Page 59 of The Flight Risk

“I did not take that long. Trust me, Lottie, I could have taken a lot longer.” I adjust my dress when I step off the last stair, and that’s when I see Oakley. I’ve seen him dressed up before, both at Casino Night and at the wedding in Chicago, but to see him in a tux is striking. His hair definitely has some sort of product in it because his beautiful light brown waves are held in place and his beard has never looked so nicely groomed. He could be a model for a fashion magazine. One of his hands is sprawled against his torso as he scans my entire body.

“Well, well, well. Has anyone ever told you that you are kind of handsome, Adam Oakley?”

“Only you.”

“Liar.”

“And I hope you’ll never get tired of me telling you what a knock-out you are.” He kisses me on the cheek. “You look beautiful, Tess.”

I squeeze his hand and say, “Thanks. So do you.”

After a swanky meal at Dakota’s Steakhouse, Oakley opens my door and guides me around the car. He does the same gesture for Lottie and hands his keys to a young valet, who clearly recognizes him even without all the hockey gear.

“Adam Oakley! Oh man, I’m such a fan! Can I get a selfie with you real quick, man?”

“Sure.” Oakley clutches onto my hand and I can see I’m in the picture with him. This kid doesn’t want a picture of some random girl.

I know that Oakley won’t willingly let go of my hand, so I slide it out from his strong grip. He looks at me for a millisecond, ensuring that everything is okay. I nod and step backward toward Lottie and out of the photo. The fear and doubt are creeping in like ex-hookups I ghosted. I know how much Brooke’s life has changed in terms of privacy and I know our little bubble will pop eventually. He will no longer belong to me. I guess he never really has. He’s always been in the spotlight and until he retires from the game, that’s not going to change. Can I handle all the publicity? All the travel? The uncertainty of contract negotiations? Things fall through the cracks all the time and opportunities pop up out of nowhere. He would never give up hockey just to stay in Dallas with me. And I don’t plan on leaving Dallas. It’s been my home.

I throw on my best smile as he finishes his interaction with the valet. “Are you ready to find our seats?” he asks, holding out his arm for me to take. I slide my hand around his arm and do my best to not completely reveal how much I’m spiraling. Lottie walks beside me and I want to start crying with how beautiful she looks. Tara would never believe how mature and pretty her daughter looks. It’s rare to see Lottie in a dress or in makeup. The pure excitement on her face subdues my questions about the future. This night is for Lottie.

I’ve lived in Dallas my whole life and never stepped foot in this building. Everything looks so ornate and the seats are a deep shade of crimson with gold trim, matching the railing. An enormous chandelier in the middle of the ceiling looks more like an art installation than a regular old light fixture.

I peek down below at the orchestra seats and notice how grand this theater really is. Our box is the closest box to the stage. I never imagined I would get to experience what it’s like not to sit in the highest seats in a stadium or theater because they’re the most affordable option. Oakley is willing to give me the world. But when it comes to relationships, I love to slam doors closed so much that I’m scared to leave it open for him.

The lights begin to dim a couple of times, indicating the show is about to start. Lottie sits in the seat closest to the stage. She looks at Oakley with adoration and gives him a huge hug. A hug that breaks me to pieces. I know how close they’ve gotten these past few weeks. I don’t want to dangle a future in front of Lottie when I don’t even know what the future is going to hold.

Oakley pats her back. “Are you ready for this, Chewy?”

Lottie pops out of the hug so fast and excitedly, it’s like this is her Christmas morning. She beams. “So ready, Hans.”

Tonight is not the night to tell either of them. And then an ugly thought pops into my head: How do I tell them I’m about to become what I used to find so attractive and intriguing–the villain?

The music starts to swell and the opening notes of the Star Wars theme fills the theater. Lottie is bobbing in her seat and I smile because I know how much this night means to her. It’s one of those moments in her life that she’ll remember forever and it’s all because of this sweet golden retriever of a man, who cares so deeply for the people who mean the most to him, sitting next to me.

I don’t deserve this man. I don’t deserve the love Adam Oakley is offering me on a silver platter. A single tear runs down my face and Oakley’s face falls when he notices. He leans and whispers, “Everything okay?”

I wipe away the traitorous tears and nod. “Yes. The music just hits differently when it’s live, that’s all.” He kisses the side of my head and squeezes my hand in a way that screams this is forever. He’s the only man who ever set my heart on fire, but the uncertainty of our future is about to snuff that fire out. Maybe the call from my landlord was a sign that Oakley and I are moving too fast. What if we eventually move in together and then it doesn’t work out? What if his contract does fall through, preventing him from staying in Dallas? What if he can’t get over how much he misses Chicago and regrets staying in Dallas for me? The image of my dad walking out the door and the lingering weight of that particular memory sinks to the bottom of my stomach. What if Oakley also realizes I’m not enough for him to stay?

33

“You nervous for tonight?” Tristan sits next to me and takes off his skates.

“Maybe a little. I hope she says yes.” I prop my helmet on the wooden shelf behind me. My stomach is in knots. Since I got back from Chicago, there has been only one thing on my mind.

“Says yes to what? Why am I always out of the loop?” Jagielski joins in on the conversation.

“That’s because lately you beeline it to the exit door the moment the game is over. That, or you are always talking to someone on the phone or texting. You tune us out, man,” Tristan says.

“I’ve been a little distracted lately. Some personal things have come up and I am trying to navigate it all.” Jageilski pulls off his practice jersey.

“What personal things?” I press.

Jagielski sidetracks yet again. “Now isn’t the time. We’re talking about Oakley. What is Tess possibly saying yes to? Shit. Dude, are you about to propose to her?”

“No.” Although I would do it in a heartbeat, I don’t want to scare her off. “No, man, it’s too soon for that. I’m going to ask if she and Lottie want to permanently move in with me.”

Jageilski’s eyebrows raise. “Wow. That’s a big step. Are you sure about that?”