worst was when they told me about everyone else. The guys that didn’t make it. We were a team.”
“Well, that makes my little anaphylactic reaction seem trivial. God.” She rolls her eyes.
“It wasn’t trivial. Anaphylaxis can be a serious thing. My cousin has a peanut allergy.”
“Well. I’m fine. You’re fine. And you were amazing—calling the ambulance and helping me. I was scared and you were so solid.”
I didn’t feel very solid. I felt like I was going to come apart. But at least I put on a good act and made her feel safer.
After drinking some of her ice tea, Sara dozes off. I pull out my phone and keep myself busy with a game until the pizza arrives. She tries to get up, but I tell her to stay put while I deal with the delivery guy and then bring some plates and paper napkins from her kitchen, along with the pizza.
“God, that smells good.” She sits up, pushing her hair back.
“Yeah. I’m starving.”
It’s a loaded pie, with pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, and olives, and it’s delicious. We devour it, then both stretch out on the couch. “I’m stuffed.”
“Me too.” Sara sighs. Then she burps. She covers her mouth with her fingers. “Excuse me!”
I chuckle. “That was barely a burp.”
“What? You can do better?”
“Hell yeah.” I swallow some air and force a big belch.
“Oh, good one!”
“I can’t believe we’re burping in front of each other.”
“It’s natural.” She shrugs.
“Yeah.” I pause. “I guess I should head home. It’s late.”
“It’s really late. Just stay here. I have a guest room.”
For a hot second, I thought she was inviting me to sleep with her, until she added the comment about the guest room. But even though I’m super attracted to her, this is so not the time for that. “Okay. We have a game tomorrow, but this team doesn’t do morning skates, so I have lots of time to get home.”
* * *
—
“How was the date last night?” Brando asks me in the locker room as we change into shorts and T-shirts to warm up before the game.
“Well. It’s definitely one we won’t forget.” Our goodbyes this morning were awkward and weird. I’m sure Sara never wants to see me again, and honestly, that might be for the best.
“That good, huh?”
“That bad.”
“Oh shit.”
“We ended up at the hospital.”
All the other guys are now interested in the conversation, gathering around. Easton is on the periphery, clearly listening, and smirking. Great, he has to hear about my humiliation.
“What the hell happened?” Cookie asks. “Sex injury?”
The guys all make sympathetic noises of pain.
“Ouch.” Nate winces. “Hope you didn’t break your wang.”
“Jesus.” I shake my head. “No.”
“Shit, that can’t happen.” Loco frowns. “Can it?”
“Sure it can. Penile fracture.” Nate nods with authority.
More guys wince.
“I knew a guy that had to take his girlfriend to the hospital because he went down on her after eating Thai food. The hot spices actually burned her cooter.”
“That’s not what happened.” I rub my face. “We ordered an appetizer that was really good, but just when we began eating our dinner, Sara started having an allergic reaction. Like a serious one—anaphylaxis.”
“Ohhhh.” A bunch of guys all make appropriate noises of consternation.
“Turns out she’s allergic to chickpeas and didn’t realize there was hummus in the appetizer. Had to call an ambulance.”
“Holy shit,” Nate says, mouth gaping.
They all stare at me.
“Is she okay?” Brando asks.
“Yeah. Now. They gave her a bunch of drugs and oxygen. Then I took her home.”
“I’m guessing you didn’t get some.”
“Ha ha. Nope. I did sleep at her place last night, but in the guest room.”
“Damn.” Cookie shakes his head.
“Dude. You should have seen her. She was in no mood for action. Actually, neither was I. I was just glad she was alive.” I shake my head.
Some of us move to the workout room. I hop on a bike.
“That’s definitely a memorable first date,” Nate says.
“Probably our only date.” I grimace. “As if she’s going to want to see me again, after that.”
“It’s not like you poisoned her.”
“That’s how I felt. Jesus. What a disaster.” But even as I say that, I have to admit I still had a good time. Not so sure about Sara. “Although she did ask me to teach her to skate. For one of her videos.”
“There you go. A perfect excuse to see her again.”
“Not super thrilled about being in a video.” I drag the back of my hand across my now-sweaty forehead. “And I’m not sure I want to see her