“I agree.” I nod. “They look much better on you.”
I wink at her and stand, her laugh still lingering below.
Her father shakes my hand and expresses his gratitude.
I brush them off. “Don’t worry about it. I’m happy to help.”
I eagerly scan the room after they move on to another one of my teammates.
Back to the target,I tell myself.
Reese stands in the same spot next to my locker, with her lip tucked in between her teeth. There’s a softness lingering around her, those brown eyes warm as she flutters her eyelashes in my direction. We keep catching each other’s eye until the room begins to clear out, taking her best friend and Kane too, as they both rush through the door.
I move toward Reese while giving each of my teammates a look that says,She's mine.A few of them smirk; some roll their eyes. She sticks out like a rose in a bunch of thorns. So pretty and soft, surrounded by gruff hockey players who are hoping I blow my chances so they can try to win her affection too.
I lean against Kane’s locker, which just happens to be next to mine. “Did you get my note?” I ask her.
Reese plays with a delicate gold necklace around her neck, refusing to look at me. “Hm?” she says. “What did you say? Something about a note?”
I chuckle. “Maybe I should go get those purple hearing aids for you.”
She sucks her cheeks in, and I know it’s because she’s trying not to laugh at my joke.
I nudge her with my elbow. “Did you like that?”
She finally glances at me. I immediately drop my gaze to her mouth. Kissing her the other night really messed with my head because here I am, thinking of doing it again, while I just so happen to forget about the wholeCharliething.
“Did I like what?” she asks.
I flick my chin to where I was standing previously. “My little stunt with the hearing aids?”
She rolls her eyes playfully while her fingers continue to fiddle with the necklace.
Silence begins to settle in the locker room, my teammates ready to end the evening but not before stopping to talk with the manager and trainers. Reese’s lips open out of the corner of my eye, like she’s going to say something, but then they close again. She does this a few times before finally giving in.
“You’re good with kids.”
Rhodes walks past with his gear in tow. He doesn’t even make eye contact but still manages to say, “That’s because he’s a kid too.”
“Fuck off,” I mumble.
Reese quietly laughs, and yeah, okay, fine. He’s not necessarily wrong.
I like to have fun, and if that makes me a kid, then so be it.
I shift to rest my shoulder against the locker so I can see her better. She doesn’t so much as twitch. Her back stays straight as a board as she stares out into the emptying locker room, almost like she’s afraid to move.
Afraid I’m going to kiss her again?
“What exactly are you doing here?” I ask, crossing my arms. “Did you come to answer my question?”
A huff of air leaves her. “No.”
“You came to see me, though, didn’t you?” I can’t help but rile her up.
“What?” She crosses her arms like me. “No!”
I hum. “Whatever you say, Dimples.”
