Chapter 9
Ryan checked himself in the mirror again, trying to decide if this was what he wanted to wear. He had already put on three different suits, with or without jackets, with or without ties. He finally settled on a button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, no jacket but a black tie that was loose around his neck, and a pair of flat-front gray pants that he just got back from his tailor. There were advantages to having big glutes and thighs when you were a hockey player. It made you quick on the ice while chasing down a puck or knocking over a defender. It didn't work so well when you were trying to find clothes that would properly fit your muscular bubble butt. The good thing was most women appreciated it.
Women like Lucy. He had tried to treat her differently that morning, take his time, pay attention to her body and what she wanted. He couldn't help that what she wanted was him — and he was more than happy to give that to her.
Then things kind of fell apart. He went home for that charity event at the local rink and really had a great time. Plus, they raised a good chunk of money for the rink's summer programs. He was good at charity stuff and being "Ryan McCloud of the Detroit Pirates" when he did things like that. He wasn't so great at being a guy who was actually interested in a woman. His only real girlfriend was back in high school and she complained that he was a bad boyfriend who wasn't interested in anything but hockey.
Then this summer, things went sideways a bit. He ran into Lucy at the cabin. They shared some intimate moments that he wished he could repeat — something he rarely felt with other women. He also started reading. For fun.
Ryan wasn't sure how to start a conversation with Lucy after he left so he started with his books. He went to an actual bookstore to buy them. Apparently, there was a used books place in town that he never knew about so he stopped there first and picked up a few of them. Then he went to the local library, got an actual library card, and asked a man behind the desk for some recommendations.
It was nice to have an outlet that wasn't hockey related, especially after the way the season ended, and he wanted to let Lucy know that he was keeping up on his reading. He wasn't really surewhyhe wanted to let her know, but after not talking to her since he left, he thought it may be a good way to touch base. So he sent her a text with a picture of his books, and she responded. Then he freaked out. Instead of creating an opening to talk to her, he told himself it was a dumb idea.
Which was why he was now questioning what he was wearing tonight. The last time he did that was the day he was drafted and had to wear a suit and tie on national television. This time was for Lucy.
Ryan sighed and accepted that this would be what he was going to wear. He really didn't have many options anyway considering Sydney told him to be at her place right now. So he took a deep breath, grabbed his wallet, keys and phone, and headed out the door.
"Hey, perfect timing. I was just about to come get you."
Ryan smiled at Sydney, who was standing in the hallway with her new fiancé, Andy. Right behind her was Lucy.
"And I'm here!" Ryan announced. "Hey, Lucy."
He gave her a casual wave and she smiled back at him.
"You look a little more cleaned up than the last time I saw you."
"Thanks," he said casually. "You look nice too."
And she really did. As they started walking towards the elevator, he watched her emerald green dress sway around her with a skirt that flared out down to her knee. The back of it was pretty low cut, exposing skin that he had caressed a few months ago. There was a strap that tied in the back across her shoulder blades and for a brief moment, he thought about what it might be like to pull it loose.
"Wait, when was the last time you saw him?" Andy asked, breaking Ryan out of his daydream.
"The cabin," Lucy said. "You know, the break you told him to take."
Ryan saw Lucy turn towards the elevator door, awkwardly avoiding eye contact with him. He figured this was how she wanted tonight to go so he would play along. He was on vacation at the cabin, he saw Lucy, that was it. Nothing more needed to be said.
The group made it down to the lobby where the car service was already waiting for them. Ryan automatically climbed in the front seat, figuring Andy and Sydney would want to sit together while Lucy didn't seem all that enthusiastic about sitting near him. He at least was gentlemanly enough to wait for her to put her gorgeous legs in the car before he closed her door. But the whole ride to the restaurant, he could feel her presence behind him. He knew she was there, and it made him nervous. He felt like he was on edge tonight, like he had to be on his best behavior. He couldn't be the goofy immature guy she thought she knew. He wanted to be more than that. He wanted to prove to her that he could be an adult and do mature adult things and have mature adult conversations. He had table manners.
He also was Ryan McCloud, and if he had to throw around his local celebrity status in this city to get a reservation for a fancy restaurant, then so be it.
As the car pulled up, he was the first to get out, lending Lucy a hand. Her fingers felt warm and her touch was calming, soft and natural. But it also felt short as she quickly pulled her hand away from his. Maybe she really didn't feel the same way he did now that they were back in the city.
"Hey, McCloud! Give 'em hell this year!"
Ryan looked up to see a drunk guy in a t-shirt across the street yelling at him. So much for looking cool.
"I'll try, man," he said with a courteous wave back.
"We can't take you anywhere, can we?" Andy said teasingly.
"Except here, which is how I got us a reservation for tonight."
Andy smiled. "Touché." They watched Lucy and Sydney walk ahead of them into the restaurant and stopped as Andy leaned over and put his hand on Ryan's shoulder. "Thank you, by the way. I know you guys don't like pulling rank like that."
Ryan shrugged. "Eh, I didn't mind doing that for Sydney. You, on the other hand, may be sitting out on the sidewalk."
"Fair enough," the trainer said with a laugh.
