Page 43 of The Chase

I watched her rush out of my room and heard the front door slam shut. I changed into my date clothes and was finishing my make-up when my phone buzzed.

TJ was here!

I raced downstairs to find him standing outside my door, waiting for me. He was wearing a nice pair of jeans and a soft-looking navy blue sweater underneath a black coat. He gave me that lopsided grin and greeted me with a kiss on the cheek.

“Hey, baby girl.”

I rolled my eyes. “Come on, hockey boy, let’s go. Wait, did you drive?”

He shook his head but poked at his phone. A Honda Civic pulled up on the street in front of us, and he grabbed my hand and guided me toward it. He let me in first and then slid in beside me. I felt warmth envelop me at the feeling of his hand sliding through mine when our fingers clasped tightly around each other.

He told the driver where we were going, but my mind was somewhere else.

I gasped when he brought the back of my hand up to his lips for a soft kiss. “Maxine, relax.”

“I can’t relax! I’m too uptight!” I exclaimed.

He chuckled. “Which is why we’re gonna get you a nice drink to calm you down.”

He unlinked our hands and put his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his wide chest. I leaned back into him, feeling safe and secure in his arms. When we got to Center City, he helped me out of the car, and we walked up to a nondescript building with a bouncer standing in front. I fished into my purse for my ID, and TJ pulled his from his wallet.

The bouncer held up a finger and said, “Let me check,” before walking downstairs.

I eyed TJ, but he grinned and laced his hand in mine again. The bouncer was back a few seconds later, and he led us down the steps into a dimly lit room with a tiny bar. We sat at a small table with a padded bench across the wall. TJ let me sit against the wall, and he had the seat facing the outside. For a speakeasy, it was loud in here.

TJ furrowed his brow as he perused the menu. “I have no idea what to order.”

I laughed and scanned all the weirdly named cocktails. “Something fun!”

“Hmmm, maybe I’ll get an old-fashioned. What are you gonna get?”

I stared down at the menu and read through all the drink names and their ingredients. “Hmm…this is called ‘Dynamite with a Bang.’ It has pineapple juice in it. I think I’ll get that.”

He wrinkled his nose. “Sounds too sweet for me.”

“I like sweet.”

The corner of his mouth upturned into a sly smile, but then the server came over to get our order.

When the server came back with our drinks, I took a tiny sip of mine and almost choked. It was super strong, but I felt more relaxed. It was also a little too sweet, so TJ wouldn’t like it.

It was dark in the bar, but it was romantic with the lit candles on the table. It was nice to share it with the man sitting across from me.

“How was work?” he asked.

I shrugged and took another sip of my drink.

“That’s all I get?”

“TJ, don’t tell your sister…but I don’t actually like my job,” I admitted.

He winked. “Your secret’s definitely safe with me. She’s explained her job before, and it doesn’t sound like something I’d want to do.”

“Of course not. You play hockey for a living!”

He reached across the table and grabbed my hand. “Okay, so what’s your passion?”

I chewed on my lip as I thought about his question. “I don’t think I have one.”