Cassie (3 page)

3

Since we were going to a hockey game, I decided to dress casual. I wore a long sleeve shirt with a nice jacket and jeans. It was always co
ld in the arena because of the ice, and I would rather dress warm than look cute. The game would last about two hours.

A six o’ clock sharp, Tony knocked on the door.

I smiled at his punctuality. When I opened it, he was smiling at me. The green color of his eyes looked brighter than last time. He wore a gray hoodie and dark jeans. Even though he looked casual, he looked very attractive. The broadness of his shoulders was evident in anything he wore. He had long legs that were toned and firm. The longer I stared at him, the more I realized I was being a pervert by gawking at him.

“Cassie?”

“Huh?”

“I said hi.”

“Oh,” I said. “Hey.”

“You look nice.”

“Thank you.” I kept staring at him.

He put his hands in his pockets and said nothing. After a moment, he spoke.
“So…are you ready to go?”

“Oh yeah,” I said, shaking my head. I sounded like such an idiot right now.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “I just didn’t know that Janet had a hot brother.”

A smile appeared on his face and his cheeks tinted. “Thanks.”

Why did I just say that? “I’m sorry. Sometimes I speak without thinking.”

“And I’m glad you did,” he said. “And I’m equally confused. I’m not sure why my sister never mentioned you. So far, you sound pretty damn perfect.”

“Wait until you get to know me better,” I said with a laugh.

“I plan to.”

I grabbed my purse then locked my apartment door. We left the building and walked outside until we reached the cab. Tony kept his hands in his pockets and didn’t touch me, but he did open the door for me.

When we sat in the backseat, I kept thinking about his hands. They were resting in his lap, nowhere near mine. I wanted him to touch me, which was odd. I usually hated it when guys were affectionate on the first date. But it didn’t feel like a first date. It seemed like we were hanging out at as friends, but it also felt like we had already dated, like this was our tenth or twelfth date. I couldn’t explain it.

“How are you?” he asked.

“Good. How about you?”

“Has that guy bothered you?
” he said quickly.

“Tyler?”

“Whatever that freak’s name is.” The anger escaped his voice. It happened so suddenly.

“No, he hasn’t bothered me.”

“Good,” he said. “I’m glad I don’t have to kill anyone today.”

“Or ever.”

He smiled. “You never know. So how was work?”

I shrugged. “It was okay.”

“It sounds like it was less than okay.”

“I finished the gowns I was showcasing but my boss rejected them. Now I have to start all over.”

“What was wrong with them?” he asked.

“I don’t know. She didn’t give me any feedback.”

“That’s odd…”

“It’s frustrating.”

He smiled at me. “Well, you are going to forget about all of that at the game. I’ll make sure you have a good time.”

“Okay,” I said.
“As long as you get me a chili dog.”

He stared at me. “Seriously, why didn’t Janet mention you? You’re, like, totally awesome.”

I laughed. “Janet definitely doesn’t think I’m awesome. In fact, she’ll tell you I’m a thorn in her backside.”

He shook his head.
“That brat.”

“She is a brat.”

He gave me a high-five. “Now you are even better. I love picking on my sister with people.”

“We can’t gang up on her.”

Tony cringed. “Damn, you were so close to being my soul mate.”

I laughed. “Well, Janet and Layla are my soul mates. I’m already taken.”

“There’s room for more, right?”

“Maybe.”

We arrived at the game and came to the line. It was huge, wrapping all the way around the building. The game was about to start so I knew we would probably miss the first half.

“This way,” Tony
said as he went around.
              “What are you doing?”

“Come on,” he said.

I followed him until we reached separate doors.

“Hello, Mr. Hannigan.”

“Hello, Nate.”

He took the tickets and scanned them. “Enjoy the show.” He opened the doors for us and allowed us to walk inside.

“What was that?” I asked.

“What?”

“How did you cut through the line?”

“Oh,” he said. “I have special tickets.”

That surprised me.

The inside was crowded with people so Tony placed his arm around my waist. As soon as he touched me, I flinched, not expecting him to do that. The sensation was brief and
weak, my thick jacket blocking most of the affection, but it still sent shivers down my spine. I liked the touch.

He guided me toward the seats
, and we moved until we reached the very first row, right in the center of the game. The glass was right in front of us and the players were just a few feet away. I’d never had better seats at any game.

“How did you get these seats?’ I asked.

He shrugged. “I know a guy.”

We sat down and he leaned back. “What would you like to eat?”

“I can get it,” I said quickly.

He smiled. “Cassie, tell me what you want, please.”

He was bossy but sweet at the same time. It was hard to dislike it. “Chili dog with onions, nachos, and a soda.”

Tony nodded. “That’s impressive.”

“You’ll be even more impressed when you watch me eat it all.”

“Do you want a beer?”

“Oh yeah! A beer too,” I said with a laugh. “But I’ll come with you. There’s no way you can carry all of that.”

Tony shook his head and raised his hand.

A man wearing a slacks and a collared shirt approached us out of thin air. “Good evening, Mr. Hannigan. What can I get you?”

Tony smiled at him. “My date will have a chili dog with onions, nachos, a Pepsi, and a beer. I’ll have the same.” He opened his wallet and forked over the cash.

He nodded. “I’ll be back.”

“Thank you,” Tony said.

I stared at him incredulously. “What was that?”

“What?”

“You have a servant?”

He laughed. “He isn’t a servant. He just works here.”

“Does he do that for everyone?”

“No.”

The game started and Tony started clapping. “Let’s get this game going.”

I stared him suspiciously. Something wasn’t adding up.

“Tony!”

Tony turned to a man standing next to him. “Hey, Mike. What’s up?”

“You’re betting on the Rangers?”

“Of course,” Tony said. “They got the best team in the league right now.”

“How much you got riding on it?”

“Fifty dimes.”

Mike whistled. “Good luck to you.”

“I don’t need the luck, but thanks.”

Mike looked at me. “And who’s this?”

“My apologies,” Tony said. “This is my date, Cassie.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too,” I said politely.

“She’s cute,” Mike said. “What’s she doing with you?”

“I think she’s lost,” Tony said.

Mike laughed. “Keep her lost for your sake.”

Tony nodded. “I will.”

Mike walked away and joined a group of guys in a different row.

“You’re very popular,” I said.

Tony shrugged. “I have a lot of friends who are obsessed with sports.”

“What’s a dime?”

Tony jumped up and clapped when the Rangers scored. “Yes!”

I clapped and whistled.

When he sat down, he pulled his sweater off, revealing his jersey. His body was more prominent under the thin material. I could see the outline of his chest. It was chiseled and hard. Tony turned to me and placed the jacket around my shoulders.

“Aren’t you cold?” I asked.

“No, I’m always hot.”

Literally.
“Okay.”

The man returned with all the food. I immediately dug in while Tony tipped him.

“Thank you, sir.”

Tony nodded.

I glanced at his hand and saw the hundred dollar bill. Was he rich? Or was he famous or something?

Tony drank his beer and watched the game intently. I ate all my food then finished off my beer.

Tony stared at me. “Wow.”

“What?”

“You ate everything?”

I smiled. “I wasn’t kidding.”

“That’s—hot.”

I laughed. “You have an odd definition of the word.” I turned back to the game and cheered when the Rangers scored.

Tony stared at me. “You like hockey?”

“I’ve been to a few games with my brother.”

“Do you have a favorite team?”

“No,” I said. “But I like to watch.”

He nodded. “You’re perfect.”

“You said that already.”

“I just have to make it clear.” He turned back to the game and watched the Ranger score.

When he wasn’t looking, I smelled his jacket. I liked the scent. It was manly. He and I had a great time watching the game. We both screamed hysterically when the ref called a foul on the Rangers. And I drank two more beers, which made Tony smile. The date was comfortable and easy. I had the nerves but I felt calm at the same time. And I kept wondering why Tony had a
ll these connections. It was odd. He said he was a sports analyst. How much did people like that get paid?

When the game ended, the Ranger won.

“Yes!” Tony said. “That was awesome.”

“Thanks for taking me along.”

He smiled at me. “Did you have fun?”

“I had a lot of fun. I’m surprised Janet doesn’t bug you to take her.”

He shook his head. “I only take people I like.”

I laughed. “You act like you hate her.”

“I don’t,” he said. “I just prefer spending time with her boyfriend.”

“You love her.”

He shrugged. “I might.” He stood up and pulled me to stand. He didn’t take his jacket back, which I was grateful for. I wasn’t cold, but I loved the smell of it. We left the stadium, bypassing the crowd by taking a different exit. None of the security officers stopped him or even questioned him. It was like everyone knew exactly who he was.

We took a cab back to my place, and he walked me to the door.

“I had a really great time with you,” he said. “A
really
great time.”

“I did too.”

He didn’t lean in to kiss me. Tony didn’t even touch me.

I kept waiting.

“Can I take you to dinner on Thursday?”

“Yeah,” I said immediately.

“So, was I a freak like that other guy?”

“Not at all,” I said with a smile.

“Good.”

“If we go out again, I should probably talk to Janet.”

“Why? It’s none of her business who I date.”

I sighed. “She’s my best friend. She deserves to know.”

He rolled his eyes. “Women are so weird.”

“Don’t you think it’s odd that she never introduced us befo
re? We totally get along. Why would she have hid that? There has to be a reason.”

Tony was quiet for a moment. “I have no idea what that reason would be.”

“Maybe she doesn’t want her friends to date her brother.”

“That’s too damn bad.”

“Well, she’s my best friend. I can’t piss her off.”

“I’m her family and I have no problem doing that.
”

I laughed.
“Because she has to love you.”

“I guess that explains why she still talks to me.”

I grabbed my keys and held them in my hand. “Would you like to come inside?”

His eyes shined a little brighter. “I would love to.”

I opened the door and he followed behind me.

“Can I make you some coffee?”

“Sure.”

“How do you take it?”

“Black.”

“Okay.”

I made it for him then brought it to the living room. He sat down and took a sip.

“That’s good.”

“It’s Ethiopian.”

“I’ll have to get some.”

“I found it at the farmers market.”

Tony nodded. “I’ll have to stop by.”