“I went to swimming camp every summer as a kid. I used to race. And I had my lifesaving certificate.”

Seems like I should have seen that coming. “Guess I’ll be following your lead, then. I’ll admit I’m a little worried about teaching non-swimmers to save lives. Won’t they be a little freaked out in the water already?”

“That’s the point, though.” Her forehead furrows in an adorable frown. “The message isn’t that you’re good enough to swim like kids from the suburbs. It’s that you’re good enough to save someone’s life. It’s empowering to be told you can do something that’s as difficult as it is important.”

“Wow, okay. We’d better do a good job, then.” Although Sylvie’s competence will go a long way. “I’ll do what I can, okay? My schedule is crazy, and I’m not the kind of guy you want in charge of a project like this. But when I’m there, I’ll give a hundred and fifty percent.”

She studies me with serious brown eyes for a moment. “I get that. And thank you.”

“No problem.”

“I just have one more question. Are you going to eat the rest of that chicken?”

As I pass her the platter, I think I fall a little deeper in lust.

TWENTY-FOUR

The Tavern on Hicks

SYLVIE

Anton grabs the check the moment it hits the table.

My competitive streak is triggered by this show of macho behavior. “Hey! No fair. I don’t need you to buy dinner.”

“Didn’t say you did,” he says, slipping a credit card into the folder. “I’m not trying to baby you. I noticed that you hate that.”

My smile is embarrassed, because he witnessed my meltdown earlier.

“But I also happened to notice that we don’t earn the same salary.”

“That’s true,” I admit. “And a problem for women’s sports. But I’m not hurting like some of the girls. I’m the bookkeeper for my dad’s hockey organization, so I brought my job to Brooklyn with me.”

“Still,” he says, giving me a confident smile. “This is my treat. You can buy next time.”

Next time. I think Anton Bayer and I are becoming friends. “Well, thank you. I really appreciate it. And thank you for talking me off the ledge earlier.”

“I’ve been out on that same ledge.” He shrugs.

My new phone starts chiming with texts, and it’s awfully loud. “Sorry.” I pull out the phone. “I’m still getting used to this thing. All the features…”

The texts are from Fiona. Some of my teammates are gathering in a Brooklyn bar. It’s on Hicks Street! Are you in?

“Wait until you win your first game,” he says. “There’s a gold star that appears on the screen.”

“I’ve heard about that. It sounds a little silly.”

“Doesn’t it?” He chuckles. “But, man, the Kattenbergers are onto something. After a couple of losses, you’ll be missing that damn thing. I’d do just about anything for the star.”

He signs the check while I read my texts. “Do you know where there’s a tavern on Hicks Street?” I ask. “Is that nearby?”