Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
At dinner we’re seated with our friends, and of course, there’s more hockey talk. Brody’s date looks bored, and Gage’s seems more interested in taking selfies than actual conversation. Cammie and Chase are making eyes at each other—which is normal.
I stretch my arm across the back of Fee’s chair while we talk, and she automatically leans in. Is it because she wants to, or because she’s playing the role? I don’t know, and it’s fucking killing me lately.
My mind keeps wandering back to the other night, when we were making popcorn in the kitchen. For a second I thought maybe she wanted me to kiss her, and then it all went sideways. Fee high-fived me. Fee has never high-fived me. Hell, I’ve never seen her high-five anyone. Panic hits. Have I been officially friend-zoned?
“Everything okay?” Fee whispers.
I blink a couple of times and realize I’ve been staring at her profile. “Yeah. Just admiring the view.”
She laughs. “Oh my God, you and your lines.”
“Is it a line if it’s the truth, though?”
She rolls her eyes and sips her drink. “Did I press the turbo flirt mode button again by accident?”
“You want me to dial it back?”
“I’ll let you know when I reach maximum flirt capacity.”
Once dinner, speeches, and awards are over, we hit the dance floor. The music slows eventually, and I turn to Fee. “Dance with me?”
“If you want.” She smooths her hands over her hips.
I settle my hands on her waist and pull her closer. “Thanks for agreeing to being my date, tonight.”
She smiles up at me and links her fingers behind my neck. “Tonight’s been fun. It was like one of your parties, but formal, without the drinking games.”
I laugh. “Those are always Gage’s idea.”
“I know.” She giggles. “This kind of reminds me of prom, but hockey-themed.”
“Did you go to yours?” A hot spike of jealousy shoots down my spine at the thought of her in some other guy’s arms.
“Yeah. But I went with a group of friends and no date. What about you?” she replies.
I should not be relieved by her admission. “I went with a date. We were just friends though.” Sort of the story of my life. “Why didn’t you go with someone?”
“It was my first year in Toronto, new school, it felt easier to go with my friends than have the pressure of a prom date. There are so many stupid stereotypes about what’s supposed to happen, you know? I had enough going on and I didn’t want or need that at the time.”
“I get that.” Probably more than she can know.
The song changes and the tempo picks up.
Fee steps out of my arms. “I need to use the bathroom.”
“I could do the same. I’ll walk you.”
We leave the dance floor and follow the signs to the bathrooms. When I’m done, I wait for Fee in the hall. She appears a minute later. “You want to get out of here?”
Her eyes light up. “Irish goodbye?”
I shrug. “If we go back in there, we’ll get sucked into another hockey conversation, and you’ll be bored.”
“Hockey doesn’t bore me.”
“Yeah, but you’re subjected to enough of it. Let’s get out of here.”
We stop at the coat check, and I help Fee into her winter jacket. She swaps out her heels for winter boots.
“I can call an Uber if you want?”
“Nah, we’re a ten-minute walk from my building and it’ll probably take that long for one to get here.”
We bundle up and step out into the cold winter night. The walk back to her apartment is short, and I don’t have enough time to shore up the courage to hold her hand, plus we’re both trying to keep our extremities warm in the February cold. We pass other students as I walk her to the elevator, some of them on their way out, others on their way to bed or the common room.
The elevator isn’t empty on the way up, but the hall is when we reach her apartment. It’s decorated with art. It reminds me of something I’ve seen before, but maybe it’s inspired by another artist.
“Thanks for making tonight fun,” Fee says softly.
“It was nice to go with someone I like,” I admit.
“Well, I hope you like me. I am your girlfriend and all,” she says cheekily.
I swallow down my anxiety and decide now is a good time to tell her I like her. “You’re incredible, Fee.”
“Thanks.” Her eyes warm. “So are you.”
Fee’s eyes dart to my mouth. Maybe I wasn’t wrong about her wanting me to kiss her the other night. But I didn’t act fast enough and made it awkward. I could fix that now. I swallow down my nerves and cup her cheek in my hand. Her skin is so soft and warm under my touch.
Fee’s eyes flare in surprise, but she doesn’t pull away. Instead, she licks her lips and tips her head up. “Mac?”