Overnight Sensation(37)
“What if I’m avoiding dairy?”
The bartender laughs so hard he practically has an aneurism. That’s the thing about Heidi. Once you’ve noticed her, it’s hard to stop noticing her.
Or maybe that’s just me.
“You could try a dirty martini,” Pete says after he regains control of his executive function. “Always a classic. Or a glass of bubbly, if you want something lighter.”
“Good tip,” she says. “Oh, hey, Castro! Come here a sec. I have something to discuss with you.”
That’s what I get for staring at her so subtly, I guess. I do as I’m told, and take a seat next to Heidi.
“What non-alcoholic drink am I pouring you?” Pete asks.
“Club soda with lime. Thanks. Now, Mr. Castro.” She turns to me. “Before I left the apartment tonight, someone left a message on the landline answering machine, and—”
“Oh, that’s my—”
Heidi holds up a hand, silencing me. “Do not interrupt a lady’s story. I did some excellent sleuthing, okay? She greeted you with a name I didn’t catch. But then she said something about how Mom isn’t coming to your game next week after all. The caller apologized for the change in plans, but she’s convinced your mom to come visit her instead of you and help out with your nephew’s birthday party.”
“Oh, okay.” I can’t say I’m too upset that Mom isn’t coming next week. I’m in too much of a rut. If things go on like this, I won’t be in much of a mood to entertain her.
Fuck. I feel glum just thinking about it. Last year when my parents visited, I had two goals in one game, and we all went out for dim sum the next day.
“Which leads me to my next deduction.” Heidi snaps her fingers. “Stay with me, Jason.”
“Lay it on me,” I say, although it’s unclear whether I’m referring to her message or Heidi’s body. She’s like a beam of sunshine. And my cloudy ass could really use some of that.
Theoretically, anyway.
“It was your sister calling, right? And you have a nephew who’s about to turn three?”
“Yeah. My sister Jackie has… Oh, shit!” I forgot about his birthday. I’m the worst uncle ever. “Could you possibly help me—”
“I’m a step ahead of you,” she says.
Of course she is.
Out of her very large bag she pulls a Brooklyn Bruisers toy hockey stick. “Every little boy needs a hockey stick.”
“Good call, Heidi.”
“There’s more.” She beams at me. “I hope you like it, because I talked them into doing a rush job. Tonight was my last shift in licensed apparel.” She pulls out a brown teddy bear wearing a Brooklyn jersey. It’s adorable. And when she turns it around, I see the bear has CASTRO and my jersey number on his back.
“Holy crap,” I say, laughing. When she hands me the bear, his fur is soft and cuddly. “This is amazing. I think I need one for myself.”
“No, you don’t.” Heidi snatches the bear back from me. “This is going in a FedEx box tomorrow. I just need your sister’s address. Oh—and I need to see a photo of your nephew.”
“Why?”
“Because toddlers are cute!” She rolls her eyes. “You’re in a mood.”
I really am. I pull my phone out of my pocket and open up some photos. “Here he is.” The picture of my sister and her oldest makes me grin.
“Aw!” Heidi coos. “Such an attractive family. I hope he turns out nicer than you.”
“What?” I squawk.
Heidi sips her soda. “That’s all the business I have for you,” she says, waving a hand at me. “You’re excused.”
“Thank you.” I blink. “Did you just dismiss me?”
“Yes, I did.” Yes, ah did. Her Southern accent is very subtle, but it softens her in a way that really gets to me.
“If I stay here on this barstool, are you going to bill me in six-minute increments for your time?”
She rolls her eyes. “I don’t bill you for services rendered and you already know that. But you’re cramping my style right now.”
“How’s that?” This is a hockey bar. Our hockey bar. There’s not a woman in here that would chase me off. As a matter of fact, there’s two of them already giving me the fuck-me eyes.
“Maybe I’m hoping a great guy will come along and chat me up,” Heidi says, stirring her soda with a straw. “He sees you sitting here, he’ll just move on.”
“Which guy?” As a reflex, I look over one shoulder and then the other. The place is full of guys, of course. Half of them are my teammates. They won’t pick up Heidi.
Will they?
And here I thought I couldn’t get any grumpier.
“Or—here’s a plan. You could take me home yourself,” she says. “It’s not like you don’t want to.”
She’s right, of course. “You have a key to my home,” I point out.
“That is not what we’re talking about, Mr. Castro,” she whispers. “I still want my chance.”
I swallow hard. “You know that’s not going to happen.” Although the way we’re staring at each other right now, I’m feeling less sure than I should be, damn it. So I force myself to look away.