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Will was bunking with a new kid this season. A promising forward who was obsessed with an ex-girlfriend who wouldn’t go away. Will could sympathize. While Will could have requested his own room—he had enough years with the league and the Falcons—the team frowned on that unless you were Baker. But if he asked, they’d do it. He just didn’t care about it. A hotel room was a place to sleep and having company wasn’t all that bad, even if he was dispatching relationship advice to a kid who wouldn’t listen to it anyway.
It was the last night of a three-game road trip. They were lying in their beds with sleep coming to neither of them. The Falcons had lost all three games and instead of lamenting a terrible road trip, they were both thinking about women.
“I love Vikki. We’ve been together since my junior days in Guelph. We’ve been through a lot together, good times and bad. Back then she was the sweetest girl, but now, she’s different. Why is she different?”
Will was jolted out of his daydream. He’d been thinking of Allie that day at the carnival. Dripping wet from head to toe, her always perfectly styled hair limp around her face. She’d never been more beautiful. He’d felt terrible being late and the least he could do was buy her a change of clothes from the gift shop, but he couldn’t stop thinking about what she looked like under those wet clothes. He couldn’t get the image of her wet shirt clinging to her body out of his head. And then later, her hair in natural waves around her face. The unguarded Allie was just as beautiful as the constrained one.
“Money changes a person, Jack. Fame does that too. I had my version of Vikki, and we aren’t together anymore. And I’ve never once regretted that decision.”
“I want the old Vikki back.”
“I doubt you’ll ever see that version of her again. She’s changed, and you’ve probably changed. The two of you don’t work together anymore. If you keep pining for the old her, you are going to be very disappointed.”
“But I love her.”
He wanted to shake some sense into the kid, but then he thought of himself at that age. He’d been stupid then too. “A part of me loves Jen too, but I don’t want to be with her anymore.”
“But couldn’t you change together?”
Will smiled sympathetically. The kid was grasping at straws. “You did change together, just in different ways. There are a million girls out there, why do you keep chasing after this one?”
“Why did you keep chasing after Jen?”
The question was an innocent one and Will found himself pondering his answer. “Because a part of me liked having someone around. It sucks being alone all the time. But then I had to reevaluate. Did I want to be alone and find happiness, or be with someone who made me miserable?”
“I get what you’re saying, but . . .” He trailed off. “It’s really hard.”
“I know.”
“She wants to come live here in St. Paul.”
“It’s a huge mistake. Don’t let her move in with you until you know you want to be with her. You’re nowhere near that.”
Jack sighed. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Will, but you’re old and single. Why haven’t you found the right girl?”
He chuckled. “Because I’ve found too many wrong girls. From now on, I’m going to be very careful.”
“I want you to find a nice woman.”
“You will. Can I give you another piece of advice?” Will said.
“Sure.”
“You’ve got to look for a girl in the right place, and I think right now, you’re only looking in all the wrong places. So take your time, she’ll come along.”
“Girls make us crazy.”
“I think we make ourselves crazy.”
“Maybe your girl will come along too.”
“I think I’ve met someone, but I’m not sure.”
“You have?” Jack said, bolting up from his bed. “Where? When?”
“The last few weeks, but I haven’t done anything about it. I don’t think I can.”
“Why not?” Jack’s face looked so young and innocent, like Will had told him they couldn’t celebrate Christmas this year.
“We aren’t right for each other. Or maybe it’s not the right time, but like I’ve told you, I have to wait for the right girl to come along.”
“But what if she’s the right girl and you’re missing your opportunity? You could kick yourself later.”
Now Will understood Jack better. He didn’t want to let go of what ifs.
“But if all the signs are telling you it’s a bad idea, then it’s a bad idea.”
“But what’s your gut telling you?”
Will didn’t want to accept what his gut was telling him. “I’m not sure,” he lied.
A few minutes later Will could hear Jack’s even breathing. He was happy the conversation was over.