I look at her. “I didn’t go out of my way, Kendall.”
“You did though. You spent the whole time she was here making sure she was comfortable. When we first got here, she didn’t feel like skating just yet, so you got her a tea and sat with her and talked. You didn’t leave her so you could go hang out with your teammates.”
“Of course I wouldn’t do that. Kendall, I meant it when I said I wanted to spend time with your aunt. I genuinely enjoy her company.” I’m quiet for a second. “You really don’t need to thank me. I was happy to do this. And I did it because I wanted to, no other reason.”
Sadness flashes in those pretty mahogany eyes. “I guess I’m just not used to this.” She’s quiet for a second. “You already know the guys I dated in the past weren’t like you. They liked my aunt just fine, but it always felt like they saw her as something they had to put up with to get to me.”
An ugly feeling burrows in the pit of my stomach. I grab her hand. She looks at me.
“That’s not okay. I’m sorry they made you feel that way.”
“I don’t expect people to be besties with my aunt. I just want them to genuinely like her. I want them to genuinely want to spend time with her. So to see you doing all that is just a little overwhelming,” she says. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be so weird about this. I just wanted you to know how much it meant.”
“Don’t be sorry. Thank you for telling me that.” Emotion bubbles up in my chest. I squeeze her hand, as I look at her.“Have you ever known me to do anything I don’t wanna do?” I ask.
She looks up at me, her expression soft. She shakes her head.
“You don’t have to worry about that with me, Kendall. Whenever I say something, I mean it. Whenever I do something, it’s because I want to.”
She flashes the most beautiful smile.
She glances at our joined hands. For a second, I wonder if she’s going to let go. Holding hands is a pretty couple-y thing to do. And we’re not a couple.
But she doesn’t let go. That warm look on her face lingers as she looks at our hands before focus ahead again.
“Wanna keep skating?” I ask.
I notice the fiery look in her eyes. She lets go of my hand and tugs at the hem of the hoodie I’m wearing. “Actually, I was wondering if you want to head back to your place?”
She quirks an eyebrow and runs her tongue along the seam of her lips. My cock twitches
I grab her hand again and drag her off the ice. “Let’s go.”
She’s giggling. “I didn’t mean right this second.”
I sit down on the bench and unlace my skates. “Well, I definitely mean right this second.”
She laughs as she stands in front of me. “I was thinking I could grab some takeout on the way to your house.”
I grab her hip and pull her to stand between my legs. “Sesame beef and shrimp lo mein?”
She grins. “Obviously.”
“And a bucket of hot and sour soup. And you’d better throw in some eggrolls too. I know how hungry you get after we?—”
She covers my mouth with her hand, and she lets out an embarrassed laugh. She looks around.
“Liam. Oh my god, there are people around who can hear us,” she whispers.
I laugh against her hand. “Sorry.”
She rolls her eyes while laughing. “No, you’re not.” She pulls her hand away from my mouth.
I’m grinning. “Nope.”
She sits down, takes off her skates, and puts her shoes back on. She smiles at me. “See you tonight.”
She starts to walk off, but I stand up, catch her wrist, and pull her back to me. She bumps into my chest and I drop a kiss to her mouth.
