Page 77 of Hard to Get

“Thanks, sis, but I am nowhere near her level.”

“What does that mean? You’re talented, successful.”

“Our team is crap.”

She and her husband Blake both wince. “Well, true. But still, you’re a pro hockey player.”

“Yeah. But it’s not just that. I feel like she’s way out of my league, but also… she has this great life with her friends and her business. She doesn’t need me. She doesn’t need anyone. Sometimes, I feel like I’m competing for her attention.”

“I’m sure she must have a lot of men interested in her.”

“I don’t think she’s seeing anyone else. I just mean I’m competing with all the other things in her life.”

“Hmmm.”

“Her condo is her private space,” I go on. “She has her dog.”

“She has a dog?”

“Yeah. A pug. Frank’s nearly identical twin.”

“We told you that, Mommy!” Layla says. “We met her at the park that day.”

“Ohhhh.” Alanna nods. “Riiiight. That was her.”

“She has a busy career, lots of friends. A whole bunch of orchids.”

Alanna blinks. “Cool.” She tips her head. “So you’re not competing with other men. You’re competing with her orchids, her dog, and her vibrator.”

I blink.

“What does that mean, Mommy?” Layla asks.

Alanna bites her lip and glances at Blake, who lifts his eyebrows.

I hold back my laughter. “It’s for massaging sore muscles,” I say. “And yeah… you’re right. It’s hard to compete with all that. Not only that…” I hesitate. I think I know what Alanna’s going to say when I tell her this. “She doesn’t want anything serious.”

Alanna’s lips jut out. “Do you?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t looking for anything, but…”

“Aaah.” She nods. “It’s her.”

I don’t say anything, just lift one shoulder.

“If she really means that, you probably shouldn’t keep seeing her.”

“I knew you were going to say that,” I mutter.

“I’m sorry. Do you think she’s playing hard to get?”

“Fu— fudge no. She doesn’t play games.” I’m certain of that. “She is hard to get.”

“Do you think she might change her mind?”

I mull that over.

“If you’re catching feelings, you’re probably only going to get hurt. But if you’re okay with keeping things casual, I guess just know how things could go.”