“No kiss for your fiancé?”Daphne asks.
Oh, no.No, no, no, no.I mean, yes, I want to kiss Ollie.But not like this.Not for his first kiss.Not forourfirst kiss.Before I get the chance to panic, Ollie places his hand on my cheek and leans in, pressing a kiss to the very corner of my mouth.Since I’m on the end and Ollie’s giant hand is blocking their view, it looks like a real kiss to Daphne and Mallory.
But I know it’s fake.
Like our engagement.
My feelings are real though.Ollie’s been pushed into the fake engagement, and I’m so scared he’ll put up another wall because of it—and this time, I’ll be on the wrong side of it.
17
OLLIE
I geta flurry of congratulations in the locker room after practice.It’s nice.And when I think of having to leave at the end of the season, I get a little…I don’t know…indigestion?After my shower, I rub my aching chest and look for the bottle of Tums I usually have in my bag when Nick calls me into the training room.
“Hey, man,” he says in a low, serious voice.“I’m sorry.I didn’t know you and Phoebe were a couple.I wouldn’t have hugged her and stuff this morning if I knew.”
I nod.I don’t know this guy at all.He seems okay, and the Devil Birds are such a quality organization, I don’t think they’d have an asshole on staff.
“It’s okay.And thank you,” I say.This is so uncomfortable.I start to dry off my arms to give me something to do while I’m standing here with a towel wrapped around my waist.
Nick leans in close, which really isn’t cool.I’m a big fan of personal space in general.But especially when, you know, I’m mostly naked and surrounded by men.If you’re not Phoebe, I don’t want you this close to me.
“Nothing happened between us when we went out.We kissed, but that was it.We’re friends—nothing romantic.”
I nod.I appreciate him telling me.I guess.Sucks he got to kiss her before I have, but at least I’m not wondering if they had sex.I think that would drive me insane.
I finally escape and lean back into my stall a bit to get some breathing space.Space in general.
Lindy shakes his head like a wet dog instead of the bear shifter he is, water from his shoulder-length blond hair spraying everyone in a few-foot radius and causing grumbles.Alvarez snaps his towel at Lindy, turning grumbles into laughter.If this was the Sasquatch locker room, there’d be punches thrown.I don’t know if things were abnormally toxic in Spokane or if it’s insanely positive here in Atlantic City.
I finish getting dressed and give a general, “See you tomorrow,” as I leave the locker room.Pulling out my phone from my jeans, I pull up my text thread with Phoebe.
Me: All done.Where are you?
Phoebe: In the coffee shop, I’ll come meet you.
Me: No, stay.I’ll come to you.
Phoebe: Okay.
I double-check the directory for the pier because I’ve only been to the rink area so far.The coffee shop is on the second floor, so I jog up the stairs and grin when I see Phoebe sitting at a table outside the shop.I don’t think I’m imagining that her face lights up when she sees me walking toward her.I’m not that creative.On impulse, or maybe instinct, I press a quick kiss to her cheek.
“What are you drinking?”I ask as I scan the menu board.
“Peppermint white chocolate hot cocoa.”
I glance down.“Really?Is it good?”
She holds her cup up.“Taste it.”
There’s a lid, so I turn it to the opening, which means putting my lips right where hers have been.Who cares about tasting the cocoa?This is the closest I’ve gotten to kissing her.But I can’t stand there like a creep making out with a paper coffee cup, so I take a sip.Oh, it’s good.
I hand it back with a nod.“I’m going to get one too.Do you want anything else?”I see they have baked goods too.
When she doesn’t answer, I glance down.
“Come here,” she says, waving me toward her.
