Tonight You're On My Mind
Chapter 1
Marie was digging through her trunk when she heard the car pull up behind her and come to a stop. She closed her eyes in frustration before opening them up and turning around to wave the motorist past her. Couldn’t people see she had a flat tire?
She flipped her hair back. The late October day was unseasonably warm and her strands of her blonde hair were sticking to the back of her neck. She probably should have taken off her black suit jacket when her she got out to assess the flat tire on her rental, but she had spilled coffee all over her white blouse this morning and the jacket was the only thing making her look like a grown up.
Throwing her hand out, she waved the car around. When it didn’t move, she lifted a hand to shade her eyes from the sun so she could see the driver. He was pushing himself out of an old SUV. Marie sighed.
“Sorry I’m blocking the lane. The rental agency will kill me if I drive it with a flat tire,” she said, turning away to look at the front, driver-side tire. Why was it so warm and sunny? Why did she feel like a sweaty whale? And why did she have a flat tire on such a busy street? This was a horrible day. Strike that, this was a horrible trip. It’d been nothing but wall to wall bullshit since she’d arrived in D.C. four days ago.
“Need some help?”
She turned to look at him and saw a man in athletic shorts and a t-shirt. He was tall and tan with close-cropped, light brown hair. And his face was perfectly chiseled, like an Abercrombie and Fitch model. Marie gritted her teeth and pulled her hair back. She felt like shit, probably looked like shit, and now Mr. Perfect who looked disgustingly comfortable in his skin was standing there watching her sweat like a pig.
“No, no, I’m fine. Just waiting on the rental agency to send out their roadside assistance.”
“I’ll wait with you then,” he said, walking around her to look at the tire.
Marie felt defeated. Fuck him. Fuck him for being perfect and offering to help her when she just wanted to sit in the car and sweat and hope that she could disappear. “Really, I’m fine. Don’t waste your time. I’m sure they’ll be here in five minutes.”
He smiled warmly at her. “Then it won’t waste much of my time. You’re not from around here?”
She adjusted her jacket, wishing she could take it off without revealing the coffee stain. “No. How did you know?”
“You said this is a rental. Here on business?”
Marie leaned against the door of the car. These heels were too high and the toes of her shoes were too pointy. Why did she do this to herself? She should have worn those ugly grandma shoes. “Yeah, I’m in town for two weeks.”
“What do you do?”
The warm breeze picked up her hair and plastered it across her sweaty forehead. Marie felt like the most unattractive person on the planet. Why did the model stop her help her? Weren’t there actual damsels in distress somewhere? Damsels that wore a size four, not fourteen. He was watching her with his blue eyes and she couldn’t help but think he looked familiar. She shook off the nagging thought and said, “Human resources for a construction company. We just got awarded a big contract in the D.C. area and I’m here processing new hires.”
“You live in Virginia?”
“Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh, actually.”
“Well, welcome to D.C. It’s not usually so warm here right before Halloween.” His hands were in his pockets and he settled himself against the car beside her, crossing one leg casually over the other.
Marie wanted to slide away from him, but she restrained herself. He was probably feeling sorry for her and her pathetic life. God, she thought, I need to get this fucking jacket off or I’m going to burn up. “Look, you really don’t have to do this. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
“My mom raised me better than that. I don’t have anything better to do than wait here until you’re on your way.” He was smiling at her again and her defenses were melting away. He really was so attractive that it made her sick. The slight accent was just icing on the sexy cake. She couldn’t quite place it. Maybe midwestern or Canadian.
“I was going to try and change it myself so I’m not late, but I don’t know the first thing about how to use a jack. They don’t come with instructions.”
He pulled his hands out of his pockets and pushed off her car, walking back to the trunk. “Is there a jack in here? I’ll change it for you.”
Marie laughed. “No, don’t bother. I called in and told them I’ll be late.”
He lifted the jack up and looked at her. “I bet I’m faster than roadside assistance. You’ll be on your way in ten minutes.”
She relented and watched him squat down to position the jack underneath the car. His legs were all muscle. Actually, he looked like he was a personal trainer. It just made her feel like she was a blob without any definition. “You’re too nice,” she said.
“Karma. You’ll pass it on.” He was already working on the lug nuts, twisting them off with the tire iron and showing very little strain. She’d probably fall on her face with the effort he was expending.
He looked so familiar. It was really beginning to bug her. She’d seen him somewhere. Finally, she caved and said, “You look familiar.”
“Yeah?” He looked up from the tire to catch her eye before resuming his work.
“Yeah. You’re not from Pittsburgh, are you?”
He dropped his head and chuckled. “No, I am definitely not.”
“Weird.” Marie frowned and ran her fingertips across her forehead to wipe away the beads of sweat forming there.
He pulled her tire off and traded it for the spare in the trunk. “You watch hockey?” he asked as he passed by her and dropped the spare on the ground. It bounced for a moment before he steadied it with his hands.
“Yeah, why?”
“Penguins?” he asked, not looking at her.
“Obviously,” she answered. “You?”
“Watch hockey?”
She nodded.
“Oh yeah. I love hockey. I play, too.”
Marie watched him fit the spare on and begin tightening the nuts to hold it in place. “Oh shit,” she said, suddenly placing his face.
He looked up at her, smiling. “What?”
“You play for the Capitals.”
His smile got bigger. “Maybe.”
“Brooks Laich, right? Goddammit.”
He laughed and finished adjusting the lug nuts. “That might be me.”
“I’m going to be sick. A Cap is changing my tire. Are you guys that hard up for fans that you’re converting people one at a time.”
Brooks stood up and dusted his hands off before bending over to pick up the tire iron and jack to return them to her trunk. “Anything for job security,” he said, closing the trunk up.
“I’m a lost cause. Penguins fan for life.”
“Damn shame,” Brooks replied, stopping just a couple feet from her. Marie had to look up because he was so much taller than her. He looked good on television, but he was even better in person.
She took and deep breath and forced a smile, trying to collect herself. “Thank you for the help. I appreciate it.”
“Even if I’m the enemy?” The corner of his mouth was lifting up and it was adorable.
“Even if you’re the enemy,” she agreed. Marie stuck her hand out, feeling awkward. “It was nice to meet you.”
“Likewise...uh...” He took her hand and raised his brows.
“Oh, Marie. My name is Marie.”
“Likewise, Marie.”
His hand was warm and dry and strong. Hers was probably sweaty and clammy. She jerked her hand back as soon as she could and gave him a nervous smile. “Thanks again.”
“Just be careful. Drive slow.”
“I will.” Marie gave him a short wave before jerking the door open and sliding inside the car. She turned the engine over and cranked the A/C up. He was still sitting behind her in his SUV. Obviously he was being the perfect gentleman and waiting for her to pull away first. Of course. Fucking Brooks Laich.
*************************************
She had a bag of frozen broccoli and a box of minute rice in her basket. After a week, getting takeout got old, regardless of whether the company was picking up the tab on all her expenses during this temporary trip. Marie was beginning to miss being able to cook. The suite they had rented for two weeks had a small kitchen. All she needed for this dinner was the microwave to heat the rice and and broccoli. The chicken she was going to pick up at the deli on her way to the cash register was already cooked and ready to eat.
It had been a busy week working in the temporary office trailer on the construction site. Thankfully the weather had cooled off and become more seasonable. Unfortunately, the blouse she had ruined with coffee a week ago was still out of commission. She should have just given it to the hotel staff to have it professionally cleaned. Instead, she had tried to do it herself and now it was crumpled up in the bathroom floor. She missed home and wanted to get the hell out of D.C.
The supermarket was quiet this late in the evening. It was nearly eight o’clock and the after work rush was long gone. Those people were home with their families, settled in front of the television to watch American Idol or The Bachelor or whatever people watched. Marie felt like a failure. She was thirty and single with no prospects on the horizon. She could stand to lose more than a few pounds and needed to stop ruining her white clothes with disgusting stains.
When she turned the corner of the aisle to find the deli, she nearly walked into someone. Pulling up short, she stuck her hand out to steady herself.
“I’m sorry,” the stranger said.
She looked up at the familiar voice. Brooks fucking Laich. Her eyes went wide and his did too. Obviously he remembered her. Damn, she thought, how awkward.
“Hi,” Marie said out loud.
“Hi, how’s your tire?”
His question made her chuckle. “It’s tire-like. Inflated now, thankfully.”
He smiled warmly at her. “Good. I’m glad to hear that.”
“So, do you make a habit of helping women change tires?”
“Not that I know of. Why do you ask?”
Marie shifted her weight from one foot to another. “I looked you up after you changed my tire.”
“On the internet?”
“And I saw that you’re, like, the white knight of flat tires or something.”
He laughed. “You’re just my second. But maybe that can be my next career.”
She shook her head at him. “As much as it pains me to help out the Caps, I think you should stick with hockey. You’re pretty good at it.”
“You’ll take that back when we beat the Pens next time.”
“Yeah, I probably will,” she said, smiling at him. He really was a nice guy. Wholesome and handsome and completely genuine. Perfection. And it made her feel like nothing. Why was he even talking to her? “So, uh, nice to see you again. Enjoy your... shopping.” Marie winced at her choice of words. She sounded trite and stupid and awkward.
“You, too,” he replied, watching her walk past him. “Nice to see you again, Marie.”
“Bye,” she said, giving him a wave before turning around and scrunching her face up. Oh God, I hope he isn’t watching me walk away, she thought. When she glanced over her shoulder he was. And when she turned her head back around she almost walked into a display of crackers. Despite avoiding that crisis, she did forget the chicken in her rush to get out of the most embarrassing grocery store trip ever. That night she settled for rice and broccoli.
She flipped her hair back. The late October day was unseasonably warm and her strands of her blonde hair were sticking to the back of her neck. She probably should have taken off her black suit jacket when her she got out to assess the flat tire on her rental, but she had spilled coffee all over her white blouse this morning and the jacket was the only thing making her look like a grown up.
Throwing her hand out, she waved the car around. When it didn’t move, she lifted a hand to shade her eyes from the sun so she could see the driver. He was pushing himself out of an old SUV. Marie sighed.
“Sorry I’m blocking the lane. The rental agency will kill me if I drive it with a flat tire,” she said, turning away to look at the front, driver-side tire. Why was it so warm and sunny? Why did she feel like a sweaty whale? And why did she have a flat tire on such a busy street? This was a horrible day. Strike that, this was a horrible trip. It’d been nothing but wall to wall bullshit since she’d arrived in D.C. four days ago.
“Need some help?”
She turned to look at him and saw a man in athletic shorts and a t-shirt. He was tall and tan with close-cropped, light brown hair. And his face was perfectly chiseled, like an Abercrombie and Fitch model. Marie gritted her teeth and pulled her hair back. She felt like shit, probably looked like shit, and now Mr. Perfect who looked disgustingly comfortable in his skin was standing there watching her sweat like a pig.
“No, no, I’m fine. Just waiting on the rental agency to send out their roadside assistance.”
“I’ll wait with you then,” he said, walking around her to look at the tire.
Marie felt defeated. Fuck him. Fuck him for being perfect and offering to help her when she just wanted to sit in the car and sweat and hope that she could disappear. “Really, I’m fine. Don’t waste your time. I’m sure they’ll be here in five minutes.”
He smiled warmly at her. “Then it won’t waste much of my time. You’re not from around here?”
She adjusted her jacket, wishing she could take it off without revealing the coffee stain. “No. How did you know?”
“You said this is a rental. Here on business?”
Marie leaned against the door of the car. These heels were too high and the toes of her shoes were too pointy. Why did she do this to herself? She should have worn those ugly grandma shoes. “Yeah, I’m in town for two weeks.”
“What do you do?”
The warm breeze picked up her hair and plastered it across her sweaty forehead. Marie felt like the most unattractive person on the planet. Why did the model stop her help her? Weren’t there actual damsels in distress somewhere? Damsels that wore a size four, not fourteen. He was watching her with his blue eyes and she couldn’t help but think he looked familiar. She shook off the nagging thought and said, “Human resources for a construction company. We just got awarded a big contract in the D.C. area and I’m here processing new hires.”
“You live in Virginia?”
“Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh, actually.”
“Well, welcome to D.C. It’s not usually so warm here right before Halloween.” His hands were in his pockets and he settled himself against the car beside her, crossing one leg casually over the other.
Marie wanted to slide away from him, but she restrained herself. He was probably feeling sorry for her and her pathetic life. God, she thought, I need to get this fucking jacket off or I’m going to burn up. “Look, you really don’t have to do this. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
“My mom raised me better than that. I don’t have anything better to do than wait here until you’re on your way.” He was smiling at her again and her defenses were melting away. He really was so attractive that it made her sick. The slight accent was just icing on the sexy cake. She couldn’t quite place it. Maybe midwestern or Canadian.
“I was going to try and change it myself so I’m not late, but I don’t know the first thing about how to use a jack. They don’t come with instructions.”
He pulled his hands out of his pockets and pushed off her car, walking back to the trunk. “Is there a jack in here? I’ll change it for you.”
Marie laughed. “No, don’t bother. I called in and told them I’ll be late.”
He lifted the jack up and looked at her. “I bet I’m faster than roadside assistance. You’ll be on your way in ten minutes.”
She relented and watched him squat down to position the jack underneath the car. His legs were all muscle. Actually, he looked like he was a personal trainer. It just made her feel like she was a blob without any definition. “You’re too nice,” she said.
“Karma. You’ll pass it on.” He was already working on the lug nuts, twisting them off with the tire iron and showing very little strain. She’d probably fall on her face with the effort he was expending.
He looked so familiar. It was really beginning to bug her. She’d seen him somewhere. Finally, she caved and said, “You look familiar.”
“Yeah?” He looked up from the tire to catch her eye before resuming his work.
“Yeah. You’re not from Pittsburgh, are you?”
He dropped his head and chuckled. “No, I am definitely not.”
“Weird.” Marie frowned and ran her fingertips across her forehead to wipe away the beads of sweat forming there.
He pulled her tire off and traded it for the spare in the trunk. “You watch hockey?” he asked as he passed by her and dropped the spare on the ground. It bounced for a moment before he steadied it with his hands.
“Yeah, why?”
“Penguins?” he asked, not looking at her.
“Obviously,” she answered. “You?”
“Watch hockey?”
She nodded.
“Oh yeah. I love hockey. I play, too.”
Marie watched him fit the spare on and begin tightening the nuts to hold it in place. “Oh shit,” she said, suddenly placing his face.
He looked up at her, smiling. “What?”
“You play for the Capitals.”
His smile got bigger. “Maybe.”
“Brooks Laich, right? Goddammit.”
He laughed and finished adjusting the lug nuts. “That might be me.”
“I’m going to be sick. A Cap is changing my tire. Are you guys that hard up for fans that you’re converting people one at a time.”
Brooks stood up and dusted his hands off before bending over to pick up the tire iron and jack to return them to her trunk. “Anything for job security,” he said, closing the trunk up.
“I’m a lost cause. Penguins fan for life.”
“Damn shame,” Brooks replied, stopping just a couple feet from her. Marie had to look up because he was so much taller than her. He looked good on television, but he was even better in person.
She took and deep breath and forced a smile, trying to collect herself. “Thank you for the help. I appreciate it.”
“Even if I’m the enemy?” The corner of his mouth was lifting up and it was adorable.
“Even if you’re the enemy,” she agreed. Marie stuck her hand out, feeling awkward. “It was nice to meet you.”
“Likewise...uh...” He took her hand and raised his brows.
“Oh, Marie. My name is Marie.”
“Likewise, Marie.”
His hand was warm and dry and strong. Hers was probably sweaty and clammy. She jerked her hand back as soon as she could and gave him a nervous smile. “Thanks again.”
“Just be careful. Drive slow.”
“I will.” Marie gave him a short wave before jerking the door open and sliding inside the car. She turned the engine over and cranked the A/C up. He was still sitting behind her in his SUV. Obviously he was being the perfect gentleman and waiting for her to pull away first. Of course. Fucking Brooks Laich.
*************************************
She had a bag of frozen broccoli and a box of minute rice in her basket. After a week, getting takeout got old, regardless of whether the company was picking up the tab on all her expenses during this temporary trip. Marie was beginning to miss being able to cook. The suite they had rented for two weeks had a small kitchen. All she needed for this dinner was the microwave to heat the rice and and broccoli. The chicken she was going to pick up at the deli on her way to the cash register was already cooked and ready to eat.
It had been a busy week working in the temporary office trailer on the construction site. Thankfully the weather had cooled off and become more seasonable. Unfortunately, the blouse she had ruined with coffee a week ago was still out of commission. She should have just given it to the hotel staff to have it professionally cleaned. Instead, she had tried to do it herself and now it was crumpled up in the bathroom floor. She missed home and wanted to get the hell out of D.C.
The supermarket was quiet this late in the evening. It was nearly eight o’clock and the after work rush was long gone. Those people were home with their families, settled in front of the television to watch American Idol or The Bachelor or whatever people watched. Marie felt like a failure. She was thirty and single with no prospects on the horizon. She could stand to lose more than a few pounds and needed to stop ruining her white clothes with disgusting stains.
When she turned the corner of the aisle to find the deli, she nearly walked into someone. Pulling up short, she stuck her hand out to steady herself.
“I’m sorry,” the stranger said.
She looked up at the familiar voice. Brooks fucking Laich. Her eyes went wide and his did too. Obviously he remembered her. Damn, she thought, how awkward.
“Hi,” Marie said out loud.
“Hi, how’s your tire?”
His question made her chuckle. “It’s tire-like. Inflated now, thankfully.”
He smiled warmly at her. “Good. I’m glad to hear that.”
“So, do you make a habit of helping women change tires?”
“Not that I know of. Why do you ask?”
Marie shifted her weight from one foot to another. “I looked you up after you changed my tire.”
“On the internet?”
“And I saw that you’re, like, the white knight of flat tires or something.”
He laughed. “You’re just my second. But maybe that can be my next career.”
She shook her head at him. “As much as it pains me to help out the Caps, I think you should stick with hockey. You’re pretty good at it.”
“You’ll take that back when we beat the Pens next time.”
“Yeah, I probably will,” she said, smiling at him. He really was a nice guy. Wholesome and handsome and completely genuine. Perfection. And it made her feel like nothing. Why was he even talking to her? “So, uh, nice to see you again. Enjoy your... shopping.” Marie winced at her choice of words. She sounded trite and stupid and awkward.
“You, too,” he replied, watching her walk past him. “Nice to see you again, Marie.”
“Bye,” she said, giving him a wave before turning around and scrunching her face up. Oh God, I hope he isn’t watching me walk away, she thought. When she glanced over her shoulder he was. And when she turned her head back around she almost walked into a display of crackers. Despite avoiding that crisis, she did forget the chicken in her rush to get out of the most embarrassing grocery store trip ever. That night she settled for rice and broccoli.
8/2/13