Page 21 of Hot Shot
“I’m sorry, Hunter,” she whispers. “I like you. I like talking to you.”
“I like you too,” I admit wondering where this is going.
She stares down at her hands folded in her lap. “I don’t want to lead you on. It was nice to have coffee today. To talk with you, but if you want to go out again or date. I can’t.”
“Is it because of what I do?” I lean closer to her.
“I— Yes,” she mumbles.
“I promise that if we start something there won’t be any other women. I know sometimes professional athletes have a reputation of being players and sleeping around, partying, doing who knows what. But that’s not me.” I’m rambling. I can’t help it. I want to do anything and everything to reassure her that I’m not like other athletes—or what the media portrays athletes to be like.
I’m different. I’m a normal person like she is, except I play hockey for a living and have the potential to make millions in one year. Okay, so not exactly like a normal person, but close enough.
“That’s not it.” She takes a deep breath and I brace myself for what she’s about to say. “I can’t get involved with a professional hockey player— A professional athlete.” She corrects herself but I wonder if it’s specific to hockey players. “Plus you play for the Storm . . .”
I want to ask her why. Why she said she can’t instead of she doesn’t want to. An ex-boyfriend perhaps? Did she date someone else on the team?
I mentally run through our roster. But there’s no one that I can think of that used to play for the Nashville Fury. Regardless of whether it’s an ex-boyfriend or not, I can damn well guarantee that I’m different. I’d never hurt her like he did. But I don’t say that.
I pull on the bill of my cap. “Then let’s go back to being friends. Friends get coffee together. They hang out. What do you think?”
I hold my breath, hoping she says yes. Is friendship all I want from her? Nope, but at this point I’ll take what I can get. Baby steps.
“I-I don’t know, Hunter.”
“Why, Madison?”
She tilts her head, chewing on her bottom lip. “I moved here to start over. To get away from complicated things, at least for a while.”
I raise an eyebrow. I want to ask her why her life was complicated but before I can she continues. “You’d make things complicated for me.”
“Why?” I ask.
She hesitates before saying, “You’re a professional hockey player, Hunter. You’re bound to be in the news at some point. Which would drag whoever you’re dating into the news as well.”
I open my mouth to tell her that that’s not the case. That I’m only a rookie. A nobody. That the media won’t care about me, but I realize that no matter what I tell her, she won’t change her mind. I’m starting to look desperate.
“I understand, Madison. It’s not the answer I was hoping for, but I respect your decision. If you change your mind, text me.”
She gives me a small smile. “Bye, Hunter.”
“Bye, Madison,” I whisper, standing. With one last backward glance at her I force myself to walk toward my truck and climb in.
Today did not turn out how I wanted it to, that’s for sure, but telling Madison what I do for a living was the right move. Especially with how she reacted. I can only imagine what would have happened if I’d waited to tell her.
“You with us, Hunter?” Caleb calls as I miss yet another pass from one of the other forwards on my line. This is the third time today I’ve missed a play I normally wouldn’t.
“Sorry, Cap,” I yell, shaking myself out of the stupor that I seem to be in this afternoon.
“That’s all for today,” Coach Weaver yells a few minutes later. “Hit the showers.”
I heave a sigh of relief. Today’s practice was grueling and I’m ready for an afternoon off.
“You okay?” Brody skates up to me.
He’s one of the veterans on the team and one of my linemates. He’s been playing for fifteen years, all of them with the Storm, and is one of the alternate captains. In the short time we’ve been playing together he’s already taught me quite a few things and has helped boost my confidence.
I’m not sure if we’ll end up on the same line during the season—from his skill I’d assume he’ll be on the top forward line with Caleb—but I’ll take any playing time with him I can get.
