Page 17 of Hockey Player Seeking Fan

"I think you’ve read far too many books and watched far too many movies.” I lean forward and open my eyes wide. “I have something very important to tell you, Erica."

"Yeah?”

“I’m not sure if you’re ready to hear it, though." I lower my voice as if I’m about to share a huge secret.

"Oh my gosh, stop with the dramatics. What do you have to tell me?"

"So... Edward Cullen..." I pause.

"Yeah. What about him?"

"He’s not real."

"What?"

"And neither is Jacob, whatever his last name was."

She starts laughing, her expression changing from one of confusion to mirth. "What on earth are you talking about? Are you talking about the characters fromTwilight?"

"I am. And I hope I’m not bursting your bubble, but they are fictional characters.”

“You’re an idiot."

“You’re the one who asked if I was a vampire that wanted to suck your blood.”

"It’s called a joke." She rolls her eyes. "You are a goof. And actually, I’m more concerned about you because how do you even know about these characters?" She shivers slightly. “Please don’t tell meTwilightis your favorite movie. I might lose the little respect I had for you.”

"I have younger sisters," I say, thinking fondly of my sisters back in Iowa. "And let’s just say I’ve gone through many a debate about Edward versus Jacob." I shudder. "Way too many."

"Well, good for you, but I don’t know why you brought them up."

"Because you asked me if I was a vampire looking to suck your blood, and just in case you had a fantasy about?—"

"I don’t have any fantasies about anything." She cuts me off, and I want to tease her and ask if that’s because she’s never been with a real man, but I smartly keep my mouth shut. "And that’s enough of that. Actually, I am hungry."

"So what would you like to eat?" I lick my lips. “And don’t say me. My blood isn’t that desirable.”

"Oh no. Here we go again." She lets out a groan. I watch as she holds her hands up in the air and spins around, as if she is going crazy.

"What is going on?" I ask.

She yells out loud, "Universe, can you hear me? What are you doing to me? Are you trying to drive me crazy?"

She stops and makes a face that resembles an alien as she looks up at me with big brown eyes. I stare at her, reach forward, and touch her forehead.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah." She giggles. "I am not going crazy, though you might think I am."

"I’m glad that you have the wherewithal to understand that. I thought you may have absolutely cracked." I laugh. "I was wondering if I need to call Wes or Miles to come and get you to help prevent you from entering an institute."

"Oh my gosh, please don’t." She lets out a long, deep sigh. "I do not need them on my ass, going on about how I shouldn’t be going on dates with men I don’t really know, because they might be after me and my money. Though I don’t even really have any money because it’s in a trust fund, and I just live off the money my parents give me and the credit cards."

She pauses. "Sorry. You didn’t need to hear all of that."

"No, it’s fine." I nod slowly. "I get it."

"You do?" She stares at me for a few moments. "What part of that do you get?"