“Yeah, I would be lying if I said that sounds like fun to me.” I wobble from one leg to the other as everything about that makes me itch. “After the mosh-pit issue, I think I’ll avoid crowds forever.” I let my gaze wander to the cement. It’s dark out, with only a few lampposts to light this huge parking lot. They create a perfect beam on him to cast a big broad shadow. I blush, feeling this warm gooey feeling I shouldnotbe having next to him, as I can’t help but think even his shadow is hot.
Who on earth has a hot shadow?
I look over at my shadow. It’s quite stout and wide, making me look like I’ve gained fifty pounds. That’s not fair. How does he even win with shadows?
“That wasn’t an ask.” His smile turns smug, and I pause. He is serious. My heart slams against my ribcage. I get he’s attractive, and I was fine with that when I hated him. Now that he’s spent the week rescuing me, all my thoughts about him being arrogant have mysteriously disappeared. All I want to do is memorize theway the colors in his eyes dance between a healthy auburn all the way to an aged copper.
My stomach wobbles as I counter, “How about three restaurants instead?”
He stands firm and shakes his head. “I’m not taking no for an answer on this one. You just successfully completed your first trip with us, and you’re one of us now.”
One of them?
My whole body tenses as he looks back at me.
I can’t be one of them!
They’re my enemy.
But that was before Noah, who is staring down at me with one of those heart-stopping smiles. It feels like I’ll go anywhere if it means I can stare at him. “I guess I can go for an hour or so.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He hangs onto the word plan as his smile lingers.
“Yeah,” I echo, emotions clogging my throat. I feel like I’m on the edge of a cliff. I have the option to back away slowly and I’ll be safe. Inching forward just a little might have some serious implications. Without double thinking about it, I slide my foot forward and follow him.
seven
Noah
I wanted her attention, so I asked for it.
Now, Paisley and I straddle two of the last empty bar stools at Red Barn Kabobs. She knows everyone’s names. If she is nervous, she doesn’t show it, because she keeps talking to everyone.
I never noticed it before, as we’d only ever chatted about food and photos, but, man, she has hockey stats filed in her brain like a hockey Google machine.
NHL, AHL, college, and even high schools. I would never admit it to anyone, but I’m relieved when the subject finally goes somewhere other than hockey. “Hey, I saw the strangest thing.” She slides to the edge of her seat, bouncing her gaze from Axl to Sophie to me.
“A skibbity toilet rizzlier Ohio,” Axl interjects from across the table.
Sophie elbows him with a chuckle. “Sorry, he’s been spending too much time with my little brother.”
“No.” Paisley wags her head, the seriousness in her expression making her eyes grow wide. “This morning when I was driving over to the arena, it was still a little dark out, and right as I pulled off the interstate, I glanced to the left—you know, where there’s all those trees—and I swear I saw a monkey.”
“You’re not wrong. Mapleton has monkeys.” Sophie juts to a more upright seating position and extends her hand in excitement. “I see them all the time!”
“So, this is a thing?” Paisley’s gaze slides to me. “I thought I might be dreaming.”
I nod. “Yeah, they are escaped circus monkeys, and Mapleton is famous for them.”
“That’s a little weird.” Paisley shakes her head in bewilderment, her gaze directed at me. “I know I’m supposed to stick to sports, but I might have to add something about that to my article.”
“Do it.” I bark a supportive laugh. “You’ll get so much more talk about it.”
“You two are so cute together.” Sophie wags a finger between us, and then, in a voice as loud as a stage whisper, says, “You are dating, right?”
“Nah—” Paisley starts to speak, but her feeble attempt at a rebuttal is over spoken by Sophie.
“I have the best idea! You both should join us on our couples’ ski weekend!” Sophie’s voice grows louder, and her focus slams back to Axl.
