“Oh, wow. I didn’t realize you werein lovewith her,” Alex says, nudging my ribs with his stick.
“I’m notin lovewith her,” I answer honestly. “I’m curious.”
He shakes his head. “Yeah, sure. That's why you're looking at her like she’s a three-year contract extension before your actual deal kicks in.”
“She’s better than that.” The words slip out of my mouth before I can vet them, but it's okay. It's not like the guys don't know I'm into her.
Case in point, Alex raises a brow, but he doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t have to. We both know the guys already picked up on my thing for her five disasters ago.
I lift a glove and offer Laura a wave and a smile.
She doesnotwave back.
Her lips purse. Her brows slam together. Her whole aura radiates:I will end you.
Maybe she doesn’t realize it’s me under all the gear and helmet.
She raises a finger, curling it in a ‘come hither’ motion, but it’s not in a sexy way.
I drop my hand. “I guess I should go over there and see what I’ve done wrong now.”
Alex slaps me on the shoulder. “Good luck.”
I pull my helmet off and lower my head as I skate over to her, not wanting to accidentally offend her with the beaming smile I can’t help but have when she’s around.
Erik starts talking to Alex and Brooks, and the rink makes it easy to hear.
“Operation: Forced Proximity is back on, boys. I think we can get her to bid on him at Puck Me, I’m Yours—”
“No, you can’t,” I shout over my shoulder without even turning. “Stop making plans about my life!”
Honestly, if these idiots truly believe Laura would voluntarily bid on me in front of the entire campus, they’re dumber than I thought, and that’s saying something.
When I finally get to the boards, I push through the door and head over to her. Her arms are still crossed, her lips are still pinched, and her eyes roam my chest in a way that makes me think she’s imagining all the ways she could kill me right now even thoughI’mthe one with blades for feet.
Fuck. Why is that look kind of hot on her?
“Hey, Laura,” I drawl. Her jaw flexes, and her eyes close. “What are you doing here so early? Did you see what’s in the back of the book and come watch me? Because if so, I'm honored.”
I’m trying to play it cool, because every time I talk to her, I somehow trip over my words, which has never happened before. Seriously, even with my dad the way he is and the pressure he inadvertently piles on me, I’ve never fallen on my skates, so Laura has accomplished the impossible, and by the looks of it, she doesn’t care.
She doesn’t speak, but her eyes continue to draw down my body and then up.
Unimpressed and pissed off.
Yeah, that’s fucking hot.
“You can't be serious,” she finally says.
I look to either side, wondering if I'm missing something. “Uh…I am? You're the one sitting here, watching me.”
She rolls her eyes so hard I think she sees her brain, and then she lets out this frustrated growl that shoots straight down my spine. The girl is so dramatic, but with her head tilted like that, and making those noises, I can’t help wondering if that’s what she sounds like when she’s—
Don’t think it. Don’t think it. Don’t think—
“Please,” she snaps. “I have much better things to do than sit around and watch your sorry ass practice. Believe me. I’ve seen better.”
“Pfft.” I grin. “Doubt it.”
