The Wards and Charlotte continued to alternate as Aiden's partner, and she was glad to have them around. But as the crowd began to thin out, she was also keeping an eye on Jordan, who continued to socialize with fans. He would skate a lap or two around the rink with a group of teenage boys followed by talking to an older gentleman. Then he got checked into the boards by a small girl in a pink Pirates jersey, and she couldn't help but smile as he pretended to crumple on the ice.
"I saw that, Charlotte."
"What?"
Rachel had an amused look on her face. "You were checking out Jordan again."
Charlotte could feel her face starting to go red with embarrassment. She tried to focus on the cool air against her cheeks, hoping it would get rid of the flush that she was sure had taken over.
"I wasn't checking him out," she muttered.
"It's OK. He's been checking you out too."
Charlotte turned to her friend, who had a devilish smile on her face. Perhaps it had just been obvious to Rachel because she was paying attention. There was no reason for anyone else there to suspect that she had a crush on the captain. Hell, there were plenty of teenage girls on the ice at that very moment who had crushes on Jordan as well. They just never had him over to see their homes for dinner.
Rachel picked up some speed to catch up with her son and husband. "Boys! It's time to go!"
"Aw, but can't we stay a little longer?" Aiden pleaded.
"No, you have school tomorrow," his mother said.
"But Charlotte is my date so I can stay with her."
Charlotte laughed at him. "I thought I had cooties."
"Ugh, fine," the boy said.
They skated towards the entrance to the visitors' bench and Charlotte said her goodbyes to the Wards.
"You coming?" Adam asked, only to get a stern look from his wife.
"I'm actually going to stay out a little longer," she replied.
"Right, so good night," Rachel said quickly, ushering her family away before giving her friend one last encouraging look.
Charlotte thought about trying to catch up with Jordan, who was skating a bit farther ahead of her with a few of the fans who were still around. But as she moved with the ice under her feet, she decided to stay back for a bit. This had always been a calming thing for her. Right now, she was simply skating, looking up at all the empty seats, feeling as if she was the only one out there.
"See something you like?"
Charlotte was pulled out of her meditative moment to see Jordan had skated up right next to her.
"Sorry," she said, giving him a shy smile. "I was just in a zone there I guess."
"And what does exactly does that zone look like?" he asked, a smile teasing at his lips.
"I was just wondering what it feels like when all these seats are full."
Jordan glanced up at the empty arena, a look of awe on his face. "It's really amazing," he said. "There's so much color and energy, and it's just the coolest feeling in the world."
"The coolest? Really?"
Jordan laughed. "I'm a hockey player. What else can I say?"
They continued to skate for a lap as two of the other players finally left the rink with the last of the season-ticket holders. It was just them on this quiet patch of ice, together, with the sound of their blades echoing off the boards.
"So I noticed your date left already."
"It was past his bedtime."
