Page 10 of The Flight Risk

“I’m in.” I say. I need any kind of distraction right now. I can’t seem to get a certain brunette with piercing green eyes out of my head. I feel like I messed up with how quickly I walked away from her and her niece. I hate how socially inept I can be. And for some reason, I can’t help but be annoyed that she wasn’t wearing my jersey. I honestly could care less if people wear my number, but with Tess, it bothered me more than it should. We are just friends. A label she threw onto our relationship before I had the chance to rectify what happened in Telluride. I wish I could go back and explain my thought process.

Another looming topic filling my thoughts is the fact that my contract is up at the end of this season and although I have a strong feeling the Storm will offer me a long-term contract with a nice price tag attached to it, Chicago has also been in conversations. Since I’m from Chicago, it is an appealing thought to return home. I miss my family a lot and it would be nice to be closer to them. They come down south sometimes and watch me play or when we play Chicago, they come to those games. Other than that, I fly home for the standard holiday breaks. I’m planning on seeing them in about a month. A childhood friend is getting married and luckily, the wedding date coincides with a weekend we don’t have a game. I’ve RSVP’d for myself and a plus-one in the hopes I’m able to find a date to his wedding. It’s going to be a quick trip, but one that I need and am looking forward to.

“Nah, man. I have to head out. Jen just texted me and needs me to take over the night shift soon so she can get some shut-eye.” Bradley fist-bumps both Tristan and me before he grabs his jacket and keys. “Hey, did you ever find out why Jageilski couldn’t make it tonight? He kind of seemed off after practice today.”

I shrug. It was odd that Jageilski left the locker room in a hurry. He was on the phone with someone as he was walking out. I could sense that something was wrong but I didn't want to press him. “Yeah, I don’t know what’s going on. Maybe he’ll make it to the next one. I’m in for another round by the way, Lawson. Are you ready to get your ass handed to you?”

“Nah, I think that’s a job for my sister,” Bradley says right before he shuts the door.

Tristan grabs a handful of popcorn and throws it at my front door.

“You’re cleaning that up,” I say flatly. I like order and cleanliness and seeing all the popcorn on the floor is making my skin crawl.

“I will. Sorry about that. Bradley likes to push all my buttons,” Tristan says as he pushes the actual buttons on my Xbox controller so intensely, I think he might break it.

“You push each other’s buttons. You guys are the old married couple on the team.” I try to focus on the screen in front of me instead of the mess near my front door.

We finish one more round of the game and decide we are done for the night. “Did you want anything else? And you can turn on SportsCenter if you want, man.”

Tristan does not hesitate to take that suggestion and Scott Van Pelt’s show is about to start. “I’ll take another water if you don’t mind. Thanks.”

I snatch another water bottle out of my fridge and hand it to him as I sit down. “Brooke doesn’t mind you being out this late?”

“Not at all, man. She is having a solo, self-care night. She is watching the new season of that Bridgerton show and texting Tess non-stop, I’m sure.”

The mention of Tess’ name makes excitement swirl around in my stomach. “Do she and Tess talk a lot?”

“All day every day. Now that they aren’t working together, they miss each other a lot. I like that Brooke has a girl friend like that, though. From what I’ve heard, Tess is actually sort of responsible for Brooke and me getting together. She’s a good one.” Tristan takes another swig of his water as he watches Van Pelt report on all the major headlines in sports. Then he continues, “I guess she is, um, kind of taking in Lottie for a little while. Her older sister apparently jetted off to Europe or something with her boyfriend and didn’t want Lottie’s progress in school to be interrupted since she just started high school.”

As if I couldn’t crush on this girl more, this new information about her doesn’t help my developing feelings.

“That’s really nice of Tess to do that for her sister.”

“Yeah. I can’t imagine taking care of a teenager. Lottie does seem pretty sweet, though. It’s been strange to see Tess in this light.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s always been a free spirit and a massive flirt. I mean, you remember how strongly she wanted to get into your pants in Telluride, bro. I’m sure she’s had to dial that down with a teenager living with her now.”

I have the sudden urge to defend a woman I barely even know. A hot streak of anger surges through me to think that Tess has possibly been with other men since Telluride. I’m usually not a jealous man. But she’s different to me. I’m dying to know if she’s actively talking to anyone at the moment.

“What does her boyfriend think about a teenager living in her house?” I ask, hoping that it comes off like I’m not invested.

“I don’t think she has a boyfriend. I don’t think Tess Lewis does boyfriends.” Hope fades away at that thought because I’m definitely a girlfriend type of guy. “That doesn’t mean she’s not talking to anyone right now, though.”

I nod, attempting to shove away all the different emotions I’m feeling right now: a mixture of grief, jealousy and unrelenting want for a woman I clearly cannot have.

“Why do you ask?”

I press my lips together and shrug it off like it’s nothing. “Just making conversation, man.”

He pats my shoulder and laughs. “Oh, dude. I know that look.”

I snort. “What look?” Do I have a look?

“Denial.”

“About what?”