Between You and Me (A college hockey romance)

Twenty-One

Lennon

I pick Owen up from his house a couple hours later. My dad wanted to have dinner with us at a fancy restaurant downtown. Dresscode, suit and tie, which is very atypical for both me and Owen. He gets in the car wearing a dark blue suit with a beige tie and a white shirt. His hair is slicked back and he's looking surprisingly put together. 

"Look at you cleaning up nice" I tell him as he closes the door. 

"I have my moments" he grins. "You look great as always". I'm wearing a black one shoulder dress with a slit down the thigh and black heels. It's miles out of my comfort zone but according to Arden and Jade, I look like 'a million dollars'. 

"So" Owen says as we get on the road. I keep my eyes on the road. 

"So" he repeats. I can feel his gaze on me and I know he knows. And I know he's connected the dots himself because he doesn't chew me out or yell at me. He's being subtle and when he acts like that it's because he's afraid to hurt my feelings. 

I met Owen a couple weeks after me and Mateo broke up. I was a lot more fragile back then and add a breakup on top of that, I was insufferable. I don't know why he stuck around but he did and now I don't know what I'd do without him. But that also means he thinks I'm brittle and that every little situation is going to break me. I cherish him, though. Because my brother Wyatt is the  complete opposite and would probably double down on me and say I'm both stupid and delusional. Oh, and he would tell me 'I told you so'. 

I love them both. 

"Say what you need to say". 

He sighs. "What the fuck, Lennon?". 

Out of all the ways I'd imagined this would go, dissappointment was not my first guess. 

"I don't care who you sleep with. I'd rather not know because...." he scrunches his nose, "ew. No offence but you're like my sister and that's gross". 

"Jesus Christ Owen get to the point, please". 

"Ok ok. I just don't want you to get hurt, Lennon. I know what he's like and I know what you're like and I know you  have more to lose here than he has". 

Ouch. 

"And the timing... If my mind went there I don't doubt your mind has gone there too...". 

"Whatever happened, happened. I'm over it". 

Owen huffs out a laugh and I glare at him. He raises his eyebrows in question and I return my focus on the road, not wanting him to see how blatantly I'm lying. I'm sure he knows anyway but I don't want to talk about it anymore. He must sense that because he changes the topic. 

"Any clue why your dad has invited us to a fancy restaurant?". 

"I don't know" I confess. "He usually only does it if he has bad news or needs publicity". 

"Yeah that's what I thought" he trails off and we ride in silence for the rest of the drive, listening to the music playing on the radio. 

The restaurant is just as fancy as expected, with a valet and guests looking like they've just come from the red carpet. It never fails to amaze me that this is the life my dad is used to. As a player he used his fame to gain attention to charities and non-profits and that often meant he had to attend events in places such like this one. He's used that to his advantage when entering the world of agency. 

We enter the restaurant and although I know we look the part, I feel out of place. Owen lets out a low whistle, and whispers, "He's pulling out all the stops today, huh?". 

 The host welcomes us and leads us towards my dad's table. He smiles when he spots us and gets up to give us a hug. 

"There you two are!". 

He's wearing a black suit with a black tie and has his hair slicked back. There's already two bottles of wine on the table. 

"I didn't know if you wanted red or white so I ordered both". 

"No alcohol for me tonight, I'm driving" I tell him and he turns to Owen. Owen thinks for a minute then grins. "Who am I to turn down some wine?". 

We've barely gotten seated and ordered our food before the two of them are deep into another conversation about hockey. This is why I love having Owen with me. It takes the attention of me, and my dad doesn't try to talk to me about hockey. 

Our food arrives and we eat in silence for a minute before my dad clears his throat. Instantly my heartbeat speeds up. 

"So as you know, I've offered Greyson Carter a spot in my team" he begins. I put my fork down on my plate, and look at him. "But we're obviously concerned about his temper". 

"It's his best and worst quality" Owen jokes and my dad laughs. 

"Right.." I say, unsure where this is going. 

My dad continues, "and we've told him that in order for him to represent Levine & Co. he needs to get that in check". 

"Ok, I still don't get what this has to do with us". 

"Well, I mainly brought Owen here as a shield so you wouldn't completely attack me when I ask you what I need to ask you" my dad laughs. 

"Understandable" Owen agrees. 

This can't be good. "Well ask then" I say, growing impatient. My dad loves to make things dramatic, but I sense that today he's more nervous than anything. 

"I need you to help him". 

I'm glad I don't have anything in my hands because they would've all dropped to the floor right now. 

"Excuse me? He's a grown adult, what am I supposed to help him with?". 

"If he accepts, I'm going to sign him up for work at the charity but I know he won't be able to stay in line just by himself. That's where you come in. I want you to guide him. At least for the first couple months". 

There's no way this is happening. I haven't worked for the charity for years and besides when I did I worked in the shadows. If Greyson is joining the charity it's not going to be in the shadows. It's going to be up-front and public. 

"Why?" I ask. "There's other people more suited for that". 

"Yes, no offence, Mr. L, but Lennon has a lot on her plate this year" Owen butts in. I send him a grateful look across the table. 

"Because he said you were friends". 

I'm actually going to kill him.