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Being a pro hockey player means working out with the team, with trainers, and here at home when I need to clear my head. Pushing myself too hard can lead to injury or overworking my body, and neither are ideal. Not to say that I don’t work as hard as I need to, but I don’t try to kill myself either when I’m here at home.
For the billionth time, I wish I had a dog. I could burn off some of this energy by playing with a dog. I’ve always wanted one. As a kid, it wasn’t happening. Mom didn’t want something else to take care of and with me playing hockey as much as I was, she didn’t trust my word that I would care for one. And now, I travel so much and work so much, it doesn’t feel right to have dog when I live alone. I’d have to hire someone to watch him and walk him when I leave on trips. That’s no life for a dog. Not the one I want for mine, at least. Not while I’m still single.
After a good hour in the gym, I shower and waste more time until I start dinner. This’ll be it. One last night with Deanna. Sex be damned. Between that and what little I’ve seen of her personality so far, she’ll prove too much of a distraction sooner or later. I’d rather not get that far at all. Even a no-strings-attached relationship is a distraction, especially when it comes to Deanna.
“Knock, knock,” she calls as she steps into the house. “I would’ve waited, but I couldn’t.” She jogs into the room. “Bathroom?”
I give her directions for the downstairs bathroom and she disappears. She soon reappears and it’s with an uneasy look.
“Grab a plate and a glass of water,” I order. She arrived just as I finished plating our dinner. We each grab a plate and a glass. She follows me into the living room where TV trays are waiting. Once we’re situated, I hand her the remote for Netflix. “Find us a movie.” The surprise is clear on her face. “What? You don’t think we’re going to talk over dinner, do you?”
“Well, yes.”
“You’d rather we not,” I point out.
Her cheeks turn pink as she nods. “I did not think this through when I initially mentioned it.”
“I know. Find us something to watch.”
It doesn’t take her long to pick some romantic comedy that I hope we won’t watch all the way through. A few minutes in, EJ sends me a text with a cute picture of Bree. He can’t help himself sometimes; he has to share pictures of how cute she is.
“Hey, what is that?” Deanna points to that damn karaoke machine.
I come up with a quick lie that is dosed with a bit of the truth. “Apparently, one of my friends was there that night and saw me. He showed a video to the rest of my friends. That’s their gift to me. Want it?”
She laughs. “What? No way. You need to keep that so you can do more shows for me.”
“That was a one-time deal, darlin’.” No way in hell am I doing that again. Not after the hell I’m paying for the first time.
“You’re no fun.”
“You’re missing the movie by talking to me.”
That ends the talking, but not for long. “Was it worth it?” Her voice is softer now than it was a moment ago.
“Was what worth it?”
“Having to hear so much shit from your friends?” She leans forward, anxious to hear the answer.
“Worth every word.”
Her smile is nearly blinding. We finish eating in silence. I pull the trays off to the side and Deanna stretches out to rest her head in my lap. We aren’t actually finishing this movie, are we?
“You know, Brayden,” she starts, “that w
as a good dinner.”
I laugh. “I know; I cooked it.”
“I actually thought we’d go somewhere.”
“I’d rather cook. It’s easier.”
“How so?”
“I’m picky about what I eat because it has to be healthy.”
“So, you’re a health nut.”
