Chasing Charli - Kat Mizera Page 0,43
to take you on vacation this summer.”
“We really haven’t talked about anything beyond hockey season,” she admitted. “I haven’t brought it up because the team trying to get into the playoffs has been stressful and we’re still so new.”
“Well, I just got here, so win or lose tonight, we’re not going anywhere for at least a couple of weeks because I don’t want to go back yet.”
“What about your job?” Whitney asked her. “Weren’t you about to start a new one when you left last time?”
Tara sighed. “It didn’t go so well. I quit last week.” She told them about her mean boss and the frustration of being blamed for everything. “Sometimes, it’s better to just walk away.”
“What did you study in college?” Charli asked her.
“English,” she said with a smile. “And no, Miikka wouldn’t let me teach him. He said it was too stressful.”
They all chuckled.
“Well, to be fair,” Charli said, “he does have a fairly high-pressure job, so I get that he wants to relax in the summer.”
“But obviously he’s reached his tipping point,” Hailey said. “Since he hired you.”
“Either that or he just wanted an excuse to get to know her,” Tara supplied with a grin. “He could have hired an English teacher at any time. Instead, he changes a pretty girl’s tire and when he finds out she’s a teacher, he decides it’s time.”
Charli froze and then cocked her head. “You think that’s why he asked me to tutor him?”
“Why not? It’s easier than asking out someone who’s shy,” Hailey said. “And let’s face it—you were pretty shy when we first met you. So I’m sure he was a little intimidated by that. As his tutor, he could get to know you with no pressure.”
“I never thought of that.”
“And things are getting serious, right?” Whitney asked. “It sounds like you two are together all the time.”
Charli frowned. “It hasn’t been that long, so I don’t know about serious, but yes, we’re spending a lot of time together.”
“Don’t you want it to get serious?” Tara asked.
“I…” Charli hesitated. She did want to be with Miikka, but she hadn’t thought in terms of getting serious with anyone since college. She’d given up on the idea of spending the rest of her life with someone and now that there was a great guy in her life, she didn’t dare plan that far ahead. “I’ve been burned enough times not to set myself up like that, so to be honest, I’m taking it one day at a time with zero expectations. If he wants to keep it casual, that’s fine with me.”
“I think my brother is way beyond casual when it comes to you,” Tara said slowly. “He seems crazy about you.”
“And I’m crazy about him too. I just don’t want to jinx anything, you know?”
Everyone nodded.
“That makes sense,” Sara interjected, joining their conversation for the first time. “It’s important to establish a friendship first. Though I don’t recommend taking years to get there, like someone I know.”
“Who?” Charli asked blankly.
“Sorry.” Sara laughed. “I was referring to Aaron and me. We were friends for a couple of years before we finally admitted our feelings for each other.”
“And she doesn’t even know about the hookup in his truck that nearly ended the friendship,” Hailey stage-whispered.
The ladies all laughed.
“There they are,” Hailey said, changing the subject as the team skated out onto the ice for the national anthem. Charli had a feeling there were a lot of fun stories in her future from these ladies.
The game started out strong but Seattle scored first and by the end of the second period, the Blizzard was down 4-1. It looked like they would be done for the season tonight and the WAGs were a somber group as the third period started.
“Games like these are such a bummer,” Hailey said quietly. “Kane is pretty mellow, so he doesn’t get overly upset that the season is over, but it usually takes a week or so for him to get into summer mode. I think it helps that we have kids, because he can’t really be anything but Daddy to them, but for the rest of you, it must be rough.”
“It’s not fun,” Whitney said thoughtfully, “but Jake’s been at this a long time, almost fifteen years if you count college, and he tends to take it in stride. It’s part of the game and the lifestyle. I feel bad for those of you going through it for the first time.” She turned to Charli. “My gut