Number Eleven

Chapter 5.

Oakley POV 

I wake up way too early by a god awful beeping sound in my ear. 

Reaching my arm out to my nightstand, I thump it around until I find the culprit, my phone. Grasping the slim machine between my calloused fingers, I swipe across the screen until the unholy buzzing stops. 

All I want to do is stay in my warm cozy bed and sleep all damn day, but I know that if I bail on Matt at the gym, I'll be in for a long practice tonight filled with complaining and I am not in the mood for that s**t today.

It's been a week now since I met Ava.

We had stayed awake far into the morning, watching the sunrise above the crystal clear river, both of us never seeming to run out of things to say. 

It wasn't until I started to notice her falling asleep against my shoulder that I decided it was probably a good idea to get her home before she completely passed out on me.  We haven't seen each other since then, and as far as I know, she's been swamped with school and I've been too busy with hockey.

Maybe I would have texted her had I even thought to get her number, which clearly, I didn't. It wouldn't have been hard to get it by now either, considering our coinciding friendships, but something's holding me back.

Giving my head a shake, I decide to drag my lazy ass out of bed. I have too much going on right now to be sitting around worrying about girls, especially this early in hockey season. 

The tiles lining my bathroom floor are cold on my toes as I head to the tub and turn the shower on. The water sputters out of the rusted showerhead almost comically as I let the water heat up. My hand scratches at the new beard I've been way too lazy to shave as of late knowing full well the minute my mother sees me, she'll shove me into the bathroom to make it disappear anyway. 

That reminds me, I should call her. 

After I'm out of the shower, I throw on the closest clothes I can find and slip my sneakers on before heading out the door and calling my mom. 

On the third ring, she picks up, "Good Morning, sweetheart! How are you doing? You're still coming home next weekend, right?"

How she always happens to be this high energy in the morning is beyond me. I guess it's a mom thing.

"Morning, Ma, I'm good. A little tired, but what's new there? Yeah, I'm still coming. How excited is Gracie for her first solo routine?"

Gracie has been doing ballet since she was seven. The first round of competitions this year starts on Saturday and she has her first solo routine. It's all I have been hearing about during our phone calls for a month now. I wouldn't miss it.

"That's right, you have never really been a morning person." She laughs before continuing, "I don't think she can be more excited. It means the world to her that you will be here honey."

I throw my seatbelt over my shoulder before clicking it in place and starting my truck.

"I wouldn't miss it. I have to go though,  I have an early morning gym session with the guys. I'll see you on Saturday morning."

"Good luck on your next game Oakley, drive safe. I love you."

"Always do. Love you too, mom. Bye." I hang up the phone and prepare myself for this grueling workout as I start driving.

~~~

"About time, bro. I was starting to think you were bailing on me. Hurry up. I need a spotter," Matt shouts the minute I walk through the intimidating doors of our team's training facility. 

"Dude, there are literally four other guys here that can spot you." I roll my eyes and make my way over to the weight bench regardless. "Come on then. I don't have all day."

As I take my spot behind him and grab onto the weight bar, I decide now is a good a time as ever to ask him more about Ava.

"How well do you know Ava, man?"

He looks up at me from the weight bench and gives me a pointed look before settling back in his position and finishing his reps. 

"Be careful with her, man. Morgan would have my balls if I let any of the guys f**k around with her again." f**k around with her?

"What do you mean, f**k around with her? Is this about that Remer guy?"

"It's not my story to tell. Just be careful, Lee, she's a really sweet girl. She's been through way more than anyone should have to go through." That doesn't help at all.

"Gotta say though, I was shocked to see her giving you any attention the other night." He finishes up another set before handing off the weights to me and sitting up. "How did it go by the way? Morgan said she didn't hear Ava get back until really late and you haven't brought it up since."

How was it? We don't have the time to fully talk about how great it went. 

I set the weight bar down in it's resting place. "Gee thanks man, you really know how to crush a guy's ego," I chuckle. "It was good, we just hung out and talked. She's great dude, super down to earth and an awesome listener. I think I want to hang out with her again. I just don't know if I can make that kind of commitment yet. With hockey and my family."

"Nothing wrong with hanging out with her again to see. You can always be friends; we are in the same group now. Invite her to the game on Monday." He shrugs, the corners of his lips twitching as if they want to spread into a smile.

Something tells me that I can't be just friends with Ava.

"Yeah man, I guess. Do you have her number? I forgot to ask for it."

"You forgot to ask for a girl's number? She really had you out of it, hey?" he laughs loudly as we set up on the treadmills.

"Yeah, yeah, shut up. Just give me the damn number."

"Just don't make me regret this, dude." He pulls out his phone and I copy Ava's number into my own.

My day just got a little better. 

"Enough girl talk man, start running."

~~~

When we make our way into the beating sunlight, my gaze is pulled to the familiar white Jeep waiting in the gym parking lot. 

"Couldn't even drive yourself here this morning, buddy?" I tease, my eyebrows raised as I watch Matt hold back his grin. 

"If I did, then I wouldn't have been able to make this work," he smirks, pointing to the brown-haired girl being dragged around the front of a Jeep by a very forceful Morgan. 

"Was this your idea or hers?"   

He shrugs in response, but the smirk on his lips gives me the answer I really want. He definitely did this. 

I watch as Ava says something to Morgan, her words jumbling by the time I can attempt to make them out. It's easy to tell she wasn't expecting to be dragged here as she tries to plant her feet to the tar in hopes of halting her forced movements. 

Matt is the first to speak up when they get within hearing distance. 

"About time, baby. I was worried you got lost or something." 

My attention hasn't moved off of Ava as she finally brings her eyes to mine, a shy smile looking back at me. I offer a grin of my own as I nervously shove my hands in my hoodie pocket. 

"We would have been here sooner if it wasn't for miss I'm not leaving the house over here," Morgan huffs before dropping Ava's arm and walking over to Matt, his arm wrapping around her shoulder instantly. 

"It's a pleasure as always, Morgan." I roll my eyes. "It's good to see you again, Ava." 

My grin doesn't move as I continue to look at her, my heart flopping when her half-smile stretches wide across her lips. 

"You too, Jeff." 

What?

Matt sputters a laugh, not being able to contain his entertainment as she tears down every inch of my confidence with three simple words. I'm sure my face is priceless as I continue to stare at her, now open mouth and confused. 

Who the hell is Jeff? Do I know him?

"Relax, Oakley. I'm just teasing," she smirks before tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear and peering up at me mischievously.  

The two onlookers are laughing loudly now at Ava's attempt to rile me and I can't help but be impressed with her. Not to mention weirdly attracted to her surprisingly cheeky attitude.  

"Haha, very funny. You can't tell me I look like a Jeff, can you? Jeff sounds like a football player's name. Not a hockey star name." I smirk. 

"Maybe I'm into football players," she shoots back, her head tilted slightly. 

My ego gets the better of me as I take a daring step towards her. "You ready to prove it, beautiful?" 

Morgan pushes out of Matt's arms at my comment, not giving Ava time to answer before she's scooped up in her best friend's grasp. 

"Okay, Casanova. Save it for after the game tomorrow." 

"You guys are coming to the after-party then?" I ask, my hopeful eyes finding Ava once again.

"Clearly," Morgan scoffs. 

"I don't really have a choice in the matter," Ava laughs softly before darting her eyes between Morgan and I. 

"Say goodbye to your boyfriend, Matt. We'll be waiting in the warm car," Morgan says before leaning up to place a kiss on his cheek and sending me a smile before wrapping her hand around Ava's arm and pulling her back in the direction of her abandoned Jeep. 

I nod my head at Ava and watch as she turns around and picks up her speed in order to avoid being dragged across the parking lot again. 

I feel a pat on my shoulder and see Matt grinning over at me like a complete fool. 

"You think you can handle waiting until tomorrow, buddy?" 

Chuckling, I give my head a shake and slap a hand against his arm. "I'll see you, man. Thanks for that. I guess I didn't need you to give me her number after all."

"You got that right. See ya, dude." He waves before jogging towards his girlfriend.