Page 23 of Hockey Player Seeking Fan

"No, though I thought he was going to," I admit, thinking back to how Tyler had walked me home and then left. I'd been a little bit disappointed, if I was honest, but I wasn't going to tell Sabrina that.

"So do you think he's cute?" She leans in, her eyes twinkling.

"I mean... he is cute, but he's definitely not my type. The sort of man I'm looking for is not someone like him."

"I'm your best friend, Erica, and I don't think you're giving this guy a fair shot."

"What do you mean, I'm not giving him a fair shot?"

"I mean, you've had it in for him since the first time we met him, and it's really not his fault that he threw his drink on you."

"Like I've said a billion times before, I don't even care about the fact that he threw the drink on me. Wes was an idiot and told him to throw a drink on you—whatever, I get it. He wanted to get your attention and win your heart. Whatever his reasoning was, I understand. The fact of the matter is, when Tyler threw the drink on me and realized that he'd thrown the drink on the wrong person, he laughed. He thought it was funny. He didn't seem like he was upset or wanted to take it back at all. He thought it was a big joke."

"I mean... it was kind of funny."

"I guess." I shrug. "I don't know. Anyway, I promised him we weren't going to speak about it again, so it's fine. It's whatever. There are other reasons why I know he's not my perfect man."

"And those reasons are?"

"Those reasons are: he doesn't believe in true love. He doesn't believe in soulmates. And, well... you know that I do."

"Yeah, that's true. So, have you been swiping? Have you found anyone?" She pauses. "You're not still on that one dating app where you're doing those group dates, are you?"

"No way, Jose. Those dudes were not good. I mean, I'd hoped I'd meet someone out in the wild like I met Elliott—but he ended up being a douchebag, too."

"True. But just because Elliott was a douchebag doesn't mean they're all douches. I mean, look at Wes."

I groan as she makes a face of pure bliss. "I am happy that you love my brother, and I wouldn't want you to be with anyone else... but gag me with a knife. My brother is not romantic. He's not sweet. He's annoying as—" I pause as she makes a face at me.

"Let's just agree to disagree," she says. "He's so sweet. Do you know what he said to me last night?"

"No, and if it's anything sexual, I don't want to know."

She bursts out laughing. "Erica! I'm not going to tell you about our sex life like that."

"I know. Thank you. So what did he say?"

"He said that if he were to be born a hundred times, in each life, he would look and search for me.”

I stare at her. While I think the sentiment is very sweet, and I would love a man to say it to me, hearing that my brother has said it doesn't make me feel the same way about it.

"Did he get that from a movie or something?"

"No. Why would you say that?"

"Because that just does not seem like something Wes would say. But fine. I will accept that he said it, and I'm glad for you. Maybe I'm a little bit jealous. Maybe I want a guy to feel that way about me. But at least I know that no matter how long I'm single, Miles will be single much longer."

"Why do you say that?" she asks, a look of confusion on her face.

"Because Miles is never going to settle down. That dude thinks that a long-term relationship is like winning the lottery."

"You think?"

"I think it would be kind of nice if he were to meet someone and fall in love, but it's never going to happen. By the way, how's your sister? You haven't said much about her."

"Oh, she's okay." She lets out a long sigh. "My dad is not exactly happy with everything, and she feels guilty about having a relationship with me because of her mom, and she doesn't want Dad to think that she's judging him. He's got all these excuses. He said he's going to get sober." She shrugs. "You know how men are. They've always got an excuse. And she loves him. I mean, he's her dad, and... well, she's hoping that this time, it's going to be real."

"And how are you feeling?" I ask her. "I know it's a lot."