Page 15 of Breakaway

“I like you too, Travis Anderson.”

“Even though I’m a professional hockey player?” he grinned, hoping it was a funny kind of complicated situation, and not an I-can’t-see-you-anymore complicated.

Thankfully she chuckled at his comment. “Yes.”

“Good.” He grinned, a bit high on himself. He took a few bites of his sandwich, because his stomach was growling.

“The thing is,” she started, “my uncle... he doesn’t want me dating athletes.”

“Okay?” Travis mumbled with a mouth full of sandwich, her statement confusing him.

“Yeah. It’s a whole thing. I live with him, his wife, and his kids right now.”

Travis practically choked on his sandwich and set the last bit back on his plate. Taking a drink and clearing his throat, he came to the same conclusion that anyone would. “So if your uncle is against athletes, I guess I’m friend-zoned, then?”

“What? No!” Morgan perked up and laughed.

Travis finished his sandwich in two bites, satisfied with her answer. After wiping his hands and mouth with his napkin, he grinned. “Well, that’s a relief. It usually takes one more date before I get zoned.”

She sat back in her seat, laughing. “So tell me more about the place where you grew up. Minnesota, you said. City or small town?”

He chuckled. “Smooth change of subject there.” But it lifted his heart to know that she was still interested in him. And he wasn’t going to give up on finding out more about her, either.

They chatted about stuff they did as kids, and things they were grounded for, although he divulged most about himself, while Morgan always steered clear of giving away too much. Was she this private with everyone she met, or was it just him? He’d definitely have to work on gaining her trust.

All too soon, the alarm on her phone buzzed. “Crap, I have to get back. My lunch is over.”

He stood up and held out his arm to her. “Let’s go.”

HE PARKED IN A SPOT this time, then rushed to her side of the vehicle to open her door. “I’ll walk you in.”

“As long as you don’t have important hockey stuff to go do,” she teased.

“I am pretty sure I can fit you in.” He grinned.

Walking into the lobby of the rink, the girl at the receptionist desk called to Morgan, “You still have five minutes!” And then winked.

The rink was busy with kids and parents. He searched for the least busy area. Nodding to the picture window, he suggested, “You want to go sit over there until your five minutes are up?”

“Sure.” She walked with him toward the window. “Somehow, I think this will be the longest five minutes of my life, if Katie has anything to do with it.”

He looked down at the bench. “Here?”

“Yeah.”

They sat down, and Travis looked down at the carpet in front of him. He’d been mulling over her “yes, no” complication comment ever since they’d left the cafe, and he needed to figure out where he stood with this woman. “Morgan, can we revisit the friend-zone thing?” he asked. “Just so I’m clear.”

“Travis, I am not friend-zoning you.” She smiled nervously. “I like you.”

“I like you, too.” He cupped her jaw and softly kissed her lips. As he began to pull away, she kissed him back, grabbing his jacket and pulling him towards her.

Pausing, she rested her forehead against his. “Travis, I date who I want.”

Amused at not only her comment, but her timing, he chuckled silently. “Good to know.” He restarted their kiss, and she returned the gesture. He was so into this girl, and he didn’t even know her last name.

“Morgan?” A man’s deep voice interrupted them. “What are you doing?”

Travis looked up to see Sam Morris, his teammate and a popular Renegades player, standing there.