Number Eleven

Chapter 3.

Ava POV 

We're the first ones to make it to Lucy's diner after the game, and now that I think about it, I could definitely go for a strawberry milkshake right about now. Maybe even with a little Baileys in it to get me through this dinner what with Mr. Hotshot Fighter joining us. 

Emphasis on the hot in hotshot.

Oops.

Once we walk inside I take in the immediate smell of greasy burgers and coffee just as my stomach decides to let out a loud growl. I guess I'm hungrier than I thought.

This has been my favorite diner since my dad started taking me here every Friday night after my adoption was finalized. We would sit in a booth for hours, each of us picking a song from the jukebox before talking about everything from what homework I had that night, to what the new drama was in my small friend group.

I miss those days. 

Everything was so much easier back then.

We find a teal blue booth sitting in front of a big window and slide in while we wait for everyone else.

"Matthew texted, he just pulled up outside with Adam and Tyler," Morgan shouts excitedly about ten minutes later while anxiously staring at the door. That guy somehow always turns her into a giddy schoolgirl, I would be lying if I said it didn't make me even the tiniest bit jealous.

Adam and Tyler are probably the only other two players on the Saints that I would consider my friends. While Adam and I are really close, I can't say the same about Tyler and I. Not due to lack of trying either, he's just a much tougher nut to c***k than Adam.  

As I'm about to reply, I hear the ring of the bell on the diner door and see the three guys walk in.

Confidence oozes off of them as they make their way to our table, all three sporting slightly damp hair and fancy suits, courtesy of well-needed showers and their game day outfits. Adam stands the tallest, at his six-foot-two height, followed by Tyler and then Matt.

Poor guy.

When they reach our table, I look up at them slyly. "Bout time you boys showed up. You should know it's never nice to keep ladies waiting."

Adam slides into the booth beside me with a smirk on his face and slings his left arm around me to give me a quick side hug. "Funny O, we didn't know we were keeping any ladies waiting. Did you, Tyler?"

"Can't say I did." Tyler forces a chuckle and scoots into the booth beside Adam. "Oh! She means her and Morgan! My bad."

Rolling my eyes, I turn my attention to Matthew as he slides in beside Morga, kissing her head and resting his arm around the back of the booth. "Hey, babe."

She grins and turns her head to meet his gaze. "Hey Matt, You boys were awesome tonight! Where's your fighter?" she asks while kicking my foot under the table. 

I glare at her before Tyler turns around and jerks his head towards the door. "Walking in as we speak."

The familiar striking green eyes catch my attention first, the depth of them sending me reeling backward. Emotion pours from the grassy orbs as they openly staring back at me. I feel my brows scrunch together as I blink, only to stare into his newly vacant gaze when I look back at him. 

Coughing, I tear my gaze away before letting myself follow the sharp lines of his jaw, suddenly mesmerized by the beauty of the strong, chiseled features. From his slightly crooked nose to his plump lips, he looks like he was carved by God himself.  

The endless sleeves of black tattoos that cover his forearms catch my eye now as he reaches up to the baseball cap covering his ashy brown hair, removing it only to run his fingers through the short length before slapping it back on, his biceps flexing proudly as he does so. 

I was right when I guessed he was ripped. My mouth dries as I watch him walk towards the table, a sudden need to see what he's hiding beneath his white dress shirt completely overwhelming me.

Wait, what? No-no-no. I don't think so, Ava.

As soon as I force myself to stop gawking at him, I look around the room, focusing on anything and everything but the guy who just so happens to be staring at me with a very cocky grin resting on his lips.

With his long legs he reaches our table in no time at all, a fierce heat pulsing in my cheeks as I quickly divert my gaze to the table. 

"You can have the window seat, Oakley; I much prefer the middle seat anyway." I hear Morgan squeal as she shoves Matthew out of the booth before getting out after him, motioning for Oakley to slide in first.

I plaster a tight smile on my face and mentally plan her slow and painful death while she gets back in the booth.

"You always check out guys you don't know like that, or was that just for me?" I hear a raspy voice whisper. 

My head snaps in the direction of the voice, a ball forming in my throat as Oakley flashes me a tilted grin. 

"I would say just you, but that would be a lie," I declare with as much fake confidence as I can muster up and push myself farther into my seat. 

"You gonna tell me your name or do I have to ask your friend?" he chuckles, tilting his head at Morgan.

"Octavia!" Morgan shrieks. "Her name is Octavia." 

She's dead.

"Its Ava, actually, and I already know yours. You seem to have a special way of introducing yourself to everyone, Oakley."

"It needed to be done. I just happened to be the guy to take care of it." He shrugs. "That team is a bunch of little bitches anyways." 

He drops the topic and turns his attention to the menu in front of him.

Is it just me or does the oh so cocky, famous hockey star not like talking about himself?

I look down at the table and see the laminated menu resting in front of me. Huh, I didn't notice those before. The waitress must have brought them over while I was too busy being a total creep.

Matthew pipes in a second later, "I still can't believe you got ejected. That team was playing dirty all night. Even coach agreed they had it coming. How are the knuckles?"

I let my eyes drop down to the hands holding up his menu and notice his right one has been wrapped tightly in a white bandage. His left doesn't look damaged; if he used it at all he didn't bust the skin like he did on the other one.

"They hurt like a b***h, man," he lightly chuckles before Matt speaks up again.

"I have one question, though. What did the prick say to you out there? None of us could hear." 

Oakley sits silently for a few seconds before shrugging. "Just some bullshit about the team." He clears his throat with a forced cough before changing the subject. "Who's hungry? I know I am."

The waitress that decides to finally tend to our table looks around our age, yellowish blonde hair hanging like saggy noodles around her narrow cheekbones as she attempts to seductively push a strand behind her ear. It's not hard to tell that she's already taken a liking to the gorgeous male specimen across from me with her cringingly obvious attempt at catching his attention. 

"Hi! My name is Jenny, and I'll be taking care of you tonight. What can I get you? Other than my number later, of course," she flirts, her eyes unwavering on Oakley as she flashes him a flirty smile and pushes her prominent cleavage out even further towards him. 

Damn, this girl sure is forward.

"I'll just take a vanilla milkshake and a double cheeseburger with a side of curly fries. I can't say that I want your number, but I'm sure my buddy Tyler would love it. Thanks, though," he says absentmindedly, not looking up from his menu.

I hadn't noticed my jaw hanging pretty much on the table until I hear Oakley snicker and Adam give the waitress his order. 

"Two strawberry milkshakes, a double cheeseburger and two orders of fries, thank you."

"You remembered! Thank you." I send him a wide smile while giving him a side hug.

Bless you, Adam, what would I do without you?

"No worries, might wanna hide your crush a little more, though, unless you want to spell it out for him," he whispers in my ear before he starts laughing. My eyes widen in response as he starts to laugh even louder.

"Shut up. I do not have a crush on him. I take back my thank you," I hiss, shooting him daggers while crossing my arms over my chest.

"Relax, O, you know I'm just teasing you. I also don't think you're alone in the crush department. There's no need to be embarrassed," Adam whispers again. I look over and see Oakley watching the two of us curiously before diverting his attention elsewhere.

~~~

After receiving our food, the tension starts to evaporate around us. 

"I'm just saying, onions are disgusting. There's something seriously wrong with anyone who willingly wants to eat them," Oakley says while shrinking away from the onion that I'm dangling in his face before I quickly pop it in my mouth.

"Well, I actually happen to love them."

"Yeah, definitely makes sense," he teases while sending me a wink. I can feel my face turning bright red as I drop my head down to look at my lap.

After spending too long hauled up in the adorable diner, we decide on paying our bills. As we all leave the warm diner, Morgan shoots me a smug look. 

"Hey, Ava, I have to drive the guys home since Matt has to hit the gym, Oakley would you be able to give her a ride home for me? I won't have enough room in my car."

Why am I not surprised that she would pull something like this? Going to the gym? At 11 pm? I seriously doubt it.

"Sure, I don't mind. We'll see you later then. Thanks for the invite, guys." He waves before sending me a comforting smile and heading to a white pick-up truck. 

I'm glad one of us is happy about this. It's not like it's a big deal or anything. 

With my eyes narrowed into slits, I flip Morgan the bird. She rolls her eyes in response before blowing me a kiss and hopping into her car without another word. 

I can't help but halt in my steps when I flip around and see he's waiting by the passenger door for me. 

"You know I can open my own door. I do have two working arms." I wave my arms around to emphasize my point.

"Oh, I have no doubt, but unless you feel like standing here and trying to jump in, let me help you." He laughs before I feel his hands grip my waist and with what seems like no effort all at, I'm placed in the cab of the truck. "Lucky for you, my mom taught me always to help a beautiful woman in need."

"Did she also teach you that sweet talk doesn't always work?" I mumble, knowing he can't hear me as he shuts my door. 

"So, you're from Penticton?" I ask once silence covers both of us a few minutes later. He looks over and gives me a small smile. "Yep. Born and raised. You always lived in Vancouver?"

"Yeah, my family lives here, but I don't plan on staying once I'm done school. I can't stand this rain," I say softly before studying the large water droplets as they aggressively explode against the windshield. 

"I get it. I don't want to stay here either. I want to go somewhere warm and very dry." He looks over and forces a smile. 

"So, tell me something. What's your lifelong dream? Your big goal?" He clears his throat. 

"Social Work," I answer instantly. "That's the dream anyway." 

I wait nervously for his response as his gaze remains locked on the road in front of us. 

"Beautiful and kind." 

"Thank you."

"Do you want to go somewhere with me?" he asks,  his eyebrows scrunched together as if he's thinking hard about something. 

Times like this, I wish I could read minds. Unfortunately, though, I'm not Edward Cullen.

"Promise this isn't a part of your secret plan to kidnap me? I'm way too young to die," I tease, a smile trying to break through my straight face.  

"Pinky promise." He holds his pinky out to me. 

I tie mine with his and lock my dull green eyes with his sparkling ones. "Then what are you waiting for? Let's go."

Oh god. What am I getting myself into?