Page 14 of Breakaway

“Are you sure you’re okay? You are so quiet.” For once in his life, he was very self-conscious.

The way she grimaced made his stomach drop. He really was into this girl, and the thought of whatever this was being over before it really started hit him like a punch in the gut.

“Travis, why didn’t you tell me that you play for the Renegades?” she asked directly.

He couldn’t help but stare at her. He’d never had a girl ask him that before. Usually, they knew what he did for a living before he had a chance to tell them. Actually, that was usually the reason why they agreed to go out with him.

“Well...” He paused thoughtfully, trying to figure out a non-lame way to phrase this. “Because if you didn’t already recognize me as being on the team, I liked the idea of the anonymity. I’ve played the game all my life, and it isn’t every day that you find a girl who wants to be with you for you and not your hockey status.”

She shook her head, her face twisted in confusion.

“I didn’t keep it from you on purpose. I just didn’t disclose it yet. Of course I was going to tell you. But in my experience, girls tend to treat you differently if they know you play professional hockey. Just being Travis for a little while was kind of nice.”

“Oh.” Her tone was softer, and her expression changed, as if she understood what he meant. “That makes sense.”

“You really didn’t know?”

She shook her head. “No. I only became curious when you were practicing and no one else was scheduled except for the team. That’s when I checked the roster. And there you were.”

“And you were mad that I didn’t tell you?”

“No, not mad. I get it. More than you know,” she said, her comment striking him as odd.

“Does it change anything?”

The waitress interrupted them with their sandwiches. They sat in silence until she left again.

“So I guess you have a two-way contract,” Morgan said, before taking a bite of her sandwich.

“Um, wow, yes. I’m kind of surprised you know that. Are you keeping secrets, too?” He meant it as teasing, but the look on her face made him nervous.

“Yeah, I know enough.” She changed the subject. “So your holding out on me was your way of making sure I wasn’t star struck by your being a hockey player?”

He nodded. “You could say that. It gets tiring when the ladies only want to date you if you’re the star of the team, or when you’re on a hot streak. And if you dare have a bad game, or end up on injured reserve, they’re gone before you can leave the arena. My ex was like that. She was looking for a short stay in the minors, a one-way ticket to the majors, and all the fame that came with it. According to her timetable, I was in the minors too long.”

“But now you’re here.”

“Yes, and she was the first person to call me?surprise!” He sighed. “I really don’t like fake people. She wasn’t a bad person, just with me for all the wrong reasons. But that’s a story for another day. So, you really didn’t know I played hockey?”

“I knew you played hockey. I mean, hanging out at the rink and dragging around a hockey bag were kind of dead giveaways.”

“Funny, but you didn’t know I played for the Renegades?”

“Nope,” she said with a sigh. Dropping her glance to her plate, she messed with the lettuce on her sandwich and picked at the slice of cheese.

“Why’d you say it like that?” he chuckled.

“Because now it complicates things.”

“It does?”

She shrugged. “Maybe, I don’t know. I mean yes, it does, but...”

Travis chuckled. “Which is it? I feel like I’m missing half of the conversation.”

“It’s just complicated,” she said, crinkling up her nose.

“What does that even mean?” He took her hand and covered it with his. “Morgan, I like you.”