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I thought about jumping out of the car at every stoplight. Running home and forgetting this whole stupid thing.
But of course, I stayed.
And it wasn’t just because of his promise to pay for everyone’s tuition.
It was because I knew he was special. Magical. A once in a lifetime, or five lifetimes kind of moment.
There was the possibility that he could be the greatest thing that had ever happened to me.
And I didn’t want to be the fool that walked away.
* * *
The game had already started when the driver got to the arena. He drove around the side, to a deserted-looking part of the building with more shadows than lights, which gave me a bit of a stranger danger vibe. Before I could freak out ridiculously, he stopped the car, got out, and opened my door, gesturing to the illuminated entry that had just appeared in front of us.
“Thank you,” I murmured, a fluttering sensation building in my stomach, as if a thousand tiny wings were beating against the walls of my gut. The sensation grew stronger with every step towards the smiling woman standing in the doorway, like a swarm of butterflies were dancing within me, twirling and pirouetting, a kaleidoscope of colors and movement. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself.
But there was no calm to be found.
“Monroe, welcome to American Airlines Center. Mr. Daniels is so thrilled you’ve chosen to join us. I’m Ashley.”
The words sounded so unlike the Lincoln I’d been getting to know, so much more polite than the roughed up alpha personality I associated with him.
But what did I know?
“Sorry I’m late,” I responded lamely, but she just continued to smile at me in a weird, overly enthusiastic way.
“No worries. Let’s get you to your seat. We’re only about ten minutes in.”
The click of her heels echoed through the bright hallway she led me down, and I fidgeted with the jeans and white tanktop I’d thrown on, wondering if I’d misjudged the proper attire for a hockey game. She was dressed to the nines, her body accentuated by a tight pencil skirt that hugged her every curve. The smart blouse she wore was the color of fresh cherries, and it was tucked into the waistband of the skirt. As she walked, the fabric swished and rustled with each step.
“You’ll love these seats,” she told me once we’d gotten to a metal door through which I could hear the faint din of a crowd. She opened the door, and the din became a roar, motioning for me to walk down the tunnel in front of us. Right as I moved to walk, she held up a bag in her hand.
“I almost forgot. I have a jersey for you! Mr. Daniels was very insistent about that.”
“Oh, okay,” I said as she reached into the bag and pulled out a Knights jersey. Except…
“Is it supposed to have Ari Lancaster’s name on the back?” I asked, a little confused.
Ashley burst into almost hysterical laughter, having to wipe a few tears from her eyes. “That’s too good. He’s going to freak,” she finally breathed.
“So, I’m not supposed to wear it?”
“Oh no, you’re definitely supposed to wear it,” she squeaked out while continuing to chuckle.
Alright. I guess this was a joke you had to be in on.
I slipped on the jersey, and I couldn’t help but admire how nice it was. In fact, it was the nicest freaking thing I’d ever worn.
We headed down the tunnel, towards the ice I could see at the end.
I stepped out of the tunnel, and a rush of sound hit me like a tidal wave. The crowd was a chorus of voices, each one clamoring to be heard above the others. The ice stretched out in front of me, like a vast, frozen lake, shimmering under the bright lights. There was a chill against my cheeks, the air cold and crisp. The scent of popcorn, hot dogs, and beer filled my nose, making my mouth water. Colorful dots moving across the ice, the players’ skates scraped and their sticks clacked as they played. It was a sensory overload, and my heart raced with excitement.
“Pretty cool, right? I fucking love my job,” she giggled, leading me to seats that were on the second row, right across from the Knights bench.
“This is my seat?” I asked, a little awe in my voice.
“You must be doing something right.”
