dictionary definitions now or are you actually talking about someone in particular? Another goalie perhaps?”
I hadn’t known Zoe all that long, but she was pretty damn insightful. Although maybe it wasn’t such a stretch—I mean all the girls had questioned me about Cage at the club.
“I don’t know. I didn’t think so, but now I’m not so sure. Jesus, if I ever went out with Cage as anything other than a friend, Jody would flip his lid!”
“The way I see it, that’s Jody’s problem.” She laughed again. “And maybe Cage’s. Since when do you call him Cage, anyway? I thought you called him Dalton.”
“Just recently. The more I get to know him, the more I think of him as Cage. Dalton is utterly too docile a name for him. It’s a good name, but Cage fits him better.” Besides, I thought it was a pretty cool name, him being a goalie and all. I always wanted a nickname like that. The closest I’d ever gotten was Brat—you could probably guess who called me that.
I went on to tell her about our dinner and even admitted that he kissed me. “In my defense, I did push him away, both times, but …”
“Both times? Oh do tell.”
“This is just between us, right? I don’t want Jody busting a blood vessel for no reason. I know it probably seems silly to you and Lacey that I allow him to be so overbearing with me, but believe me, he has his reasons.” I wasn’t going to go into detail about my past with Freddy again. I figured she probably knew about it anyway.
Zoe put her hand on my arm in a comforting gesture. “Yes. I know about Freddy, and I’m so sorry you went through that, Karen. I’m sorry Jody feels like he failed you too, but again, that’s his issue, not yours.”
“I know. I guess I just don’t want to stress him out about Cage for no reason. Speaking of which, he wants me to invite them over to his place for dinner. Cage, that is.He thinks it’s a way to break the ice with him and Jody. Maybe he’s right. At the very least, Cage and I are going to be friends.”
“I think that’s a great idea. If you want three more, Vlad and I could come and bring Crystal. She’s a great tension breaker and she’s half in love with Cage. He’s really nice with her, too. It might be good for Jody to see that. What do you think? I’m not trying to bust in, though, if you’re trying for a bit of one-on-one with the two guys.”
Actually, that was a fantastic idea, and I knew Cage wouldn’t say no to me. “That’s brilliant! I’ll talk to Cage when we get home and set up a date and time. He mentioned next weekend, but had to look at their game schedule.”
“Great. Just let me know. I’m so glad they made the playoffs. I think they’re going to sail through the first round.”
We talked hockey for a little while and then Zoe left.
***
Cage and I were both busy at times when the other was not, and only spoke or texted occasionally. I found myself sitting on my deck missing him from time to time. I knew once the run for the Cup was over, I’d be able to spend some time with him, so I endeavored to keep myself busy until then.
Through the end of April, I spent a lot of time volunteering with various groups of children that Zoe put me in contact with. I even did some more trips with the Big Sisters group.
While working at the clinic filling in for one of the therapist of Zoe’s colleague, the doctor in charge asked me about my plans for the future.
We were chatting before my first client was due to arrive. It was my third time helping Dr. Farmer out. “Pretty soon we’ll have to put you on the payroll.”
“That’s not necessary. I don’t mind helping out. As much as I love a vacation, I’m going to be here until August or so. I’d go crazy with nothing to do all the time.”
Dr. Farmer’s white coat was so clean and perfect that it didn’t even crease when he crossed his arms across his chest. “Oh? Why only August? Moving somewhere?”
I’d never really had a
I hadn’t known Zoe all that long, but she was pretty damn insightful. Although maybe it wasn’t such a stretch—I mean all the girls had questioned me about Cage at the club.
“I don’t know. I didn’t think so, but now I’m not so sure. Jesus, if I ever went out with Cage as anything other than a friend, Jody would flip his lid!”
“The way I see it, that’s Jody’s problem.” She laughed again. “And maybe Cage’s. Since when do you call him Cage, anyway? I thought you called him Dalton.”
“Just recently. The more I get to know him, the more I think of him as Cage. Dalton is utterly too docile a name for him. It’s a good name, but Cage fits him better.” Besides, I thought it was a pretty cool name, him being a goalie and all. I always wanted a nickname like that. The closest I’d ever gotten was Brat—you could probably guess who called me that.
I went on to tell her about our dinner and even admitted that he kissed me. “In my defense, I did push him away, both times, but …”
“Both times? Oh do tell.”
“This is just between us, right? I don’t want Jody busting a blood vessel for no reason. I know it probably seems silly to you and Lacey that I allow him to be so overbearing with me, but believe me, he has his reasons.” I wasn’t going to go into detail about my past with Freddy again. I figured she probably knew about it anyway.
Zoe put her hand on my arm in a comforting gesture. “Yes. I know about Freddy, and I’m so sorry you went through that, Karen. I’m sorry Jody feels like he failed you too, but again, that’s his issue, not yours.”
“I know. I guess I just don’t want to stress him out about Cage for no reason. Speaking of which, he wants me to invite them over to his place for dinner. Cage, that is.He thinks it’s a way to break the ice with him and Jody. Maybe he’s right. At the very least, Cage and I are going to be friends.”
“I think that’s a great idea. If you want three more, Vlad and I could come and bring Crystal. She’s a great tension breaker and she’s half in love with Cage. He’s really nice with her, too. It might be good for Jody to see that. What do you think? I’m not trying to bust in, though, if you’re trying for a bit of one-on-one with the two guys.”
Actually, that was a fantastic idea, and I knew Cage wouldn’t say no to me. “That’s brilliant! I’ll talk to Cage when we get home and set up a date and time. He mentioned next weekend, but had to look at their game schedule.”
“Great. Just let me know. I’m so glad they made the playoffs. I think they’re going to sail through the first round.”
We talked hockey for a little while and then Zoe left.
***
Cage and I were both busy at times when the other was not, and only spoke or texted occasionally. I found myself sitting on my deck missing him from time to time. I knew once the run for the Cup was over, I’d be able to spend some time with him, so I endeavored to keep myself busy until then.
Through the end of April, I spent a lot of time volunteering with various groups of children that Zoe put me in contact with. I even did some more trips with the Big Sisters group.
While working at the clinic filling in for one of the therapist of Zoe’s colleague, the doctor in charge asked me about my plans for the future.
We were chatting before my first client was due to arrive. It was my third time helping Dr. Farmer out. “Pretty soon we’ll have to put you on the payroll.”
“That’s not necessary. I don’t mind helping out. As much as I love a vacation, I’m going to be here until August or so. I’d go crazy with nothing to do all the time.”
Dr. Farmer’s white coat was so clean and perfect that it didn’t even crease when he crossed his arms across his chest. “Oh? Why only August? Moving somewhere?”
I’d never really had a
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