Page 30 of Hard to Get

“True.” Lauren tilts her head. “Any red flags with Jayden Wood?”

I think back. I get a soft feeling in my abdomen, remembering his smile, his jokes, his flirting. I cast my mind back to the times we met in the park. And there was also the day we met up while shopping. “Um…”

“Uh oh,” Gracie says. “Nothing?”

“He has a dog.”

“That’s not a red flag.”

“I know. And he was nice to my dog. He has a nephew and niece that he babysits. They were at the park with him one night. His sister’s kids.”

“Hmmm.”

“And…” I look down at my cocktail. “He told his nephew it’s okay to be afraid. And the first time I turned him down for coffee, he was cool with it.”

They make more noises of understanding.

“We had a conversation about fate and luck,” I say slowly. “It was… interesting. He sort of made himself a little vulnerable, talking about how he’s disappointed in how he’s been playing and wants to do better.”

“Ohhh.”

“Oh, and he has two sisters.” I grin. “They made him play with Barbies and taught him about periods.”

“Wow.”

“He was nice to the servers at the restaurant. That’s a pretty low bar, but still… if a guy’s an asshole to them, that’s a big flag.”

“Absolutely.”

“He was also nice to a kid in the park who almost hit me with a ball.”

Gracie looks at me, slowly moving her head from side to side. “Girlfriend, you are in trouble.”

“What do you mean?” I frown. “Those are good things!”

“Exactly. But you don’t want a relationship with a man. You just want fun. And sex.”

“Right.” I look from one friend to another inquisitively. “What’s the problem?”

“You’re going out with a man who sounds perfect for a relationship,” Gracie says.

I slowly move my head from side to side. “We’re not… that’s not…” Oh shit. “You’re right. Oh my God. Green flags all the way.”

“Exactly.”

“He sounds like a keeper,” Lauren says almost apologetically.

“Respects boundaries,” Gracie says. “Check.”

“Emotionally available,” Lauren adds. “Check.”

“Keeps promises. Communicates openly.”

“Wait, wait.” Alexis brushes her long dark bangs out of her eyes. “He’s a hockey player.”

“Yes…?” Gracie tips her head.

I know what she means. I work in professional sports. Specifically, hockey. I’m well aware of the issues with hockey culture and hypermasculinity.