Page 29 of The Chase

I groaned when it went off the pipes.

“Bullshit!” Keiana yelled next to me.

“Tough break. They’ll get it together,” I said, but I wasn’t sure I believed it myself.

Philly fans had two speeds — cocky or distraught. Lately, we had been on the distraught speed, especially with our hockey team.

Last year the Bulldogs had an awful season, and even though they were only a few weeks into this season, I had my doubts. I kinda felt like a jerk with how I razzed TJ about his playing last night. He hadn’t seemed offended, though; he just laughed it off. The team needed to get out of their current skid. St. Louis won the cup last year, and at one point in the season, they were legit the worst team in the league. So it didn’t matter how you won the cup; you just had to get there first. I would die if I ever got to see my team hoist the cup again.

The doorbell rang, which was odd since no one ever came over unannounced. Keiana pushed my legs off of her lap, and she went to answer it. I heard her talking to whoever was at the door, but then she shut it, and I didn’t hear anyone else come in.

“Who was that?” I asked, not taking my eyes off the screen.

“Um…I think it’s for you,” she said. Her voice was a little muffled.

I turned around and saw her holding an enormous bouquet of tiger lilies. My eyes were saucers.

She laughed and walked into the kitchen. I sprang up from the couch and followed her into the other room. She put the vase on the table, and I picked up the card from off the bouquet.

I had a great time last night, baby girl. Can’t wait for our next date. You tell me the time and place.

~TJ

“When did he have time to do this?” I asked.

Keiana smirked and peeked over my shoulder. “Oh, that boy’s smooth as shit. Baby girl?”

I rolled my eyes. “I think he calls me that because it annoys me.”

She laughed. “It’s cute!”

“It’s annoying!”

She elbowed me. “You totally like it.”

I tried to hide my smile. There was a tiny sliver of me that liked it, but I’d never admit it. I didn’t have time to argue with her because the sound of the goal horn and the crowd yelling on the TV distracted me. I heard my phone buzzing on the coffee table, so I knew we missed something exciting.

I walked back into the living room and saw the score ticker reading, T. Desjardins (76) assist - N. Kennedy (13) and A. Halls (44).

Crap! I missed TJ’s goal!

“What happened?” Keiana asked as she walked back into the living room.

“Missed the first goal of the game. It was TJ’s.”

She beamed at me. “He sent you flowers.”

I swatted her away. “He also brought me flowers yesterday. They’re at my desk at work.”

She raised a dark eyebrow. “No shit?”

I nodded.

“When was the last time you went out with a guy that did romantic stuff like that?”

Um.

Never.