Nova is a recent law school graduate, clinging to her dream of becoming a sports lawyer through an internship with New York City's NHL team, hoping she can land a full time position. One problem though, the captain of the hockey team is someone she...
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I wince as the alcohol burns my throat the whole way down.
August ended up convincing both Rome and I to go to the club opening tonight, as well as most of the team. I was pretty adamant about staying home and relaxing, but he enticed me with offering to pay for my drinks for the whole night to get me to go. Not that I need him to pay, I've got plenty of money to pay for my own alcohol, but his desperation made me feel guilty since we haven't gone out in a while.
Which leaves me here, sitting in a booth with Rome as we watch the team get into all kinds of trouble. August is at the bar flirting with two girls who seem to be down for anything, Kade is talking to the DJ, begging him to play who knows what as he continues to shake his head at his requests, and Tony is on the fake stripper pole in the middle of the dance floor and has already fallen on his face. Twice.
If that somehow comes out in the press, Coach is going to kill him. I guess it's better than a huge scandal, but Tony makes it in the tabloid headlines at least once a week solely because of his idiotic behavior and Coach is sick of him acting like a teenager.
Rome chuckles as he watches Tony fall for the third time, but on his butt instead of his face, before turning to me, "So, August told me about the coffee."
I don't respond and look over at the bar, but one side of my mouth tips up in a smirk.
Rome sighs, "Listen, Dec, I'm just warning you to be careful how you play this. If you really like her, great, but don't do stuff like that if it's only a game to you. You already hurt her once, so leave her alone if you're planning to do it again."
"I'm not going to hurt her."
"Okay, you say that but that also doesn't mean you won't unintentionally. If you're committed and want to actually date her, then I say go for it. But if this is just another one of your flings, leave her alone. You've still got Lindsay all over you and it's not fair to Nova to play with her feelings like that just because you used to know her."
Ouch. The reminder of how shitty I was and how I have no one to blame but myself for our estrangement sours my mood, but I'm not mad at Rome. I know he's right, and I know I shouldn't start anything with Nova unless I end things with everyone else, especially Lindsay.
"I know, I know."
"Do you think you want to date her? Like actually date her?"
I consider his question for a moment, my brows tugging together. I think of how excited I was that Nova was the intern that walked in on her first day. I think of how my attraction for her hasn't disappeared after all these years apart; if anything, it's grown. I think of how much I love her laugh and her smile, even more so when they're because of me. I think of how much I enjoy spending time with her, even if lately it's only been full of snarky comments and glares. I also think of how devastated I was when everything went to shit and how I haven't felt comfortable being myself with any other girl like I do with her, besides my sisters.
