Nico
How else do you think I stay on top?
Harper
You’re a top all right…
Damn. She made my dick hard with one sentence.
Her response was not what I had expected. I had definitely underestimated her and now I didn’t feel as badly about coming on as strongly as I did. I wasn’t here to fuck around. Not in the sense of leaving things open to her interpretation. I knew what I wanted and was simply making sure she knew it too.
Nico
You want to play, love? I can show you how good it feels to win.
Three small bubbles popped up and disappeared as she typed and deleted a response. My heart pounded against my rib cage and excitement rattled my system as I waited in limbo for her response.
“Cirone, we’re about to take off. Phone.”
Our coach made me feel like I was back in high school all over again as he scolded me for having my phone out. A sigh escaped me as I closed out of the message thread. I quickly switched it over to airplane mode and slid it back into my pocket.
I caught Wes looking at me from where he was sitting. A smirk played on his lips and he cocked an eyebrow.
I shook my head at him. “Just don’t.”
I had half a hard-on and felt awkward as hell as I attempted to adjust myself in my seat with my best friend staring at me the way he was.
“I didn’t say anything,” Wes said as he feigned innocence and held up the novel he was reading. “I’m just over here minding my own business.”
“Sure you are,” I threw back at him as a laugh escaped me. “You have a habit of making everyone’s business your own.”
Wes gave me the middle finger as he laughed along before he got back to whatever the hell it was he was reading. Shaking my head, I settled back in my seat, feeling the plane lift into the air as I rested my head against the window.
I hated that I would have to wait until we touched down to read Harper’s response, but good things took time.
And I planned on having the best fucking time with her.
CHAPTER FIVE
HARPER
“You’re quiet today,” Ava said as we both sat down at the table in the coffee shop. It had become our little thing before work. We would meet here, if neither of us had anything going on, and grab some coffee before we had to head to the arena.
I hadn’t told Ava anything about Nico. All she knew was about some random guy at the club, but I never told her the truth about who it really was. I also never disclosed the fact that he played professional hockey for the same team that we worked for.
It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Ava. She was the only friend I really made since moving to Orchid Beach. She hadn’t given me a reason not to trust her, but at the same time, I still found myself hesitant. If I let her in on anything that had to do with Nico, how would I know that she wouldn’t end up saying something to someone?
It was really hard to make that judgment when you didn’t know someone completely.
And on the other hand—it’s not like there was anything real going on between Nico and I. Some harmless flirting and whatnot after our run-in at the club. He had propositioned me and I didn’t take the bait. No harm, no foul. Neither of us could realistically get in trouble for what had happened between us so far.
I knew the limitations and knew where it had to be cut off. It could never progress any further than it already had and I planned on telling Nico that… eventually. I never responded to his last text two nights ago. Part of me knew that I should have shut that down immediately, yet I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
Chances were, I would end up seeing him tonight, whether it was on or off the ice.
Then I would tell him the truth.
I shrugged as I took a sip of my latte. “I just didn’t sleep very well last night. I woke up late and then the gym was so busy.” I paused for a second and let out a sigh. “I know, they’re all stupid problems. I’m just ready to get tonight over with and go to bed.”
“Girl, I get it completely. We all have shit days and you’re allowed to have one.” She smiled at me, before pulling out a small compact mirror and a tube of lip gloss. “Just breathe in the good and exhale the bad. Tonight will be amazing, you will be amazing and then you’ll get to go home.”
I stared at Ava, a little taken aback by her sudden yogi attitude. “Are you going through some type of spiritual awakening?”
It was Ava’s turn to sigh. “Ryan has been on this yoga, like meditation, manifesting kick. I’m not against it at all—it really helps my mindset—but sometimes I can’t help but wonder if it's all a crock of shit.”
I tried really hard not to laugh, but I couldn’t stop the string of laughter from falling from my lips. Ava laughed along and gave me the middle finger. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t laugh. I just can’t picture Ryan doing that.”
Ava’s boyfriend really was a nice, laid-back, quiet guy. He also kind of freaked me out sometimes. He was smart—like smart smart, genius level smart. There was nothing bad about the guy. He had just made jokes about hacking into stuff and with his dry humor, it was hard to tell if he was serious or not.
Which all made it hard to picture him sitting with his feet together and his eyes closed as he let out an “om”。
“Next thing you know, he’s going to be dragging me along to a fucking ayahuasca retreat or something.” Ava shook her head and rolled her eyes. “I love the guy and I’ve done my fair share of mushrooms, but I’m not trying to experience ego death. That might literally kill me.”
My eyes widened. I had heard about people doing those retreats. Supposedly, it was one of the most humbling, life-changing experiences ever. It also sounded like pure hell and something I would never want to experience either.
“Please tell me he didn’t say anything about doing one.”
“Not yet, girl,” Ava said with a soft laugh. “I don’t think he’s far away from suggesting it, though.”
“I’ll pray for you,” I joked as we both laughed.
“I’m going to need the whole damn church praying for me.”
When we got to the media room at the stadium, it was a repeat of the last time. Our assignments were handed out and this time we received them for the entire game. It gave me some peace knowing where I was expected to be during the period of play. I frowned as I looked over where they wanted me.
I was expected to take pictures from the players’ entrance again and during the press release afterward. Thankfully, my game assignments were opposite corners by the net that we would shoot on twice and one by our net. What it essentially meant was there would be no possible way to avoid running into Nico Cirone.
So, this would be a fun night for sure.
After setting up my station, I headed down to the ice level floor and set up by the players’ entrance. It wouldn’t be long before they would all come strolling in. I adjusted my camera settings and made myself comfortable on the concrete floor and did a few practice shots.
As the guys started to come in, I snapped shots of each one. They all greeted me, remembering me from the last game. I wondered if this was where Phillip would have me most games. The guys seemed to appreciate the familiar face and a few even asked how I was doing and what my name was.