34. The First Text Messages

Chapter 34

The First Text Messages

Luke: It was my pleasure, Green Eyes. I’m at the airport now. Let me know when you land.

Princess: Landed in not-quite-Chicago. Have three hours before my first web meeting… would rather be floating in the ocean.

Luke: Landed in it’s-really-Minnesota. Times like these, I really appreciate that I play a game for a living.

Luke: What sort of meetings do you have today, Corporate Princess?

Princess: Canadian ones. I’ll wave to your state from the air.

Luke: Tell me the time and I’ll wave back.

Princess: Don’t you have practice or something?

Luke: *groans* Yes, but I’m pretending I don’t because I don’t want to get out of bed.

Princess: Such a lazy athlete. You gotta put all those fancy muscles to use.

Luke: So… You think my muscles are fancy?

Princess: (puts phone on airplane mode)

Princess: Saw your face in the airport today.

Luke: Oh yeah? Was I handsome?

Luke: That’s a rhetorical question because obviously.

Princess: Someone slapped the magazine barcode sticker across your forehead. So maybe not as handsome as you’re hoping.

Luke: Hmm. Good to know. Forehead tattoos were next on the docket.

Princess: Might I suggest something other than a barcode?

Luke: Guess I’m heading back to the drawing board.

Luke: What are you doing tonight?

Princess: Eating takeout in my hotel room.

Luke: Want some company?

Princess: You in LA?

Luke: I’m in my kitchen. But I’ve heard of this thing called FaceTime. And I’d like to try it.

Princess: With jokes like that, how can I resist?

Luke: I am irresistible. Okay, let me order my own food, then I’m calling.

Princess: So, first game of the season this week. How are you feeling?

Luke: Excited, but in the way where you might throw up.

Princess: I can only imagine the pressure of playing in front of a crowd like that. But according to my friend, The Internet, you’re pretty good at what you do. So I doubt you have anything to worry about.

Luke: Thanks, Princess. That’s sweet of your friend to say, and I still feel good. But…

Princess: But…?

Luke: I’m gonna be thirty-seven in a few months, and I feel it. I know I’m good for this season. And maybe the next. But I know I need to start thinking about what’s after.

Luke: Sorry, I didn’t mean to go that deep.

Luke: That’s what she said.

Luke: But seriously, I wasn’t trying to complain.

Princess. First, did you seriously just do a that’s what she said to your own comment? Second, I don’t mind you going deep.

Princess: That’s what she said.

Princess: But seriously, I’m happy to talk or not talk about whatever you want.

Luke: I respect you so much more now that you set yourself up for that same joke.

Princess: Thanks?

Luke: Distract me. Ask me a question.

Princess: Why do you call me Princess?

Luke: Because that very first time I saw you, you were languishing across that weight bench like a princess in a drawing. Or like those cartoons growing up where the reigning royal was always reclined on a pile of pillows while someone fed them grapes and someone else fanned them with palm fronds.

Luke: I wish I’d taken a picture.

Luke: But I didn’t because that would have been creepy.

Princess: Now I kinda wish you’d taken a picture too.

Luke: Plus you looked super hot with your ass peeking out of your cover-up, and I wanted to bury my face in your tits.

Princess: And there goes the sweet moment.

Luke: Morning, Princess.

Princess: Morning, Player.

Princess: You don’t need it, but good luck at your game tonight.

Luke: Thanks, Green Eyes.

Luke: You gonna watch?

Luke: Better yet, don’t tell me.

Princess: You’re going to do great.

Princess: Since the game has started now and you won’t see this until after it’s over… I’ll let you know that, yes, I am watching. Yes, I’m in my pajamas. And yes, I’m thinking about how you got your dick all sandy in Mexico.

Princess: Congrats on the win! And the goal!

Luke: Thanks, Little Royal.

Luke: And thanks for reminding me about the sandy-dick trauma.

Princess: You’re welcome.

Princess: I gotta admit, hockey is much more entertaining than I thought.

Luke: I’m pleased and insulted.

Princess: Consider me a convert.

Luke: Does that mean you’ll keep watching my games?

Princess: Only if you promise to get into one of those fights. Those were fun!

Luke: I’ve created a monster.

Luke: Glad you watched.

Princess: Me too.

Luke: Where are you off to this week?

Princess: Flying to Denver tomorrow and finishing the week in San Fran.

Luke: Any chance you want to squeeze a stop in at Vegas on Thursday night? We have an evening game and then a few days off after, so we’re gonna hit the strip.

Luke: And by hit the strip, I mean grab some drinks and walk around people watching.

Princess: I might be able to make that work.