“Yeah, I guess so.It was a long time ago, so now it feels pretty second nature.I’m sure you’ll be able to figure it out.”He gestures with a dismissive wave over his shoulder and leans forward to point at the monitor in front of him.
While he explains the data to me, I scribble notes on the small notepad and try to keep up with all the information and numbers he points out.For all the lack of empathy he might use in conversation, PJ is actually a decent teacher.He regularly stops throughout his explanations to ask if I have any questions.Which I do.
“Let’s say I’m asked to run a query on, oh, I don’t know.How about Dane Axelrod’s power play goals for last season?”I try to sound nonchalant when I mention Ax’s name.I suppose I could have used any number of players, but let’s face it, Dane has been on my mind a lot lately.“How do I search for that data?”
It’s as if a light flipped on inside PJ’s head because he literally beams with enthusiasm over my question.
“It’s low-key easy once you know how the page is laid out.”He taps the monitor in front of us with his finger, and my eyes follow it to the top of the screen.“You just type in his name right up here to pull up the individual player dashboard.”
As if saying his name out loud has summoned some kind of magic, Dane Axelrod materializes in the flesh, his patent smirk popping up above the cube wall inches from us.
My entire body stiffens and I swallow hard, hot flame burning my face.PJ, on the other hand, seems thrilled, his dark eyes widening in surprise.He extends a hand over the top of the monitor to clasp Ax’s outstretched one in a bro-shake gesture.
“Hey, Ax.Good to see you, man,” PJ greets in the most animated fashion I’ve witnessed since meeting him.“Nice assist on that buzzer beater the other night.”
Dane nods absently in appreciation while his gaze fixes on me.I suck in my bottom lip, wholly unprepared for this moment.My heart races as he cocks his head with boyish charm, the look in his eyes almost a dare.
Tension grows and the air between us crackles.Even PJ seems to notice it; his gaze bounces between Dane and me like he’s watching a ping-pong match.
Then, as if realizing I may not know the Vikings player, PJ gestures toward me.“Oh, let me introduce you—” he starts, but is interrupted by Dane.
“Hello, Cherry.”His words vibrate from his chest.
That gorgeous smile of his that accentuates his chin dimple cuts from cheek to cheek.I notice he hasn’t shaved, and coarse stubble the color of golden wheat covers the planes of his sharp jawline.Dane lifts a theatrical brow—full of mischief and danger—like he knows something that everyone else doesn’t.
Great.Just great.
The use of that sugar-sweet nickname he bestowed upon me is clearly an indicator he remembers me.The day we met, one of the most embarrassing days of my life to that point, I was covered in sticky cherry slushie syrup.
But I’m not that girl anymore.And I won’t fall for his boyishly cute charm ever again.
Been there.Done that.
Have the nearly five-year-old to prove it.
PJ gives me a puzzled look, as if trying to calculate things in his head and not making sense of it.“Do you two know each other already?”
I reply, “No.”
At the same time, Dane says, “Oh yeah.We go way back.”
He leans over the cubicle wall, positioning his bent arms over the top, and props his chin on his hands.
“And we need to catch up.Don’t we, Cherry?”
A weird-sounding exhalation gurgles up from my throat, like I’ve been caught doing something I shouldn’t have been.I suck in my lower lip as Dane’s eyes latch onto my mouth.
I lift a hand in an awkward wave.“Uh, hey Dane.”
PJ’s gaze continues to go back and forth, his facial expression telling me he’s doing the math but his two plus two isn’t equaling four.
“Cherry?”he asks, looking squarely at me.
My words get caught in my throat, my heart thudding so loudly I worry they can hear it.If possible, my face flushes even more—I’m mortified that Dane would use that name in front of my new colleague.But I do work for a hockey team, after all, and hockey players are notorious for giving nicknames to their teammates.As long as Dane doesn’t offer the story of how he came up with that name, I’ll be fine.
But I’m not one of Dane’s teammates.I’m an ex he hasn’t seen in five years, and we are in an extremely awkward reunion moment.I flit a hand in the air and hope that Dane will move along so we can avoid any further weirdness.
But the universe is totally against me today.As luck would have it, the elevator chimes and little-girl giggles fill the awkward silence that’s fallen over the three of us.Giggles followed by my dad’s booming voice echoing down the hallway.
