Page 11 of Hockey Player Seeking Fan

“Ugh, you’re so annoying. That’s exactly what Wes said.” Erica rolls her eyes. “You guys don’t have a romantic bone in your body. It’s the thought that he wants to woo me. He wants to be romantic with me. He’s thinking of ways to impress me.”

“Okay,” I say. “Well, good for you. What’s his name?”

“None of your business.”

“What does he do for a living?”

“I don’t really know yet.”

“You don’t know what he does for a living. And you may or may not know his name. Is he a troll that lives in the park?”

“Of course, I know his name. His name is Darren.”

“So you’re going on a date with Darren, who you don’t really know.” For some reason, a ping goes off in my brain, but I’m not sure why.

“I met him while I was waiting in line at the theater the other day,” she says.

“Okay.” Another ping.

“He was standing behind me, and we started talking, and we just hit it off. And like all true love stories begin, there was amazing chemistry.”

“Love stories?” I raise an eyebrow. “This was love at first sight?”

“I mean, maybe. I’m not ruling anything out right now. At least I know he’s not the sort of man who would throw a drink on me.”

I take a long gulp of the beer. “So, you’re going on a date with a guy named Darren, who you just met while waiting inline at the—” And suddenly it hits me, Elliott had told me a similar story. Elliott had met a girl, and he told her his name was Darren, but it couldn’t be Erica, could it?. There was no way the nerd he was talking about was Erica. But wait, hadn’t he said she was a theater nerd who had gone to Columbia? Erica had attended Columbia. All of a sudden, I want to burst out laughing.

“He’s the most romantic man in the world. I think he’s most probably a poet or something.” Erica is still going on. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he asked me to sail around the world with him while he writes his book. I could cook for us, and then we’d adopt a cute little dog, and?—”

“I see. He sounds like a really great guy. What does he look like?”

“Why?” she says, and then shrugs. “I mean, not that it matters. But he’s absolutely gorgeous, much better looking than you.” She looks me up and down. “He’s got blond hair and blue eyes, and he’s super buff and tan.”

“I see.” I’m trying not to laugh now. Poor girl is going to be in for a shock.

“We’re going for ice cream under the stars. And he’ll probably try to give me a kiss on the cheek, but I’ll offer him my hand so he knows I’m not easy, but he’s not like most men. He’s not looking to just bang.” She gives me a pointed look, and I don’t say anything.

I grab my phone and text Elliott back.“Where exactly are you taking your date tonight?”

He responds immediately.“I said we’d meet up somewhere, but I’m gonna get some ice cream and take her back to my place.”I press my lips together. One hundred percent, Erica’s Darren was my teammate, Elliott.

I debate whether or not I want to tell her. I feel bad for her. I know Elliott, and he’s a pig. He has only one thing on his mind. But she’s so caught up in the vision that he’s trying to be thisgentleman who wants to spoil her, and I don’t want to be the one to burst her bubble. “I guess maybe you have met the love of your life. Maybe this is the last time I will see you before you go on your trip around the world,” I say, trying not to laugh. “Maybe tomorrow, he’ll fly you to Vegas, and he will ask you to marry you. I mean, if he also thinks it’s love at first sight.”

“Perhaps,” she says, her eyes spitting fireballs at me. “I’m not ruling anything out. He does seem like he’s a really romantic guy, and I think that he’s the sort of guy that will want to marry me quickly, and maybe tomorrow, he will hope for that to happen.”

“Perhaps.” My lips twitch. “I mean, he doesn’t have to work out or do anything tomorrow, right? Or have a game or anything later in the week?” She blinks at me in confusion. “What are you talking about? Work out for what? What game? He’s buff and built, yes, but he doesn’t live in the gym.”

“Yeah, I bet you he’s just naturally built, right?” I nod. “He’s probably thinking about how much he wants to spoil you right now.”

“I know it’s hard for you to believe, Tyler Kane, but there are actually gentlemen out there who want to take a woman out and treat her well. Who may see a future with her.”

“You’ve met this man how many times?” I ask, raising an eyebrow, debating if I should tell her that I know her date personally and that he’s definitely not a gentleman.

“I mean, we’ve only met once, but when you know, you know.” There’s a glint in her eyes like she believes the crap she’s spewing. “Like Sabrina and Wes.”

“But weren’t they friends for a really long time?”

“That’s not the point,” Erica says quickly. “Look, I am a true romantic, and I believe in things like love, and I’m sorry that you don’t.”