Page 28 of Worth the Risk

I grab the spatula from her and push her out of the way. Arianna sits at the counter, studying me. As she opens her mouth, I hold up the spatula.

“There’s nothing to figure out. We can’t be together. End of discussion,” I tell her as I finish the eggs.

“I don’t accept that answer,” she says vehemently. I begin to speak and she throws her hand up to stop me. “Let me finish. I’ve never seen you like this, Luca. And now that I’ve met her, she’s fucking perfect for you. I get that the circumstances are fucked up, but there has to be a way! You can’t just give up on her, on the possibility of a relationship with her.”

“Ari, I love that you’re invested like this. But it’s not so simple. I’m pretty sure the coach has it out for me. This could get me kicked off the team. He’s started making comments to my face about my contract, my behavior, and other shit,” I tell her.

“But is there an actual rule that says you two can’t be together?” she asks. I shrug.

“Listen, I don’t know. I really don’t. I always thought it was kinda inferred that you don’t date employees. I know a few players have fucked around with some girls, but no one has ever dated a co-worker. And it’s even more of a gray area because of Hannah’s job. She has to travel with us a lot, sis,” I tell her.

“Damn.”

“Yeah.”

Arianna is quiet as I plate up the eggs. Fortunately, she made enough for both of us. I take both plates to the table and we eat quietly for a few minutes.

“If I ask you a hard question, will you promise to be honest with me?” Arianna asks.

“I’ll try.”

“It’s just …” she trails off.

“What?”

Ari sighs. “I’ve watched you play hockey my entire life. The joy that always emanated from you from the moment you stepped on the ice until well after you stepped off. That’s gone, Luca. It almost seems like it’s work now. Are you still enjoying it? Is this job, and this team, worth possibly losing what might be life-changing for you with Hannah?”

I didn’t expect that deep question from my little sister, that’s for damn sure. “It’s all I know, Ari. I don’t know who I am without hockey.”

“Hockey is just what you’re good at, Luca. It’s not your identity. Honestly, I always thought you’d quit after a couple years and be a coach.”

I stare at her. “Seriously?”

“Yeah. You’re great with kids of all ages. Look at how you took Matt’s step-daughter under your wing,” Arianna says with a shrug. Our cousin Matt recently married a single mom. Her oldest daughter, Molly, is an exceptional hockey player. To say she enjoys playing in a co-ed league is a massive understatement. I’ve never seen anyone, male or female, enjoy taking people out quite as much as Molly does.

I let those thoughts resonate quietly while finishing the eggs.

“How are you gonna handle being around her so much?” she asks quietly.

“I don’t fucking know.”

“Do you think you could date her and not tell anyone?” she asks hopefully.

“Maybe. I don’t know. The thing is, I don’t want to hide it. I want to be with her. I want to do the damn thing and have everyone know she’s taken. That I’m taken. I don’t want it to be a secret thing,” I admit.

“I’m sorry, bro. I hate this,” Arianna says. I nod. I hate it too. “Can I ask you one thing?”

I chuckle. It’s never ‘one’ thing with Arianna.

“Yeah, what?”

“Can I still be friends with her? Cuz she’s kinda amazing and I feel like she’s my person,” Arianna says with a hesitant smile. I bark out a laugh.

“Yeah, sis. You can still be friends with her,” I tell her. It’ll kill me to see her with Hannah, but I can’t take away a friendship from my sister. Arianna has had some really shitty relationships and has had a few back-stabbing bitches in her past. I know Hannah will be a great friend for her. And I feel like Hannah needs Arianna in her life.

I’ve managed to steer clear of Hannah for a week. I’ve only seen her a couple times, and fortunately our paths haven’t crossed at the arena, or the Sports Facility Zone. Until today in my apartment building. This is one incredibly uncomfortable elevator ride, and all I can think of was being stuck in the elevator with her. I’m sure she’s thinking the same thing. I can hear her breathing accelerating, but I’m trying to remain as silent and stoic as possible. It’s better if she doesn’t know how much she’s affecting me.

As Hannah runs out of the elevator, I loiter in the lobby for a few minutes. I’m on my way to the Sports Facility Zone for a veteran meeting, so I assume she’s going there too. I don’t want to follow her there and then have to walk behind her into the building. That ass … I can’t not stare at her ass if she’s in front of me.