“Yeah.”
“Well, I actually do have a list. It’s not a bucket list with crazy things like jump out of an airplane or anything that exciting. It’s more about making things I’ve been meaning to do a priority over work and cutting back on overanalyzing. For the last four years, I’ve worked seventy to eighty hours a week, and the highlight of my week has been going to a late dinner on Friday night. A few months ago I hired a director of operations, so now I can delegate more and work less. I want to unplug more, be more spontaneous, stay out all night, watch the sunrise, go to an after-hours club, volunteer somewhere, take a staycation here in the city. I’ve lived here my entire life, and I’ve never even been to the Statue of Liberty or walked the Brooklyn Bridge. I also have dye my hair red on that list.” I shrugged. “I love red hair, and I’ve always wanted to try it.”
“A redhead, huh?” Max smiled. “I think you’d look hot.”
I smiled back. “Thanks.”
He ran his finger along the top of his wine glass. “How about we hit your list together?”
“Really? You want to go to the Statue of Liberty with me?”
Max shrugged. “Sure. Why not?”
“Are you truly this easygoing?”
He laughed. “I don’t know about easygoing, but I’m up for an adventure with you.”
“An adventure, huh?” God, why can’t I see things this simply? I bit down on my bottom lip.
Max leaned forward and used his thumb to gently rub it loose. “Don’t overthink it. Just say yes.”
I took a deep breath. “I know you proposed spending the summer together. But could we just see how it goes? It’s less intimidating if it’s…I don’t know…less, I guess.”
“Whatever you want.”
I nodded nervously. “Okay. Screw it. Let’s hit my list.”
“Nice.” He hooked a hand around my neck and pulled me to meet his lips for a kiss. “This might be the first time since I was a kid that I’ve been glad hockey season ended.”
The waiter interrupted to take our order, but yet again we hadn’t even looked at the menu. So we asked for a minute and quickly decided to order two dishes and share them. After we’d ordered, I shifted the conversation to something that wouldn’t freak me out as much as what I’d just agreed to…again.
“So tell me about your photo shoot today? Was it for a sports magazine or something?”
“Underwear ad.” Max shook his head. “I called my agent on the way back and told him that was my last one of those.”
“Why?”
“They wanted me to wear a Velcro strap around my junk. Not just the frank, the beans too.”
I chuckled. “What?”
“Apparently it’s a thing underwear models do to make the package more pronounced.” He shook his head. “I wasn’t doing it.”
I covered my smile with my hand. “Oh my God. What did they say when you refused?”
He shrugged. “They took the pictures. My junk’s just fine on its own.”
“When will the ads run? I’m curious to see them now.”
“They said they would send proofs to my agent in a few days. He negotiated approval rights. But if you’d like to take a look at my junk sooner…”
I laughed. “I was asking for business purposes. If you look good, maybe we can have you hold up some flowers in tightie-whities. I’d need to check out the merchandise before deciding, of course.”
Max winked. “Anytime, sweetheart.”
I drank the rest of my wine. “So how long does a hockey player usually play professionally? I know football players must retire pretty early because of how big a deal everyone makes out of Tom Brady still playing in his forties.”
“The average retirement age in the NHL is something like twenty-nine.”
“Twenty-nine? But that’s your age.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“That’s so young.”
“It’s not by choice. Hockey is rough on the body. Between injuries and joints and ligaments not holding up, a lot of guys are forced out earlier than they’d like. But there’ve been a few dozen guys who have played into their forties. Gordie Howe played until he was fifty-two, but that’s definitely not the norm.”
“Then what? If the average player is done by thirty, what does he do after?”
“Some guys stay in the business—coaching, broadcasting, fitness, that type of thing. Some go into sales. If they have a well-known name, it opens a lot of doors for the company they represent. A lot actually buy businesses. They know the odds of an early retirement are pretty high, so they stash away money and buy into a business once they hang up their skates. I know guys who own gyms, car dealerships, restaurants, a little bit of everything.”