Game Changer by Kelly Jamieson Page 0,79
in my chest.
I watch her companion. He pulls out his phone and starts looking at it, but he’s not making a move to leave the table. I give it a few minutes, then right in the middle of one of Paul’s sentences, I stand. “Excuse me,” I say abruptly. “I’ll be right back.”
I set my napkin on the seat of my chair and walk the same way Molly did. The hallway to the restrooms is narrow with low lighting, the walls painted black with gold sconces and gold framed pictures on the walls.
But I don’t enter the men’s room. Nope, I hang out in the hall hoping nobody comes along and thinks I’m some kind of creeper.
My timing is perfect, though. Molly emerges from the bathroom with shiny lips and a small purse in her hand. She stops dead at seeing me, her lips parting.
“Hi.”
“Hi.” She gives me a tremulous smile. “How are you?”
She’s beautiful. She has on more makeup than I’m used to seeing, with her eyes all smoky and her skin gleaming. She’s gorgeous either way, though. “Shitty. Thanks for asking. You?”
“I’m…okay.”
“Are you on a date?”
“Y-yes.” She blinks.
I close my eyes at the churning feeling in my stomach. Then I open them and nod. “So you and Steve didn’t get back together?”
Her eyebrows pull down. “No! Of course not. How could you think that?”
“I don’t know. How would I know?”
“Haven’t you talked to him? He mentioned you were skating together.”
“Not anymore.” I rub the back of my neck. “I still don’t have a contract so I can’t skate with the team.”
“Oh. Oh no.” Her eyes shadow and she takes a step closer. “What’s going on with that?”
“Nothing. We’re miles apart. Still waiting.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, it’s frustrating as hell.” It feels good to admit that out loud to someone.
She studies my face. “Is that your agent you’re with?”
“Yeah. He had a meeting with Ian today so he wanted to update me and talk about some other scenarios he can take to them. Who’s your date?”
“Um. His name is Nicholas. We met…online.”
I mutter a curse under my breath.
“What?” Her eyebrows lift. “Is that a problem?”
Hell yeah, it’s a problem. It’s a big fucking problem. I don’t want her to be with any other man but me. I’m not interested in dating and goddammit, it hurts that she is.
How can I say that, though?
She seems to be waiting for me to say something. The noises of the restaurant—clinking cutlery and glasses, voices, music—fade away and we’re standing alone in this dark, narrow space in a bubble of our own personal space.
“Molly.”
She nods.
“I miss you.”
Her bottom lip quivers. “I miss you, too,” she whispers, her fingers tightening on the little purse.
“Shit.”
Neither of us move. My body aches for her, though. My hands want to reach out for her. My mouth wants to taste her.
“Does Nicholas like trivia?” I ask roughly.
“I don’t know. This is our first date.”
I nod tersely.
“I better get back,” she says softly. She walks forward to pass me in the hall. I step back even though I want to block her way. She pauses near me, near enough for me to smell her sweet citrusy scent. “Good luck with your contract.”
“Thanks.” Right now, that seems meaningless. I just want her. More than anything.
How did things get so fucked up?
She brushes past me. I watch her walk away. She’s wearing a black halter dress fitted to her curves, baring her shoulders. It ends just above her knees and her legs look killer in black heels.
Emotion swirls inside me, filling my chest. Anger. Frustration. Regret.
Without using the men’s room, I go back to the table where Paul is waiting for me, not looking at Molly and Nicholas. Paul’s already taken care of the check. “Thanks, man,” I say as I sit again. I pick up my whiskey and down the remainder.
“I have to fly to Toronto tomorrow,” he says. “But I’ll keep you in the loop about any more talks with Yarish.”
“It’s not going to get done before training camp, is it?”
“Not looking like it right now. But before the season starts, sure.”
I nod. “Okay.”
I can’t resist another look at Molly as we walk out, and she turns her head and flashes a tiny sad smile that fucking breaks my heart.
I stroll along the Esplanade on my way home. It’s dark now, but there are still lots of other people around. The river reflects city lights on its inky surface, and I pause at the low wall to gaze out over it.
I