Chapter 6
Zane
I read Cady’s email twice, the second time feeling angrier than the first. She’s seriously not going to come visit me and, worse yet, she’s going out on a date with someone.
My insides twist with disappointment because I honestly thought she wanted to see me as much as I wanted to see her.
Apparently not.
To: Cady Dunne
From: Zane Kavanaugh
Subject: Don’t Speak In Riddles
Date: September 16, 2014
What’s going on here, Cady? I don’t buy the excuse about school interfering, because you and I have emailed so much over the last few weeks that I am well versed on your schedule. I know that you have classes on Monday and Wednesday. I know that your professor for your Psychometrics class spits when he talks, so no one will sit in the front row. I know your professor for your Counseling and Theory Practice class is from Taiwan and while you believe she’s brilliant, you can’t be absolutely sure because you can only understand about fifty-percent of what she’s saying. I know that a study you read about children with learning disabilities and the hard road they have before them in the school system made you cry one night, so you immediately put in your favorite funny movie, Happy Gilmore, to cheer you up. I know a ton about you and your schooling.
I also know you have a study group on Thursday. I know your study group meets first thing in the morning on Thursday and you are done by ten AM. I also know that you haven’t missed a class yet, and I’m sure you could forego one set of classes on a Monday. So, by my reasoning, you could fly out Thursday and come back on Monday. We’d have three days together. If you absolutely must make your classes on Monday, then go back on Sunday. Two days together are better than none.
So what do you say?
Zane
I don’t even read back over my words before clicking the send button, knowing that they came from a place of anger and honesty, and that I wasn’t holding any of my feelings back.
Pushing back from my desk that sits against the east wall of my living room, I head into the kitchen to grab an apple for a snack. Glancing at the clock on the wall, I note that I have a few hours yet before I have to head to the gym for my workout. Training camp starts in two days, and I’m starting to get the itch to get back on the ice. My summer vacation has been amazing, the highlight of course being Cady’s visit, followed closely by my visit back home to see my family.
But in a few days… shit was going to get real. In a few weeks, the regular season would be starting, and then my mind would be immersed in hockey.
And probably Cady, I admit grudgingly to myself, but then let it go. That all depended on how she responds to my last email.
Heading back into my living room, I take a big bite of my apple, but even the crunch of tart goodness doesn’t mask the sound of my laptop chiming to indicate an email has arrived.
I email quite a bit… routinely with my mom, several friends from high school, other teammates, Coyote management. But yet, the possibility it could be from Cady has me practically running to check my inbox.
And yeah… she responded, and by the subject line change she made, I’m immediately sure I won’t be happy by her response.
I set my apple down on the table, clicking on her email.
To: Zane Kavanaugh
From: Cady Dunne
Subject: How’s This For Clear?
Date: September 16, 2014
I’m sorry if I was being vague. It’s sort of hard to write your feelings sometimes. Sure… I could make a visit work with my schedule, and sure, I could pull some money from savings to make the trip, but when it boils right down to it… I’m not the booty-call type. Yes, I engaged in a one-night stand with you, but I think you’ve come to know me well enough the last few weeks to know that’s generally not my style. Coming for a quick visit just to spend time with you in the sack certainly appeals to my libido, but my heart is having a hard time reconciling that. It’s just not me.
I’m sorry and I really, really want to keep talking. Stay friends. You know, continue on the way we have.
Cady
I don’t hesitate in my response, even as my chest aches with an odd feeling of emptiness that I’ve never felt before.
To: Cady Dunne
From: Zane Kavanaugh
Subject: I Get It!
Date: September 16, 2014
I can say the same to you… you’ve come to know me well enough the last few weeks with our constant and lengthy emails to know that I would never consider you a booty-call. While I’m sure if you came to visit that the sex would be just as stellar as before, I can also assure you that wouldn’t be the only thing we would do. I thought we could go out on a date with Linc and Ever, and then you could watch one of my games.
So I’m telling you… it wouldn’t be a booty-call, although I certainly would be fucking you soundly. But I really did want to see you… spend some time with you.
Zane
She’s waiting for my response on the other end, so I quickly hit send and stare at my screen—just waiting to see what she says. It takes a little less than three minutes to get her response.
To: Zane Kavanaugh
From: Cady Dunne
Subject: Re: I Get It!
Date: September 16, 2014
God, I’m so sorry, Zane. I really didn’t mean that you thought of me that way. I just will feel that way about myself. I mean, really… this can’t go anywhere, right? I could fly out for a few days, and then what? We go back to emailing—maybe a few phone calls. And then I come visit next summer? When you finish your season? Because we know you don’t have time to come visit me.
I think there’s a reason that long-distance relationships don’t generally work out, and we need to be honest about this. It has disaster written all over it because I don’t believe just spending time together during your off-season is ultimately going to be enough.
Here’s the thing… I care about you. It’s true. You and I have shared so much the last few weeks in our emails, and we have a definite intimate connection. But truly, my heart wouldn’t be able to stand some type of half-assed, long-distance affair with you. I’m not built that way.
I totally understand if you want to break things off completely. I mean… do guys even really do just “friendships”? (That was supposed to be sort of funny and sarcastic by the way).
Cady
Fuck, fuck, fuck! My temper flares but, deep down, I know she’s right. I know that while I invited her for one visit, that wouldn’t be enough for either of us. As a woman, her heart would be involved. As a man, I’d never physically be satisfied with only seeing her a few times a year. The distance between us is a killer.
To: Cady Dunne
From: Zane Kavanaugh
Subject: Guys Can Do Friendships
Date: September 16, 2014
This fucking sucks, but I get it. I think you’re right. I hate you’re right, but I admit that you are. You deserve more than that, and shit Cady… I deserve more than that too.
We haven’t really talked about it before, but I’m not a relationship type of dude. I’m sure you wouldn’t be surprised though to learn that I’ve been enjoying “the single life” for the last few years. I never thought I’d really find someone that would want to make me settle down.
The thing that really sucks is that I’m betting you would be that person. That is, if we didn’t live so far away from each other.
To answer your question… yes, guys can do friendships. Well, at least this guy can. I want to stay in touch, continue what we have, even though it can’t be exactly what I want. Let’s go for it, I say.
I’m going to log off for now. I have to get to the gym for a workout soon. Talk later.
Zane
P.S. You’re a hell of a woman, Cady Dunne.
I purposely don’t mention the upcoming date she has. While every bone in my body is still infused with jealousy, I don’t have the right to let h
er know about it. Not when we just agreed we’d only be friends.
Shutting my laptop, I lean back in my chair and pick up my apple. Taking another bite, I chew it thoughtfully, wondering what would happen if Cady lived here… in Phoenix. Would I truly give up the single life? All the beautiful and horny women that are in a never-ending supply around here?
Yeah, I most definitely would. Cady absolutely outshines any woman I’ve been with. She’s sexy, adventurous, bright, and witty. Her family values and work ethic are in line with mine. We never seem to be at a loss for things to talk about. Even what others would see as the most boring details of her life are so fucking interesting to me for some reason.
But that’s all fancy wishes on my part to even fantasize about it. Cady lives in Ireland. I live in the States. I can’t give up my hockey career, and she can’t give up her education… especially when we barely know each other.
With a sigh, I get up from my desk, tossing the half-eaten apple in the garbage can. I tell myself that I’m letting this go, and I’m going to enjoy what I can about Cady.
Chapter 7
Cady
October
“It’s getting late and I have an early appointment tomorrow, so I’m going to have to call it a night,” Colin says as he stands up from the couch where he’s sitting beside me.
I rise up alongside of him, as do Renner and Cillian as they sit in the chairs on the other side of my coffee table. Colin reaches out to shake their hands.
“It was nice meeting you both,” he says politely… in that clipped, English accent of his. “We should do this again some time.”
Renner and Cillian both smile at him, but I can see the look deep down in their eyes. Oh, hell no, we aren’t doing this again, they both seem to be saying.
With a sigh, I walk Colin to my front door and accept the dry kiss he presses to my cheek. I inhale, trying to appreciate the spicy scent of his cologne or the warmth in his brown eyes. I envision running my fingers through his curly, blond hair as a sign of affection, but my arm won’t move because in all actuality, it just doesn’t want to run my fingers through his hair. Because that’s way too intimate and even though I’ve seen Colin a few times since our first date, I’m not finding myself warming up to him.
I close the door softly behind him and turn to see Cillian emerging from my kitchen with three bottles of Smithwick’s in his hands. He hands one to Renner and me, plopping back down in his chair.
Flopping onto my couch, I take a long pull on my beer and lift my eyes to stare at them. Renner’s green eyes smirk at me, popping against the brilliant red, Irish hair she inherited from her mom and my aunt. Cillian just looks at me with interest, chewing on his bottom lip.
“Go on,” I say with exasperation. “Just get it out.”
“He’s nice,” Renner says amiably and takes a tiny sip of her beer.
“Nice?” Cillian says as he swivels his head toward her in surprise. He’s growing his dark hair out again, which better fits with his rocker persona. I swear I think I saw Colin wrinkle his nose in distaste when he took in Cillian with his long hair, tattoos, and multiple facial piercings. “That guy’s a dolt. Boring with a capital ‘B’.”
“Well, I was trying to be nice.” Renner giggles at Cillian and then turns to me. “Seriously, Cady… he is so not your type.”
Sighing, I kick my feet up on my coffee table and pull at the label on my bottle of beer. “I know. I keep expecting my feelings to warm up toward him with each date, but nothing. I don’t feel a damn thing for him.”
“Probably because you are feeling something for someone else,” Cillian says matter of factly.
“Not true,” I immediately deny out loud, even though I know he’s hit the nail on the head.
“So true,” he affirms. “You got hot hockey player on the brain, Cady girl.”
“Just admit it,” Renner says with a smirk. “We all know it’s true.”
And because these are two of the closest people to me, outside of Teagan, I decide not to lie to them. “Fine. It’s true. So what?”
Neither Renner nor Cillian say anything, just watch me with intense interest.
“What?” I exclaim. “You’re just going to out me like that and then offer no advice?”
Cillian leans forward in his chair and places his beer bottle on my coffee table. His eyes look at me seriously. “You need to find a way to get over him, Cady. He’s there… you’re here. There’s nothing to pine over. It’s not going to work.”
I’m surprised when Renner reaches over and slaps Cillian on the arm. He yelps and shrinks back from her, gingerly rubbing his skin.
“What the hell was that for?” he asks with a grimace on his handsome face.
“You’re telling her to give up. You never do that. Not when love is involved,” she says primly. Turning to look at me, she says, “You need to figure out a way to make it work.”
“Whoa, wait,” I say, holding my hand out and sitting up straight on the couch. “Who said anything about love? I don’t love Zane.”
“Maybe not,” Renner clarifies. “But you have feelings for him, right?”
Sinking back down with another dejected sigh, I admit, “Yeah. I do. But as Cillian pointed out… I’m here—he’s there. Can’t work.”
“Let’s back up a minute,” Cillian says, leaning further away from Renner in case she decides to slap him again. “I don’t get how you can really have feelings for him. You spent one night together.”
That’s true enough. I spent one night with Zane and although no one knows the gritty details, Renner, Cillian, and Teagan all know that we were intimate with each other.
“We’ve stayed in contact since then. We email each other every day, and we talk on the phone. He called last night, and we talked for two hours.”
“Sounds romantic,” Renner says dreamily.
“Sounds unsatisfying,” Cillian grumbles. “You can’t have a relationship with someone if you can’t be physically with them.”
“I disagree,” Renner says. “Sex isn’t everything.”
Cillian does nothing more than turn his head slowly toward Renner, cocking his eyebrow at her. She holds his gaze for a moment, and then lowers her eyes in defeat.
“What I’m saying,” Cillian continues as he turns back to look at me, “is that you need the physical side to maintain true intimacy.”
“Otherwise, all we are is just good friends,” I finish for him, because he’s not telling me anything I don’t already know.
These past several weeks have gone by quickly. I’ve been immersed in my studies and spending my free time hanging with my friends. That means going out to pubs or shows with Teagan, Renner, and Cillian, but that also means emailing or talking to Zane on the phone.
Since we agreed that we could only be friends, Zane stayed true to his word and did prove to me that guys can indeed have friendships. We have continued to grow closer and closer, forming a bond over exchanged words, memories, stories, thoughts, and philosophies. One night, we talked for over an hour on the concept of euthanasia, brought on by Zane telling me about one of his uncles that died last year after having suffered for months with terminal cancer. I’ve never talked about something like that with anyone in my life, particularly because we disagreed on the moral issues. But it was one of the deepest connections I’ve ever made with someone… talking about life, death, and pain.
It made me ache to get even closer to Zane, but the only way to make that happen at this point is for me to see him in person. And we both know that’s not happening.
“Listen, Cady-girl,” Cillian says as he stands up from his chair. “I know this sucks for you, but you either need to accept that Zane is just a friend, or you need to cut him loose completely. You’ll never get out and find your soul mate as long as you’re still yearning for him.”
“Or just accept he’s your soul mate and do something about it,” Renner chimes in.
I open my mouth to say, He’s not my soul mat
e, but then snap it shut just as quickly. I don’t know what Zane is to me, but I know he’s so much more than just a friend. I just haven’t figured out how to reconcile that.
Cillian and Renner stay for another beer, and we thankfully move on to another topic. I sit back on the couch and watch as Renner and Cillian argue about whether Renner should get a job or stay free to be able to tour with Cillian’s band. It’s an argument I’ve been privy to before, but I’ve always wisely kept my opinion to myself. I know, as a modern woman, Renner wants to work and contribute financially, but I also know she’d be miserable without Cillian. She should just do herself a favor and commit to going out on tour with him.
After they’re gone, I complete my nightly ritual. I wash my face, apply moisturizer, and brush my teeth. Making myself a cup of hot tea, I place it on my nightstand beside my bed, where I’ll sip at it while reading Zane’s latest email.
No matter where he is or what he’s doing, he always has an email or a text waiting for me before I go to bed. I’m not sure how he quite swings it with his busy schedule, particularly since he has started his regular hockey season, but it’s almost always there.
Yes, our emails, texts, or calls have turned into almost daily conversations. Sometimes, one of us will miss a day, or it may only be a short message, but it’s something I look forward to more than I care to admit.
To: Cady Dunne
From: Zane Kavanaugh
Subject: You Are Just Too Much
Date: October 29, 2014
I’m getting ready to head out to the airport to catch the team plane soon, but had to get off this email so it would be waiting for you when you went to sleep. I got your package in the mail today and as my subject line says, “You are just too much.” I seriously cannot believe you sent me that hat. Where in the fuck did you find it, first of all, and second… why would you buy something so hideous? I am now on the hunt to outdo you, so be expecting something in the mail soon.
Off Season (Off #6) Page 4
