“Hi. Is it okay if I sit here?” one of the hockey players asked.
She looked up. His dark hair was artfully messy and he was built much like Kevin’s brother Sean—long and lean.
“Sure,” she said.
“I’m Craig,” he said with an extended hand.
She shook his hand. “Kathy.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen you at a game before.”
“This was my first one.”
“Who do you know on the team?”
“Sean and Tommy O’Malley. Their older brother Kevin is my boyfriend.” She checked the time on her phone.
“Have somewhere to be?”
“Not really, but I’m tired and ready to head out.” She peered behind him at Kevin, who was still standing at the bar. “My boyfriend, however, still doesn’t look ready to go.”
“I’m leaving in a few minutes. I could give you a ride if you want.”
“Thanks, but I have my car. I told Kevin I’d wait a half hour. Just feels like a long thirty minutes.”
“Can I at least get you a drink since you’re stuck here?”
She shook her head. “I already tried a margarita, and it about killed me.”
Craig laughed. “Someone should’ve warned you that beer and whiskey are the only safe options here.”
“I’ll keep that in mind for next time.” She laughed.
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
She watched Kevin make his rounds and tamped down her jealousy when two young women stopped him near the bar and were standing much too close for a simple conversation. They were obviously flirting with him.
He smiled, said something, and they laughed. One stroked his arm. He didn’t brush them away or step out of reach. It didn’t look like he was pointing her out to them as his girlfriend either. Kathy took a deep breath. She couldn’t control the actions of other people. Kevin was coming home with her.
He loved her. She had no doubt.
But when one of the women leaned over to whisper in Kevin’s ear, Kathy lost whatever patience she had. She slid from her stool and walked to Kevin and the women. Taking a page from his book, she stepped next to him and simply said, “Hey, babe. Care to introduce me to your friends?”
Her words were sharp enough that even if the women were drunk or stupid, they’d understand her meaning. Kevin leaned back and put an arm around her shoulder. “Hey, sweetheart.” He pointed to the women and said, “This is Tiffany and Sam. This is my girlfriend, Kathy.”
At least he had the decency to introduce her as his girlfriend. “Hi,” she said.
The women looked her up and down with a smile. “See you later, Kevin,” one of them said before flouncing off.
He turned to Kathy. “Please tell me you weren’t jealous of some puck bunnies.”
“Jealous? Hardly. I’m tired of being here. I’m not having a good time.”
“You looked like you were having a good time with that hockey player.” He took a swig of his beer.
“What?” She thought back and realized that he was talking about Craig. “Craig sat down and we talked. I immediately told him I was here with you. Can you say the same?” She didn’t wait for a response because she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer. She was being bitchy and it was uncalled for. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then said, “Look. You’re having a good time. I don’t want to ruin that. Have fun hanging out with your brothers and their teammates. Come over later. I’ll be at home.”
He looked from her face to the crowded bar. “You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. I’ll be over in a while.” He kissed her cheek.
When she pulled away, a pit settled in her stomach. He hadn’t bothered to offer to walk her out. He hadn’t even given her a real kiss. It shouldn’t have bothered her, but something nagged. By the time she got home, she’d worked herself into a frenzy with thoughts about why Kevin wanted to stay at the bar and what the hell he’d meant by puck bunnies.
She parked in front of her apartment and tried to calm herself, but nothing seemed to work. She knew she was being irrational, so she changed into running gear, tied on her gym shoes, and went for a run.
The moment her shoes slapped the pavement, her head started to clear. She filled her lungs with the cool early fall breeze in the late afternoon sun. She told herself she was seeing the dark side to everything.
Kevin was a good-looking guy and women would flirt with him. Men flirted with her too. She dismissed it because it didn’t mean anything. She loved Kevin.
The thought rang out as clear as light blue sky above her. She loved Kevin.
Which was why she got pissed when he flirted with other women. She turned the corner and crossed the street without waiting for the signal. Traffic was light, so she had no cars to dodge. Her momentum felt too good to slow.
She was irritated by his actions at the bar. Her irritation fueled her pace. It wasn’t about whether or not he would cheat or even if she trusted him not to. She didn’t like the way he’d treated her. They were supposed to be on a date. He’d said he wanted to spend time with her, but he hung out with everyone but her.
As she reached her block, she slowed to a walk to catch her breath. Nearing her building, she saw Kevin leaning against the gate leading into her courtyard. Hands tucked into his jeans pockets, he watched her walk.
Most guys would’ve waited in the car or at least played with their phone while waiting, but Kevin had been looking for her.
Of course, she liked that, but she had something to say to him before she would let that knowledge warm her.
* * *
Kevin had been watching up and down the block for the last ten minutes. When Kathy hadn’t answered her phone or her door, he began to worry that things weren’t okay between them. Over the
