Page 44 of Worth the Risk
Knowing the men who run this organization, I’d bet on the password being wolves, stanley, chalice, or some other hockey related term. I’d also bet that one intern kept people away from the room where the computer is so the other intern could guess the password.
And finally, I get a text from Aunt Caroline. She’s sorry to do this to me, but she’s coming back from Europe a few months sooner than expected, and how soon can I clear out of her apartment?
Well, that’s just lovely.
I treat myself to a rather indulgent early dinner near the arena, allowing myself to wallow in the misery of knowing I won’t live next to Luca anymore. Not only that, but I have no prospects for apartments at all. I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do.
After my third glass of cabernet, I whip out my phone and decide to tell my aunt exactly where she can fuck off to.
Me: When are you coming back?
Caroline: In a day or two.
Me: I’m essentially subletting your apartment, which means I need more time to find a suitable alternative. I have nowhere to go, Aunt Caroline.
Caroline: I’m sorry you feel that way. You can stay for a week or so after I return, but you’ll need to find a place.
Me: I understand that. You just dropped this bomb and expected me to be okay with it.
Caroline: You’re right. I didn’t think about that. I’m sorry. It was a long night, and I’m exhausted.
Me: I’ll start looking for apartments this weekend.
Caroline: Okay, Hannah. You’d love it here. I’m still in Italy. It’s gorgeous.
Me: Maybe I’ll make it there one day.
I toss my phone back in my backpack and sigh. My aunt lacks a sympathetic filter when speaking in person, and it’s even worse via text. I should have given her the benefit of the doubt that she wouldn’t boot me out of her apartment immediately. She does have some heart … just not much.
I sneak into Boston’s arena with only minutes to spare before the puck is dropped. I climb up to the very last row, so far up that the players look like little ants zipping around the ice, but the feeling is still electric. I spot Luca immediately, and he tilts his head up to look at my section, as if he knows I arrived.
The arena staff zoom a camera in on him, which allows me to see him rub across his sternum before placing two fingers on his lips. I lose the ability to breathe. Was that a sign for me?
Then the game starts, and I forget all about the possible signal from Luca. Holy moly, this game is so fast. I can barely keep track of the puck, but even way up in the rafters, I can feel the pulse of the crowd. The energy moves like ocean waves from right behind the glass and all the way up to me. I find myself forgetting to contain my enthusiasm for the visiting team, and after getting more than a few nasty looks from people around me, I sneak out at the beginning of the second period. I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay the entire game, as my red-eye flight doesn’t leave me much time to get to the airport and through security, but I stand at the bottom of the stairs to take one last long look at Luca. Again, it’s as if he knows where I’m at, and his eyes meet mine.
And he rubs his sternum, right over his heart, while staring at me. As he nonchalantly rubs his lips immediately after, I gasp, and I see him smirk. I shake my head, chuckling, as I clutch my own hands to my chest in the shape of a heart, before waving quickly and turning away.
If I had waited five more seconds, I would have seen my uncle spot me.
The following day, I’m back at work after my ‘sick’ day. I’m essentially a waste of space, sitting at my desk at the Sports Facility Zone, so exhausted I can’t truly function, when the terrible terrors walk in gleefully.
“We have a list of things we’d like to run with,” Lindsay says matter-of-factly.
“About what?” I ask as I cover my mouth in a very unladylike yawn.
“Social media games and trends we can try,” Jessica answers.
Because I’m too tired to argue, I nod. “Alright. Let’s have ‘em.”
They both stare at me. “Seriously?”
“Uh, yes?”
“Wow. You typically turn us down,” Lindsay says.
“You caught me at a bad moment. Would you like me to tell you to get out of my office?”
“No!” they both shout.