Overnight Sensation(28)

I toss my chest pad aside and face her bare-chested. I’m a pretty fine specimen, so I suppose there’s an outside chance that my strapping, naked torso will distract her from this line of questioning. “I’ll do whatever my team needs. That’s how we roll in Brooklyn.”

“But what’s it like to suddenly switch? How long have you been a left wing?”

I chuckle, trying to sound lighthearted. “Since I can remember.” The last time I skated on the right side of the ice, I was probably twelve, had a baby face, and still thought Marvel superheroes were the shit. “It’s going to take some work. But hard work is what I’m here for. Change is always a little bracing, but I got here by tackling each new challenge head-on.”

Georgia beams at me from behind the journalist, so I must be doing okay.

“I noticed you didn’t get a goal or an assist during the game,” Miranda presses. “Last season you averaged a point a game.”

“Yeah, thanks for remembering that,” I say with my most plastic smile. “But that’s an average. Should we go over how averages work?”

Georgia puts a hand over her mouth. I’m sure she’d rather put it over mine.

“That won’t be necessary,” Miranda says. “I’ll just watch your next game for two points, so you can even things out.” She smiles like a cat who’s ready to pounce.

“You do that,” I say, because I’ve backed myself into a corner.

“Have a nice night,” she says. “Good chat.” And then she finally walks away.

Georgia shoots me a look that implies we’ll be having a talk later. One that I totally deserve.

Ugh. I need a pizza and a beer immediately. And maybe a massage.

But first a shower.





By the time I’ve put on my suit and tie again, it’s ten thirty. “Who’s up for Grimaldi’s?” I ask.

“Always,” Silas says. “But seriously, what’s with the pink suitcase?” He’s already wearing his suit, but he’s got one foot parked on the bench, where he’s stretching his hamstrings like a good little goalie.

“It’s Heidi’s,” I grunt. “Holding it for her.” I don’t even know why I made the impulsive offer to help. I need to get Heidi out of my brain, not see her after the game to give her luggage back.

“Let’s find her,” he says. “Then pizza.”

“Cool.”

“I think she said something about moving into her own place? Maybe today’s the day.”

When we exit the locker room, she’s right outside in the hallway. And I swear to God, this girl is like my personal Kryptonite. Even in a dumpy polyester uniform she makes my blood quicken. She’s biting her lip when I spot her, which makes me want to bite it, too.

“Omigod, thank you!” she says as soon as she spots the suitcase behind me. “I didn’t know what else to do!”

“No problem,” I murmur. “Here you go.” I reach down and grasp the handle to move it around my body. But that fucker is heavy. “What do you have in here? Your collection of encyclopedias?”

“It’s just everything I can’t live without.” She sighs. “Well, I’m off to Bleecker Street.”

“Hey, nice address,” Silas says.

“It’s the, uh, Bleecker Street in Bushwick. Wish me luck.”

I open my mouth to say goodbye. But there’s something very wrong about that statement. “Bushwick? What’s a nice girl like you doing there?”

“Moving in. There are some very nice parts of Bushwick.”

“Is your new place in one of them?”

Heidi wrinkles up that cute little nose. “Not exactly.” She grabs the handle of her suitcase. “See you later. Thanks for the help.” She turns and rolls it down the hallway, which isn’t easy because there are people in the way and that bag is enormous.

“How do you think she’s getting that thing to Bushwick?” Silas asks, echoing the question in my own mind.

“No idea. Yo!” I call out as Silas and I head for the same exit. “Hot Pepper! You call a car?”

“It’s handled,” she says over her shoulder.

We follow her out, though, because Silas and I are leaving, too. And damn if she doesn’t head right for the subway entrance. At the top of the steps she tugs on the handle of her giant suitcase, barely clearing the ground before she yanks it down a stair.

All I can picture is Heidi squashed like a bug under its weight at the bottom of the stairs.

“Wait up!” Silas and I both yell at the same moment and then run for it.

Heidi jerks her chin over her shoulder. That’s when her bag topples against her and she grabs wildly for the handrail. I see her start to tip just as my hand closes around her wrist. And Silas grabs the bag at the same moment.

None of us goes flying down the stairs, thankfully.

“That bag is too heavy,” I wheeze. All the cells in my body are hungering for nourishment. Or for Heidi. It’s hard to tell at close range, where I can smell her perfume.

“I noticed,” she says quietly.

“Let’s put you in an Uber,” Silas suggests, dragging her bag onto the level pavement again.

“Okay, thanks.” She lifts her eyes up toward the dark sky as if praying for patience.