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“Love to.” She nods. “It was an exciting game. Taylor doesn’t seem to have changed a bit.”
“Nope, he just got more goddamn beautiful.” I sigh. Once again, not realizing I’m just unconsciously throwing my sentences out to the wind.
The girls all stare at me and start giggling their heads off.
“You know what I mean.” I shake it off.
Susie pulls me back a little as we all follow Cindy through the arena stands.
“You sure you’re okay?” she whispers.
It’s a lot, since I just saw Taylor for the first time in six years, but I am intrigued to see behind the scenes.
“I’m fine,” I tell her. “It’s a little surreal, but it’s long overdue.”
She nods, satisfied that I’m not wading too far out of my comfort zone.
It is like treading in uncharted waters with Taylor, because I don’t know too much about his life now, what he’s like to be around these days.
Once we’re out of the arena, a lady called Marcy, who has her name embroidered on the Hawks sweater she’s wearing, greets us.
“Hi ladies.” She smiles. She’s petite, as well as sporty looking, with beautiful coppery skin, her tight curls gathered into a bun on top of her head. “The guys are down the hallway in the VIP area for drinks. Follow me.”
She chats to Cindy on the way as we bypass an expansive reception style waiting area. She points out the weight room on one side and a sauna on the other. “They even have their own cafeteria.” Marcy chuckles, shaking her head.
I guess these guys do need to eat.
Cindy tells us that they have been sharing the ice this season with one of the junior leagues who are having their own practice rink repaired. “We have some professional ice skaters as well most afternoons when the team isn’t practicing.”
I kind of tune out as we walk to the other end of the stadium. My mind is spinning about Taylor and what I’m going to say to him next.
I mean, he’s still the same Taylor, isn’t he?
He has always been a down to earth kind of guy, so I can’t honestly believe that he would have grown too big for his boots over the years.
As we enter a large common area where there’s a gathering of people, guys pile out of the locker room opposite us, some already showered and changed.
A guy I recognize as Jay Jefferson comes over to us as Marcy walks to the bar on the far side of the room.
His blonde shaggy hair and smooth, easy smile are crowd favorites.
“Well, well,” he muses, rubbing his chin. “Who do we got here, Cindy-buns.”
Cindy gives him a shove. I forget she works here and knows everyone in the team anyway. This is probably not that exciting for her after all.
“You better stop calling me that, JJ.”
He grins and disregards her comment, holding his hand out to me.
“Jay Jefferson, nice to meet you ladies.”
I shake his hand and say hello, then Susie, and a little bedazzled Maddison, even though she has no idea who he is.
“Great game!” she enthuses.
“Hey, why are you wearing Rivers’ jersey?” He smirks at her.
“There must have been no Jefferson jerseys available,” she muses back.
