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Madison
Madison Briggs glanced at the timer on the table in her massage room, happy to see there was still a solid twenty minutes left in Matt’s half-hour session. Dabbing additional massage cream from her forearm, she continued to work out the knots and tight muscles in her friend’s back. She couldn’t help but stare a little too long at his defined muscles, and the towel that hung low on his hips. After all, Matt Jasper was a professional hockey player, and he worked hard to keep in good physical condition. Even though they were forming a strong, strictly friends, relationship, that fact was not lost on her.
She didn’t mind being asked to come to Wilkes-Barre to help out with the therapy and conditioning team. Firstly, the temporary position was a nice change of scenery from Pittsburgh. Secondly, it was nice being able to hang out with Matt again. He’d been sent back to the minor league team in November, so not only had she missed her best client, she’d missed her friend.
It was always fun when Matt had an appointment at the chiropractor’s office where she worked. His lighthearted joking brought a pleasant break to any day, and he often brought lunch or goodies for the staff. But the best part was that he requested to only see her, which made her feel special. Maybe he just preferred her massage style, but whatever the reason, she welcomed it.
“How are things going with the Falcons? You doing okay here in Wilkes-Barre?” He’d been here since November, and called her almost daily, just to chat. It worried her that he was spending his free time on the phone with her and not with the guys from the team, but secretly, she had missed him terribly, and the calls made the distance between them more bearable.
When she got the offer to move out here for a few months and help the medical and PT staff, she jumped at the chance. She might not see Matt every day, but she would at least be working in the same building. Luckily, her boss back in Pittsburgh had been fine with her taking the time off to go. It was a stepping stone for her career, and maybe someday he’d consider expanding his practice.
Matt sighed heavily, and she watched his back rise and fall as her fingers slid along his skin. His muscles tensed until he spoke. “I guess. The guys are all so young, you know? But at least I’m getting ice time in every game for the Falcons. It’s better than riding the bench or sitting in the team suite.”
Maddy didn’t disagree. Matt was having a rough season, riddled with nagging injuries and in the longest scoring drought of his career. When guys weren’t producing, they got sat.
“I’ve been so busy getting settled in, I haven’t been out to see any sights. So, what’s there to do in this town? Anything fun I should make sure I check out?”
Matt did his best to shrug his shoulders. “Dunno.”
“You mean to tell me that you’ve been here since fall, and you have no idea what’s fun to do here?” Madison wasn’t surprised at his answer. She hadn’t expected him to be out on the town, since he’d been, in fact, on the phone with her most of the time.
His silence answered her question, and a pit settled in her stomach. Matt was too nice of a guy to be alone. But then again, it had been less than a year since his divorce became final, and probably too soon for a new relationship. What he needed was a friend, and that’s where she came in.
“I’ve been busy. I’m just glad you’re here, Maddy.”
He sidestepped her question, like always.
“There’s that one guy who plays for the Falcons, Thomas. Isn’t he around your age?” She didn’t mean to imply that Matt was old. Yes, he was older, but she never noticed it. He was just Matt, and he was her friend. Before he could react, she tried to clean up her question. “Not that you’re—”
Matt frantically waved his hand around in the air. “Stop right there, Sugar. I know how old I am, and yes, Thomas is a year older than me. So as perfect as it sounds for us to be BFF’s, he is also a family man. The guy has three little ankle biters at home. That’s not really my scene, you know that. But thanks for the thought.”
“You’re not interested in ever having kids?” For some reason that thought caused a pain in her heart. He’d make beautiful babies.
“Well, sure. I mean, I was.” He hesitated, and she waited for him to go on. “You have to have the right woman for that, and I think that ship has sailed for me.”
The groan he let out when she pushed on a tender part of his back made her toes curl. She shouldn’t have reacted that way, but there was something about him, and she couldn’t help it. Madison took a quick breath and regained her composure. Sure, Matt was attractive, but he was her client, and more importantly, her friend who was still getting over a divorce. And that was why it had to be this way. Cooled off enough to talk, she chuckled at him. “You’re awfully sensitive for a tough guy.”
“Please. The only thing sensitive about me is my aching muscles. Like the ones you’ve been purposely poking at.”
“So, you’re not hanging out with Thomas. Then what have you been up to?”
“Lots of takeout, beer, and Netflix. Oh, and I’ve increased my time at the gym since being here in Wilkes-Barre. You should definitely check out my gym.” He paused and added as if he knew what she was thinking. “And no, I haven’t been hitting the bars. They’re full of college-aged kids here. I only drink in my apartment, and I’ve been keeping it to one a night. The Falcons coaching staff is a little stricter about coming in hungover. You only make that mistake once.”
She cringed at his words. They’d touched briefly on this before. He knew and respected her dislike for alcohol. “Right. So, you’ve just been taking it easy while you’ve been here?”
“I can’t say I haven’t had my moments— Ow! Are you doing that on purpose?”
“Me? No.” She lessened the pressure and continued to work on a large knot Matt had in his shoulder. “I’m shocked you can play at all with this giant knot, my god.”
“I call bullshit. And I deal with a troublesome separated shoulder; I think I can handle knots.”
“Right. And your neck; it’s so tight. It’s like cement.” She leaned her hips against the table, touching his bare skin, as she pushed her weight towards his upper torso. His body was warm against her thighs, sending an unfamiliar rush through her as she leaned against him. It was something she’d never experienced before with any other client. Pushing the response way down and doing her best to lock it away, she knew she couldn’t let herself have those feelings. Matt was her client, and her friend.
“Stress doesn’t help, either. Damn divorce had me tense as hell. At least while I’ve been here, the lawyer finally sold the house. That was the last thing that needed done, thank god. The only thing that makes me feel relaxed anymore is being on the ice.”
She didn’t mean to bring up his divorce; it was evident he was still working through everything. Poor guy. He and Lindsay had been together for a long time; his stress was normal. “Sounds to me like playing with the Falcons has been a positive change for you.”
“Sure. I’m getting ice time every game, and even better, you’re here now.” His words warmed her heart. “So, sugar, how’s that dating pool in Pittsburgh treating you? Did you leave a lovesick boyfriend behind to come hang with these old bones?”
“Me? Nope. I’ve told you; the guys my age are so lame. All they want to do is drink and party. I mean, at twenty-two, shouldn’t we be thinking more about our futures and less about frat parties? It’s just me, my romance novels, and Mr. Whiskers.”
“Good choice. You’re young, too young to settle down. Have fun while you can.”
“Okay, grandpa,” she teased. “You’re not that much older than me, you know.”
“Oh please. I’d hardly call thirty-two not that much older. I’m ancient,” he scoffed. “I just can’t believe that you aren’t dating anyone at all? A pretty girl like you has to have men falling at her feet.”
“Yeah, right.” After she kicked her ex-boyfriend, Justin, to the curb, she couldn’t stand the thought of dating. It is a scary thing to think you know someone, only to find out they have a monster lying dormant inside of them. Putting myself out there again was terrifying. She didn’t need the hassle or the stress of it all. Then Matt walked into her life. “I don’t need to date. I prefer to spend all my free time with you.”
“That’s sweet, I think.”
“My sister did try to sign me up for an online dating site once.” She winced at the thought of that painful experience.
“Yeah? How’d that go? Did you find your perfect match?”
“Hardly. I went into it with an open mind, even though dating services were not my thing. But none of the guys I was matched up with looked anything like their photo. It was just...no. Some people have great success with those companies, but it’s not for me. I want to meet a guy and like on the cartoons, be hit with a ton of bricks and just know that he’s the one that I was meant to be with.”
“Sounds painful.” Matt joked.
“I guess.” She laughed. What she wasn’t telling him was she felt exactly that way the first time he came in for a massage and was on her table. She knew after that first hour that she didn’t want any other girl in that office having an appointment with him. Jealous? Maybe. She tried telling herself it was for his benefit, that the other ladies would fan-girl over him, but it was all for selfish reasons. “The only thing people really need in life is a good friend, and a person they enjoy spending their time with. And I have that in you.”
“By the way, how is Mr. Whiskers? I’ve missed that orange fur ball.”
“He’s good. He wasn’t very happy with the long drive here, but he’s settling in just fine. And by the way, age is just a number, Matt. You know the saying, you’re only as old as you feel.”
“Yeah? Well, I feel prehistoric.”
“It’s these rock-hard muscles. You come see me twice a week and I’ll fix you up. I’ll have you feeling like a spring chicken in no time.”
“Oh, really? I didn’t know you were a magician.”
“Ha, ha. Didn’t you know I have magic fingers?” After she said it, she realized how her words could’ve been taken the wrong way, and she was hoping his mind wasn’t wandering to the gutter with thoughts about all the things her “magic fingers” could do, because her mind sure was. An awkward silence hung between them for a few moments.
Madison moved to the head of the table to get a better angle at his shoulders and neck. Normally, leaning over a client like this didn’t bother her. On a typical massage, with a typical client, she would barely notice. It was her job. But right now, with Matt, she was completely aware of where his head was, and it brought all those suggestive thoughts and steamy feelings to the surface.
Luckily, he picked just that moment to break the silence. “Maddy, I’m really glad you’re here in Wilkes-Barre with me. It’s nice to have a friendly face around. And better yet, in the same building.”
His friendly words helped her shove those feelings back down in the dark, where they belonged. “Aw, that’s sweet. If I had to be stuck here with anyone, I’m glad it’s you.”
“Well, I’m glad you feel that way—”
The buzzer sounded, noting that Matt’s half-hour massage was over, and after the way her thoughts had derailed, she was almost relieved. “Time’s up.” she wiped her hands off on a towel, then ran it over Matt’s back, doing her best to wipe off all the massage cream. “I don’t know where you’re headed after this. Do you want me to spritz some alcohol on your back? That way your back won’t be as greasy?”
“Sure.”
Madison squirted a little alcohol and ran a fresh towel over his back. Her eyes followed the towel, and she couldn’t help but admire his gorgeous physique. The ripples of his muscles, and the curves of his body. When she was done, her eyes lingered until he squirmed to sit up.
“Actually,”—Matt sat up, so he was facing her— “I’m not doing anything but going home to an empty apartment. How about we do something together tonight? C’mon Maddy, have dinner with me?”
His eyes were dark and heavy. Dinner? Is he asking me out? Her heart thudded against her chest. Sure, he was older than her, but he had a charisma about him that drew her in. That was why she enjoyed spending time with him. And she always enjoyed the view, which she was trying not to stare at as he sat in front of her, shirtless.
Matt lightly chuckled, shaking his head, almost looking embarrassed as he took in her wide-eyed gaze. “Sorry, that kind of came out wrong. Let’s go to dinner, you and me, as friends. And no alcohol, I swear.” He smirked as he used his finger to draw an imaginary X over his heart.
Funny thing was, his confirming that he meant dinner as friends should’ve made her feel more comfortable; that was what he intended when he clarified his invitation. So why did she feel disappointed? But it was for the best. She plastered on a smile. “Sure. That sounds nice.”