That, and knowing what the Thrusters staff wants me to do after I won an afternoon with Addie last night.
I wish you hadn’t gotten attached. Then we could’ve hung out forever. But I don’t do relationships because relationships don’t benefit people like me. All they do is rob you of your happiness. Ask me how I know. Or don’t. It doesn’t matter. I hope voice-to-text gets this wrong because I’m going to wish I didn’t send this when I see it in the morning.
Translation:It wasn’t you. It was me and something in my past that hurt me.
So if Addie Bloom would take me in her life so long as I never tell her I want to see her every day, every night, every hour and minute of my life, why would I not try?
Why would I not want to be here with her?
Giving her all of the time she needs to see me as someone who enhances her life?
To trust me enough to tell me who hurt her so badly that it destroyed her belief in relationships.
Forever isn’t casual. Forever is never casual.
But if casual is what she needs to believe in for me to stay in her life, then I’ll play the game.
The weeks left until I report for training camp will fly by. They always do. I won’t have a lot of time for a serious relationship either once my own season gets going.
But the time I do have, I’ll be a benefit for her.
Not a drag. Not an obligation.
A bonus.
And eventually, I’ll hang up my skates, and we’ll see where we go from there.
If she lets me.
“I can finish up,” she says.
“You sure?”
She nods.
“I’ll wait outside if you need help getting dressed.”
“I don’t want to keep my boss waiting. Santiago’s retiring, and I’m on the list to interview for his job. I can’t fuck up.”
“Does that mean you want help so you can get there faster?”
She growls quietly.
I take that as a yes.
“No one who’s seen the Fireballs play the past few years would thinkanyof you on the coaching staff are screwing up where it counts,” I say. “And you’re Addie Fucking Bloom. You don’t piss around anyway.”
She looks back at me again. Her hair is shiny with the conditioner rubbed in. Water droplets cling to her thick brown lashes. Wary eyes hold my gaze before briefly dipping to my lips, then back.
So itispossible for my hard-on to get harder.
“I fucked up getting drunk last night,” she whispers.
“You’re allowed to be human.”
“I’m really not.”
“Addie—”
