Page 44 of Here We Go Again

She scoffs. “Girl, you should have just texted him.”

“I had no reason to text him,” I say, and Mia rolls her eyes.

“Sure you didn’t.”

I turn back to my book, but then Lexie, the nurse I met when Theo visited Garrison, drops into an empty chair next to mine.

“Listen, I just want to thank you again for last week,” she says after I introduce her to Mia. “Garrison was over the moon. He’s home now, but his mom just emailed a picture of him in his room with his signed Georgia Jaguars jersey up on the wall. It was really, really awesome of Theo to come.”

“He was happy to do it,” I say. “I’m glad Garrison is home.”

“He’s such a fighter. I really love that kid.” Lexie glances around the stadium. On the opposite side next to the home bleachers, the first group of walkers is lining up for the official start of the event. “So, you don’t happen to know if Theo is going to be here today, do you?” she asks, and my eyebrows lift. “I mean, the team will be here. They always are. But like, not necessarily all of them. So I was just wondering if maybe you knew about him.” She bites her lip. “Specifically.”

An uneasy feeling pulses right behind my ribs. I’m not surprised Lexie is asking about Theo. I was there. And watching him with Garrison was pretty amazing.

But I still don’t like the idea of setting her up with him.

I glance over at Mia, who is watching me closely. Her scrutiny strengthens my resolve. I’m not interested in Theo. I’m not. So there’s no reason Lexie shouldn’t be.

I force myself to smile. “He’s going to be here,” I say, keeping my voice as neutral as possible.

Lexie brightens. “Oh good. Do you also happen to know if he’s single?” A faint blush climbs her cheeks as she asks. “The internet says he is, but I’d rather know for sure before I make a fool of myself.”

The question catches me off-guard, and I’m surprised to realize I don’t actually know the answer. Theo deflected when I asked him about his love life, which led me to assume he’s single—I don’t think he would do that if he were in a relationship.

Plus, I slept in his apartment. Would he have offered his spare room without communicating something—anything—to a significant other?

Except, maybe he did. Maybe he showed me where the towels were, then immediately went to his room and sent a text to his girlfriend letting her know his poor, pathetic ex had been dumped and needed a place to crash for the night.

Somehow, I doubt it. Lexie’s right. According to the internet, Theo Williamson doesn’t do commitment.

“I’m not entirely sure,” I finally say. “But I haven’t heard him mention anyone special.”

“Good. That’s good,” Lexie says, glancing around the stadium one more time. “There’s just something so cool about the idea of dating a hockey player, you know?”

I frown, my opinion of Lexie immediately souring.

“I don’t know,” I say. “Sounds like a tough life. All the traveling they do. The potential for injuries.”

“Right, but the playoff jackets are totally amazing,” Lexie says. She sits up a little taller and clears her throat. “Not that I would do it just for the jacket or anything. Obviously.”

“Right. Definitely not,” I say.

She stands. “Okay, well, thanks!”

“Playoff jackets?” Mia asks as soon as Lexie is out of earshot.

“It’s this thing the wives and girlfriends do,” I explain. “If the team makes it to the playoffs, all the women get a designer jacket. Then everyone posts about them, and fans compare all the teams and pick their favorites. It’s kind of a big deal.”

“Oh, Lexie would totally do it for the jacket,” Mia says, and I laugh.

“Yeah. I think she probably would.”

“So, what, then? You’re just going to let her throw herself at Theo? No thoughts about that?”

“Why would I have thoughts?” I say, eyes glued to the book I still haven’t started to read.

Mia breathes out a sigh. “You’re infuriating.”