Along Came You

by Jerry Cole

  “Holy shit! You met him at the store?” She asked as I put everything away. “How did you get so lucky?”

  “He even asked if I was at the rink. I might not have noticed him at all.” I laughed, knowing I would. He was too hot not to drool at.

  “Uh-huh. You never miss a hot guy. Would you have recognized him?” She asked as she opened the cupcakes that I bought.

  “Maybe. He looks the same, but I saw his hair and that incredible body. Yummy,” I told her as she wrinkled her nose.

  “Okay, I got it,” she said, biting into the chocolate goodness with a moan. “This is yummy, and it will be the only yummy thing for me for a while.”

  “Boring!” I finished getting everything put away, “There. We have stuff to snack on and a few dinners. I only had a basket, not a cart, this time.”

  “I’ll just eat cupcakes.” Rosa smiled at me, and it made my heart soar.

  “Deal.”

  She went to sleep early to get up for work, and I retired to my room to get some work done. I looked at my phone on a break, considering sending Owen a message. I had no idea of the rules about that kind of thing, but I did want him to reach out first at this point. I could make my bold move by watching him play again.

  Chapter Three

  Owen

  I drove to my house after grocery shopping with a grin on my face. I couldn’t believe that I ran into the guy from the ice rink. I thought he was sexy as hell at the game, but he’d never been there before. I assumed that I wouldn’t see him again.

  Now, I had his number, and it appeared that he lived close to me. That was perfect, though I didn’t know when to call him. He didn’t come right out and tell me that he was into men, but he pointed out that he was with his best friend at the game. He also told me that she wasn’t his type, and I saw the way that he was looking at me from the bleachers.

  I broke up with someone three months ago, and I’d held back from dating since then. It was a rough one after dating for three years and trying to work with our opposite schedules. Was I ready to do this again? I had no idea what Peter did for work. I didn’t know anything about him, and I’d have to take a chance to find out.

  I put my food in the fridge, sighing as I reached for a zero-vitamin water. I wanted a beer, but with all the physical activity that I did I tried to keep in shape. I didn’t stick to what an NHL player would, but it was close. I also wasn’t the smallest guy on the team, so I needed to work a little harder at it. I took a long drink and decided whether or not to run tonight or tomorrow.

  Tomorrow. I wanted to catch a new movie on TV tonight and get to bed early. I had a run tomorrow and teaching in the afternoon. Luckily, I only played on the weekends, but we still practiced sometimes in the evening. It didn’t pay much, but my Grandpa left me a generous inheritance when he followed Gram to the grave five years ago. He did the same for my parents and twin sister Taryn. We could all relax a bit and pursue the things that we loved.

  I changed into sweats and a tee-shirt, dropping to the couch in my living room. My house was small but the two-bedroom, two baths was perfect for me. It was also off the main street in Queens, and peaceful here.

  I wondered where Peter lived. Was it an apartment? Did he have a roommate?

  Fuck. I should call him. I felt so uncertain about this, and I dropped my head back to the cushion.

  My phone rang, making me jump. I looked at the screen to see that it was my sister, answering it with a smile. “Hey, Tar. What’s up?”

  My family lived in Connecticut. We saw each other as often as we could. Holidays and birthdays were a big thing for us and easy since there were only four of us.

  “I just wanted to see how you were.” She worked in a bookstore during the day, calling me on her nights off. She knew how crazy my schedule was.

  “I’m good. Just the usual shit. I kicked ass on the rink this weekend.” My family treated me as though I played pro with the support they gave me.

  “Good. Did you win?” She asked, and I told her that I did. It wasn’t like we got that physical out on the ice. “How’s the teaching doing?”

  “I have a group of ten-year-old’s starting tomorrow. It’s a blast. I’ll always hate that I don’t play pro, but at least I’m still around it. I’m helping other people love it.”

  “That’s your way. You need to be a part of it, and you don’t hold fate against the kids that you work with.” Taryn laughed, then sighed. “I just wish you did it all here.”

  “I moved here for college and liked it. I love The Rangers. We visit as much as we can.” I didn’t have to remind her about this, though I still did.

  “I just miss you, Ow.” She told me this every time we talked, and it made me feel emotions that I tried to bury. I didn’t want to admit that I stayed for my ex, never leaving when we broke up because I settled in well here. I thought that I loved him.

  “I miss you guys. How are Mom and Dad?” I asked, eager to hear about them. Taryn lived in her place a few blocks away, but she was there a lot.

  “Dad’s fishing as much as he can. He swears he’s going to do it until the Fall with Brian and Paul. Mom’s still working at that thrift store four days a week and spending a lot of time with her best friend, Peggy. It’s the same old, but they’re so happy. Grandpa gave us so much when he left that inheritance to us.” Her voice shook, and I felt her loss. They were like second parents to us, being in such a small family.

  “I know, Tar. I miss them, too.” I paused to regain my composure. “So much.”

  We talked for a while about the guy that she’d started seeing recently, and I gave her the standard warning about him. “Owen, I am twenty-seven years old. I can handle it.” She laughed before asking me how I was doing after the breakup.

  “I’m bouncing back. I met someone this weekend… today? He came to one of the games,” I told her as she squealed on the other end of the line.

  “What’s he like? Does he like you?” She asked as I laughed at her.

  “He likes me enough to give me his number so I can call him. That was just today, so I’m not in a rush. I was with Ray for three years. I forgot how to date.” It was true.

  “You take it slow. You call this guy and talk. You go out to dinner. He isn’t Ray. Don’t punish him for what someone else did.” She always had great advice, telling me that it was dour to the fact that she was ten minutes older. She was a wise one. I usually told her that she was full of shit.

  “I know. That’s just hard,” I admitted as she murmured an agreement.

  “Can I come to see you in two weekends?” She asked, as I agreed.

  “Yeah. You can come to watch the game. I start summer camp in two weeks, so I’ll be a little busy after that,” I told her enthusiastically.

  “Maybe I’ll meet the new beau. What’s his name?” She asked as I groaned.

  “Peter. He’s a bit taller than me, muscular but smaller. He’s hot as hell and around my age. We didn’t talk too much at the store.” I wondered all of that myself as I considered calling him again. “I don’t think you’ll meet him by the weekend. I don’t want to move that fast, sis.” She laughed, and I told her to stop. “Going to bring your guy?”

  “Nope. Half the point of the visit is to get away for a while.” She told me as I told her that she was an ass. “You’ll meet him soon enough. It’s not that serious.”

  We ended the call after some more small talk, and I smiled as I set the phone down. Talking to Taryn always made me feel better. I should call my parents tomorrow to catch up with them.

  I gave up on the movie, leaning back to rest. I set my alarm for six, so I’d run, then closed my eyes. It wasn’t unusual to fall asleep like this and not make it to bed.

  Chapter Four

  Peter

  Monday started a new and average week. I got up with Rosa and made coffee for us, seeing her off before turning my computer on. I looked out of the window to see the sun shining brightly, assuring me that I’d be at the gym later today
.

  I got a few hours of work in before standing up to stretch. I decided to head over to my favorite gym in Queens. My loft was a street away from the busiest corner, so I had the best of both worlds. The gym was just two blocks away, making me decide to run there. I was already dressed for it since I worked from home, so I filled my water bottle and left the apartment.

  I jogged with loud rock playing in one ear, losing myself in it. When I entered the gym, I flashed my card and went straight to a treadmill. I set it for slow with a lot of hills, jumping on to start my hour workout. I turned on a podcast to listen to and lost myself in the pace.

  I enjoyed the freedom of working for myself and being able to go to the gym whenever I wanted. I could go to lunch or have it delivered. I ate at home a lot, often with Rosa on the weekends.

  My life was good. In fact, it was great. I had just realized, meeting Owen made me understand I wanted more in my life. I never felt that way with Adam other than being aware that it might be getting serious. There was no talk of moving in together at all. We just dragged it out, and I found out that he was looking for something else the chicken shit way.

  What was Owen like?

  I thought about this as a particularly steep hill flashed on the screen, taking a breath to prepare myself. I pushed myself, lowering my head to keep my head in the game. My legs burned with it, making me smile.

  This was a perfect thing to energize me for the rest of the day, I finished up, wiping the sweat from my brow before stopping the machine. I took a long drink of water from my bottle before cleaning the machine up. I glanced around, deciding whether or not to do anything else. I typically switched things up based on the day, but something made me want to stay here.

  I drew my lip between my teeth thoughtfully, trying to figure out what was going on. There was something different about the place today, and I shook my head with a laugh. When I turned to head to the front of the building, I cracked a smile when I saw Owen watching me.

  There it was.

  “You’re a member here?” He asked as he approached me.

  “Yeah. You too?” I asked as we both laughed.

  “I’ve never seen you.” He took me in with a piercing gaze, making me shift on my feet.

  “Maybe different hours? I work from home so I can come in whenever. I also tend to shut the world out when I work out. That’s kind of the point,” I offered as he tilted his head.

  “What do you do from home?” Owen asked, looking intrigued.

  “I’m a freelance writer, mostly content work. It’s a great gig.” I smiled, feeling nervous. “What do you do?”

  “I teach kids hockey at the rink. I also do a summer camp once a year,” he replied as I nodded.

  “You love the sport,” I observed, and he nodded.

  “I do. I’d play for a living if I could, but that wasn’t meant to be. I could still be a part of it without playing.” He shrugged as I realized how accepting he was of the situation. “I could probably coach somewhere else for more money, but I like New York. I’d want to play for New York, too. That’s not always how it works, though.”

  “You sound like you’ve made your peace with it,” I told him, and he nodded.

  “I had to.” Owen smiled. “I haven’t worked out yet, but what are you doing now?”

  “I could get some lunch if you’re hungry,” I suggested boldly, watching him smile. “That deli across the street it great.” I was wearing workout shorts and a fitted tee-shirt, but that was normal for the daytime for me. He dressed similarly.

  “Yeah. That sounds good. I have some time before practice.” I slipped my bag over my shoulder, and we left the building together.

  “Do you teach full time?” I asked as he shook his head.

  “No, I don’t have to. I’m lucky to have some money in savings so I can do what I love.” He glanced at me. “You do well, freelancing?”

  “Surprisingly so. It pays the bills and then some, but I’m not rich. I do have to pay for health care and that sort of thing.” I smiled, remembering the moment I realized I could do it for a job. I was still in college when I started with it.

  “Do you have a roommate?” Owen asked as I smiled at the questions.

  “Technically, no. Rosa is staying there right now because she just broke up with her fiancé. It’s temporary, though.” I shrugged one shoulder as we approached the door to the deli.

  “Ouch. That sucks,” he said in a sympathetic tone as I narrowed my eyes at the thought of her ex.

  “Better to find out now than after you’re married,” I murmured, realizing that she dodged a bullet.

  “That is a good point.” We walked to the counter, taking a quick look at the menu before ordering our lunch. Owen paid, and I thanked him with a grateful smile, getting a drink, and following him to the fountain to fill it. We found a private table in the back, and I slid my bag in before sitting at the booth.

  “How did you get into hockey?” Owen asked, and I sipped my drink as I considered my answer.

  “Mt dad was from Canada. He grew up with it, so despite the fact I was born here, he got me into it early. I just wasn’t so great at playing it.” I winced at that memory. I was clumsy on the ground at times, so ice did me no favors.

  “That’s okay. I’m just glad you like it. You might come to watch again,” he said as I chuckled.

  “I planned to. Rosa loved it, and I just didn’t know about it before that.” I gazed into his endless brown eyes, watching him swallow thickly.

  “Good,” he said, and I smiled.

  We chatted over lunch as the attraction between us grew. Owen admitted to wanting to call me immediately after he got my number. I told him I wanted that as well, and we laughed about following some stupid rule.

  “This wasn’t a date, but I’d like to take you on one. Dinner?” He asked as I nodded at him.

  “I’d like that.”

  When we left, I told him that my apartment was a few blocks away and that I walked here. He nodded, offering me a ride, but I needed to work. “I’m good. I’ll see you Saturday?”

  “I’ll call you before then.” Owen gazed at my lips for a long moment before smiling into my eyes. “Walk safe.”

  “It was great seeing you,” I said, turning to look at him. We stood there a moment before I turned to walk home.

  I felt like a fucking teenager back there. I was twenty-seven last I checked, but damn it if I didn’t act it.

  I cooked dinner for Rosa that night, knowing that she’d be tired. She told me over pot roast that Jake tried to call her a few times on her cell. She ignored every single one, and the messages varied between apologies and how he wants her back.

  She wasn’t having any of that. Rosa was stronger today, knowing that she had closure now. All of her stuff was out of the house, and she never had to see him again. They weren’t so far into the wedding planning that money needed to be refunded. Rosa didn’t like his parents that much, so she didn’t feel the need to talk to them about what happened.

  It sounded cold to some people she told the story to. I knew the whole story, and he ended things doing what he did. There was no going back, and Rosa wasn’t worried about what he was telling people. They both knew the truth about the situation. I knew this part of her would come back after the shock of everything, and it was great to see.

  “I had lunch with Owen today,” I told her as we washed the dishes.

  “What? How?” She stared at me. “You’re just telling me this now?”

  “He was at the gym when I was leaving. We’re both members. I asked him if he wanted to have lunch, and he did and even paid for it. We’re going to dinner on Saturday.” I smiled as she danced on the spot, shaking her hips.

  “Peter is back in the game!” I laughed, shaking my head.

  “It’s dinner.”

  “This is happening fast. You just saw each other at the store, now this? It’s fate.” She set the last plate in the rack as I laughed.

  “I don�
�t want a repeat of Adam. I also just saw what you went through. No, thank you.” I reconsidered that. “There wasn’t much with Adam, to begin with. Nothing worth repeating. I just hope that Owen can keep it in his pants.”

  Rosa laughed, walking to the couch to drop on it. “Should I make myself scarce on Saturday?”

  “No, I don’t plan to come back here. It’s dinner.” I joined her, handing her a beer.

  “I’m tired. Work is busy enough without asshat bugging me. Why didn’t he ever do that when we were together?” I dropped my head back and groaned.

  “They never do.”

  “Will Owen, do you think?” She asked, and I smiled.

  “Yeah. I think so. He’s a good guy. I think he wanted to kiss me today, but we didn’t. I jumped into Adam so quickly that I want to hold off this time, take it slow.” I sighed at the thought.

  “Do you think you can do that? He’s pretty hot, and he plays hockey,” Rosa pointed out, making me pinch the bridge of my nose to even out the headache I felt coming on.

  “I will try. I want things simple, Rosa. I can’t do complicated.”

  It might not be what I wanted, but I felt something when we talked on the phone at night. I felt it when we messaged, which became a regular thing quickly. Dinner might make me implode.

  Rosa was teasing me about my boyfriend Saturday from the moment we got up. We ran some errands around the city before I showered for dinner. I knew that we were going somewhere a step above casual, so I went with black slacks and shoes. I paired that with a soft green shirt that brought out my eyes, according to Rosa. She looked me over before Owen arrived, whistling.

  “I am going out with Jane tonight. You’ll have the place to yourself until later, just in case.” Rosa winked at me, and I looked at her little black dress.

  “I’ll leave it for you,” I teased, as she sobered.

  “No. I can’t do that yet.” I pulled her into a hug.

  “I know. I was just teasing you back.” I kissed her hair. “Going dancing?”

  “Yep. She wants to get me out of the house. I guess I might stay over there if we drink or whatever. I don’t know.” She sounded like she was spiraling, and I tilted her head to look at me.