“It’s just me, Jos,”he says, because even though Josie thinks she’s stealthy, and that no one knows how hard she fell for BU’s sexiest hockey player, she’s not fooling anyone. “Half my teammates are still sleeping. We’ve got practice in a couple hours, though, so they better have set their alarms. In fact, the only reason I’m awake now is thatsomeonerequested my presence.”
“You do realizeit’s after noon, right?”
“Yeah.Getting up before noon on a Sunday in the off-season is sacrilegious. But you wanted to meet, so here I am. What’s up? Or didyou just want to thank me for buying you a date with the freshman?”
“Whaat?”Josie sputters, nearly choking on her tea. “Mel, you said you bought Booker. You didn’t say anything about a freshman.”
“There’sa good reason for that. Yeah, Ollie stole my paddle and bid on one of the bachelors, but there is no date. I’m not going.”
“The hell you aren’t,”Ollie says, nabbing a bite of bagel off my plate. “You have to go.”
“No, I don’t,”I tell him. “You bought the date. You should go.”
“Not happening,”he says, shaking his head.
“Why not?”I question. “The date package was for The Gatehouse, right? That’s super fancy. Valet parking, linen tablecloths. You’ll eat like a king.”
“Mel,you don’t get it. If I tell Will you’re backing out and I’m subbing in, he’ll be crushed.”
I shake my head.“That is not my problem. You are the one who bid on him.”
“Yeah,because he’s new and…inexperienced, is the best way to put it. Look, the guy is lightning fast, ok. He’s killing it in practice. Half of us think he could beat out Rosco for a spot on the first line. It’s like there’s a magnet between the edge of his stick and the back of the net. When he gets the puck, it’s over. He’s even scored off Norris, which is fucking hard to do.”
“I’mglad he’s good for your team, but I still have no clue what any of this has to do with me,” I say, finishing up my bagel and balling my napkin up.
“Like I said,he’s…new to a lot of what college life has to offer. He played in Juniors for a while, but I get the impression he was pretty sheltered growing up. We took him to a party his first night here, and I thought he was gonna pass out from sensory overload. He’s like a big damn dog—all energy and enthusiasm, and very little chill.”
“You makehim sound like a golden retriever, not a college freshman, and you’re not helping your case.”
Ollie shrugs.“It was a good idea at the time, ok?You won’t spill all the details, and that’s cool, but it’s pretty clear some douche did a number on you last year. You deserve to have a little fun. And Will? He’s a lot, but he’s a good guy. And I was half afraid one of the gals at the senior center would bid on him. He couldn’t handle Gladys or Martha. They’d terrify him.”
“And you thinkI’m so much better? I’m no sweet wallflower, Ollie. If that’s what you think he needs, you should have set him up with Josie. She’s way nicer than I am.”
Josie pales next to me,and whether it’s from what I said or the fact that half the hockey team just walked into Drip, I’m not sure. The guys wave in our direction and get in line. Before I know what’s happening, Josie’s out of her chair, giving me a quick hug and saying goodbye. “I need to go,” she says. “I’m working at the library. But we will catch up soon. In the meantime, no volunteering me for dates, ok? I’m not in the market for romance, but if I were,” she says, pointing at me, “I could find my own date.”
I rollmy eyes in response, just as Ollie interjects, “I could find you a date in ten seconds, Jos. He’s the third guy in line, and he’d kill me for saying this, but he never got over you, either. So—”
Josie’s face flames red.“I’m leaving,” she says quickly, before turning back to me. “Go on the date, Mel. Ollie’s right. You deserve a little fun.”
My jaw drops in shock.“Are you serious right now? You’re pushing me toward a date with a virtual stranger while you run out of a coffee shop just because your ex walked in? I love you, Jos, but that’s a little hypocritical, don’t you think?”
“I’m great at giving advice,”she tells me, “but not so good at taking it. Love you, Mel.”
“Love you back,”I call as she leaves the shop. The guys gather around my tiny table, quickly realizing there’s not room for all of us. That doesn’t deter them, though. They just grab a few tables, heft them across the coffee shop and make what amounts to a banquet-sized spread to accommodate all of us. And somehow, in all the switching and shuffling, I end up right across from Will.
“Hey,”he says eagerly, reaching across the small table to shake my hand. It’s a sweet gesture, but we’re not at a business meeting, so it catches me a little off guard. I reach out awkwardly and as he clasps my hand, he narrowly misses knocking my coffee right over. Van, who’s taken the seat Josie just vacated, darts his hand out at the last second, righting the cup.
Willblushes and I have to admit, he really is good looking. There’s something sweet and earnest about him, and I’m struck again with the notion that I am way too jaded for such an innocent guy.
“It’s Mel, right?”he asks, and I nod. “Is that short for Melissa, or something?”
“If you’remy mother or you work for a government agency, you can call me Melanie,” I answer. “Otherwise, it’s just Mel.”
“Got it,”he says, smiling to reveal an honest-to-god dimple. This guy is straight out of somebody’s fantasies, just not mine. Because the only fantasy I have these days is moving out of this town and starting my career. No boys allowed.
Around us,the guys shoot the shit. It’s easy to see they’re excited for the new season to start. Across from me, Will’s foot is tapping nervously on the tile floor, causing our table to shake. I grab my coffee to save it from another near spill and look up at him, prepared to say that while I’m flattered Ollie bought the date in my name, it’s probably best if he finds someone to take my place. But then he starts talking.
“So,the guys said The Gatehouse is a really nice place. And the gift certificate they donated is good for the next two weeks. My season starts soon, though, and we practice a lot. Plus, Ollie said you work here, so I figure you’re busy too. Anyway, how’s next Friday? We’re done practicing at five. I can get you after. I mean, I’d shower first, obviously. We all fucking stink after practice. But like, I’d totally shower. I mean, I always do, but, yeah. I could shower and then come get you?”
