Dad is in the front with all the coaches and staff, probably discussing tomorrow’s game. Levi and his friends are toward the middle, a lot of them playing games on their Nintendo Switches—something that will always be funny to me—and a few people are toward the back like Halsey Holmes, who is quietly reading to himself.
I am in the row that’s right in front of the bathroom, which is always pleasant, especially when the backup goalie, Torres, decided to spend a solid twenty minutes in there. When he left, he offered me a wink as he walked back to his seat, a stench trailing him.
Disgusting.
“Would you like anything to drink?” the flight attendant asks after she’s served everyone else.
“I’m good. Thank you, though.”
“Are you sure?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
“Well, if you need anything, just ask.”
“Thank you,” I say, but she doesn’t move away, so I look back up at her. “Everything okay?” I ask.
“Are you the coach’s daughter?”
“Yes,” I say, straightening up.
She nods and looks toward the front of the airplane.
“Is everything okay with him?” I ask, confused.
“Oh yes, sorry, don’t mean to worry you. I was just wondering, do you know if he’s seeing anyone?”
My expression falls flat as I look up the aisle at my father’s bald and shiny head. It’s no secret that he’s claimed as one of the hotties in the hockey coaching world. He stays in great shape, has that grumpy façade that women tend to like, and he dresses very well, thanks to the stylist he hired a few years back after a magazine shoot he did.
But this, this feels a bit much for me.
“Uh, not that I know of,” I say. “Then again, he doesn’t talk to me about that stuff.”
She nods. “Okay, well, thanks for letting me know, and I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I just felt like, I don’t know, there was some flirting, and I thought about giving him my number.”
“Flirting?” I scoff, my eyes feeling like they’re about to fall out of my face. There is no way Will Wood was flirting. Unless she considers a snarl to his lip flirting, which, in that case, he’s flirting twenty-four seven. “My dad was flirting with you?”
“Well, it felt like it. He was touching my hand.”
“What?” I nearly shout, drawing the attention of a few people around me, so I lower my voice. “He touched your hand?”
“Is that uncommon?”
I set my iPad down and say, “To be fair . . . uh, what’s your name?”
“Giselle.”
“Giselle, nice to meet you, but to be fair, I’m not even sure my dad has a sex drive at this point. Unless I don’t know anything, I think he’s been celibate for nearly my entire life. The man doesn’t know what touching is.”
She smiles softly. “Hmm, okay. Well, it seems like maybe he does because this isn’t the first time it’s happened.”
I sit taller in my seat. “Excuse me? He’s touched you before?”
“Several times and they were always subtle, but this last time just felt like something was there so I was going to slip my number on a napkin. Think that’s too much?”
“I mean . . .” I blink a few times. “If you think there’s something there, might as well go for it, but don’t be alarmed if he doesn’t call you.”
“I won’t take offense.” She smiles. “Thank you. I know this was probably awkward, but I just wanted to make sure he was free game before I slipped my number to him. A few flight attendants don’t care about that and will hand out their numbers to players, but I never want to be that person.”
“Really?” I ask.
“Oh, yeah.”
Feeling curious, I ask, “Anyone in particular?”
She looks up the aisle and says, “Uh, a few here and there, but they mainly go to Levi Posey.”
Figured that’s what her answer would be.
“Ah, my boss,” I say.
“Levi is your boss?”
I nod. “I’m his assistant.”
“Wow, well, Jessica handed him her number today, so be prepared for that.”
“Jessica, the blonde up front?” I ask.
Giselle nods. “Yes, she’s had her eye on him for a while and finally got the nerve to hand over her number.”
“Did he take it?” I ask.
“Oh yeah. Thanked her with a wink. She’s more than excited about the possibility of what might happen.”
“I’m sure,” I say as a sour feeling fills my gut. “I’ll be sure to help her any way that I can.” I smile.
“Ooo, I’ll be sure to tell her that. Thanks again for the chat. You’re really cool . . . uh, what’s your name?”
“Wylie,” I reply.
“Such a cute name. Well, it was nice meeting you, Wylie.”
“You too, Giselle, and who knows, maybe you’ll be my new stepmom one day.”
She pauses for a moment, then lets out a nervous laugh. “Wouldn’t that be something?”
“I like presents on my birthday and Christmas, plus cards on holidays with cash. Don’t disappoint me.”
She chuckles again and stands taller. “We’ll see, Wylie.” And with that, she takes off down the aisle, the sway in her ass drawing the attention of some of the men on the plane.
Well, that was . . . not what I expected.
I stare out the window, the puffy clouds passing by as I think about a lady handing my dad her number. Do I care if my dad dates someone? Absolutely not. I honestly think he should. Maybe he wouldn’t be so irritable all the time. And maybe he does have fun outside of being home. Then again, he takes hockey so seriously that he doesn’t even like it when his players hook up on away trips, so why would he do it himself?
The thought of my dad being a flirt makes me almost dry-heave. I can’t imagine it. I can’t imagine him being any other way than stern with a pinch in his brow. But who knows, maybe he just saves that demeanor for little old, lucky me.
And then there’s Jessica making a move on Levi.
I get it. He has a reputation. Besides some of the newer guys with less playing time, he’s one of the only single guys on the team. Easy target. Makes amazing money, has the accolades, has all the charm and good looks—I should know because I fell for it.
But it irks me.
It irks me that he’d take her number. Nothing can happen between us. Ever. And just look at her. Ugh.
Tall and skinny with gorgeous blond hair. She’s nothing like me. She’s the kind of girl with poise and confidence, someone you take home to your parents who then charms them with her smooth handshake and adorable, hoity laugh that gathers the attention of all around. She’s the kind of girl who listens in bed, who will do anything to pleasure her man, even if it means giving up her right to an orgasm. She’s polished and probably has a twelve-step skincare routine at night and in the morning. She’s the girl with the put-together apartment made for grown-ups . . . she’s . . . well, she’s who my dad would be proud of.
She’s the kind of woman I could see with Levi. She’d hold her head high while they walked down some red carpet together. She’d smile for the camera when they visited the local children’s hospital. She’d wave to fans while in the stands, watching her man play, and she’d do it with a princess wave. Everyone would fawn over her.
There would be T-shirts made.
Team Jessica.
Go Jessica’s Man.
I’m here for the Jessica content.
“Whatcha doin’?”
I nearly leap out of my seat at Levi’s voice, startling me away from the clouds and back into reality.
“My God,” I say, clutching my chest and looking up at him. “Why didn’t you announce yourself?”
“I did,” he says with a smirk that I know Jessica will fall head over heels for. “That’s why I asked, whatcha doin’?”
“That’s not announcing yourself.”
“It’s not?” he asks as he takes a seat on the armrest of the chair across from me. His large body takes up all the space in the aisle, so it feels like he’s practically sitting on my lap. “Should I have made a trumpet sound and then said, ‘presenting, the hottest d-man in the league, Sir Levi Posey’?”
I tilt my head against the headrest. “Yes, that would have been preferred.”
“Noted for next time.” He nods at me. “What are you doing?”
“Uh, drawing, why? What are you doing? Looking for more bagels? Unfortunately, I’m willing to do a lot for you, but parachuting out of an airplane for bagels is not one of them.”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “Nah, just came back to see how you were doing.”
“Fine,” I say, feeling suspicious. I study him for a second. “It seems like you want something.”
He shakes his head. “Can’t a boss just check on his employee?”
“Yes, but you have this look about you like you’re up to something.”
“Stop being so skeptical. I’m up to nothing.” He crosses his legs at his ankles and taps my iPad. “Working on those logos?”
I shake my head. “No, I was getting frustrated, so I was just drawing.”
“What were you drawing?”
I jut my chin out. “Nothing of your concern.”
His brows rise. “Nothing of my concern? Well, now you have me intrigued. What could possibly not be of my concern? What are you hiding in there?” Leaning in close, he asks, “Fantasy pics possibly?”
“What do you mean fantasy pics?” I ask.
“You know, maybe some naked drawings of your go-to girl, Patty. Maybe some of your favorite boss . . .” He wiggles his brow.
“I did not draw you.” Although I did do a rough sketch the other day, and the guy turned out to look like Levi, but that’s not anything he needs to know.
“Shame, I think I’d be a pretty good drawing subject.”
I cross my arms at my chest. “Oh yeah, what makes you think that?” I ask.
“Well, for one”—he holds up one finger—“I’m built like a god. I’m handsome and firm, tight in all the right places, which is great experience in drawing for you.”
“Very fond of ourselves, aren’t we?” I ask.
He winks. “Very. Second, I know how to sit still. I’m pretty good at it. I’ve been sitting still almost this entire flight until I came back here to see what you were doing.”
“Wow, that is very impressive.”
“Tell me about it. And last, I’m easy to please. Set me up with a pose that shows off my junk in a beautiful way, hand me a bologna sandwich, and I’m good to go for at least an hour.”
Trying not to show just how idiotically charming he is, I say, “And what exactly would that pose be?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
I shake my head, the movement causing my hair to fall in my face. I reach up to push it behind my ear, but Levi beats me to it.