.”
Frankie shot up two thumbs and strode away. I turned to Nic who was waving goodbye. “Later girl. Don’t stay out too late. You’ve got the early shift tomorrow.”
I didn’t say goodbye as I removed my apron and grabbed my backpack to make it very clear I was peeved at my best friend.
But maybe I wouldn’t have to deal with the fallout. Maybe I’d turn around and Troy would have already gone.
No such luck. He was still standing in front of the counter and was now arching an amused brow at me. “Can I walk you out?”
I grabbed my backpack and started walking across the atrium as he downed his coffee, tossing it in the nearby bin and raced to follow me.
