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)
“Please don’t be.” I stroke her hair. “I’m glad you feel safe enough to cry with me, and I’m sorry it hurts right now.”
“I just miss them so much, Mac. Especially on days like this.”
“I can only imagine. But you have me, okay?” I want to be the person she relies on. The one she comes to when she’s sad, and happy, and everything in between.
“The grief just comes in these big crashing waves sometimes.”
I cradle the back of her head in my hand. “I’m here. I can be your life jacket.”
“Thank you for being such a good friend, Mac.”
“Always.” I just hope that’s not all I am.
CHAPTER 19
MAC
It’s go time.
Now or never.
Do or die.
I didn’t tell Fee how I felt yesterday because she needed my emotional support, not my emotional baggage, but she’s in much better form today and I’m bursting with the need to say something already. Also, the guys told me if I didn’t do something about it immanently, they’d stage an intervention and Gage would be at the helm. I don’t want to know what a Gage intervention looks like. Ever.
“Are you sure everything’s okay?” Fee asks for the third time. “Are you stressing about hockey? Do you want to book some extra ice time?”
“No. Yes. I mean yes, everything is cool, and no, I’m not stressing about hockey.” I need to pull the plug on my anxiety. “I need to ask you something.”
“Okay.” She sits up a little straighter and gives me her full attention. “I’m listening.”
“I want to take you on a date.” No finesse, no lead-up. Just honest truth.
“Oh.” She blinks twice, but that’s all the reaction I get.
Fuck. What if I’m too late? What if my window of opportunity has already closed?
“Do you have another hockey thing?” She pulls up her calendar, dutifully preparing to save the date. “Do you know when it is and who will be there? Dress code and stuff?”
I beat back the swelling wave of panic. She kissed me back. She made this incredibly needy sound that I want to hear on repeat. I send a prayer to the gods of attraction that I’m right about this. “There’s no event. I want to take you on a real, not-fake date, Ophelia.”
More blinking. “A real date?”
“Yeah. I like you, Fee.”
“You like me?” she parrots.
“As more than friends,” I add. “In case that wasn’t clear.”
Her eyebrows lift, confusion turning to shock. “Really?”
“Is that so hard to believe?” I ask. “I love spending time with you, you’re easy to talk to, kind, smart, talented, thoughtful, fun. You’re sexy as hell on skates, and in a dress.” I bite my lip and lean, lowering my voice. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that kiss the other week.” I go all in. Shoot my shot.
“Me neither.”
I’m uncertain if that’s good or bad until a shy smile curves the corner of her mouth. “I’d love to go on a real date.”
“Yeah?” Relief crashes over me, followed by a wave of excitement.
She ducks her head. “Yeah.”
“Are you free tonight?” Might as well strike while the iron is hot.
She laughs. “I am actually.”
“I’ll pick you up at your apartment at seven?”
“Okay.” Her phone beeps. “Shit. I have class. I gotta run.” She kisses me on the cheek. “See you at seven.”
“Which shirt is better?” I hold up a dark blue one and a green one.
“Either works.” Gage is on his phone, brows furrowed as he thumb-types.
“I like the blue one,” Chase says.
Brody adjusts his ball cap. “Same.”
“So what finally flipped the switch?” Gage sets his phone down, which is rare for him.
“Your intervention threats.” I unscrew my pomade and swipe a dollop. “Plus, we’ve been spending a lot of time together, and I like her.”
“Yeah, but you’ve always liked her,” Gage argues.
“We’ve been friends, and now I want us to be more.” Why is this so hard to understand? I’ve never been a rush into things kind of guy. Maybe part of it has to do with my parents splitting up. Like it would suck to get emotionally involved with someone just to have them leave. But I’m already emotionally involved when it comes to Fee, and now that I’ve kissed her, I don’t think I can be around her without wanting to kiss her again.
“I don’t get it.” Gage rubs his chin. “She’s been hanging around with us all year and you’re just realizing this now, though?”
“Not everyone has to fuck a person before they realize they might like them beyond physical attraction, Gage,” Brody says. “Not that there is anything wrong with sex for the sake of pleasure, or whatever floats your boat, but some people need an emotional connection with another person prior to wanting to fuck their brains out.”
“Really?” Gage seems mystified.
“Really,” I agree. I’m not sure we’re at the fuck each other’s brains out stage, but I definitely want to end tonight with my lips on Fee’s.