Connor told me she'd be in Sweden, as if I didn’t already know that.
The Village is huge so I wasn’t sure I’d see her here, but I already planned on going to her games before our competition starts next week. It’s half of the reason I wanted to be in Sweden so early. I told the guys on my team it was so we could get used to the time change and also attend Opening Ceremonies tomorrow, but that wasn’t the entire truth.
Brendan is chatting away with Liv while I’m busy getting lost in a set of beautiful green eyes.
That is until my lead, Wyatt, bumps into me from behind and makes his way towards Charlie.
“Hi. My skip here has shit manners. I’m Wyatt.” He sticks his hand out and Charlie doesn’t hesitate to reach out to grab his.
“I’m Charlotte. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t actually like the name Charlie.”
Bullshit.
“You can call me Char, though.”
Yeah, fuck that. There’s no way I’m going to miss out on the way her cheeks turn red every time I call her Charlie. But I’ll be damned if anyone else has that effect on her, so I keep my damn mouth shut.
“Char. I like that.” Wyatt’s shit-eating grin turns my way, like he knows exactly what game he’s playing. Hell, maybe he does. We were literally just talking about going to the women’s hockey game tonight.
“Lucas here was just telling us all how excited he is for your game tonight. We were debating whose numbers to write on our cheeks, but I’d be honored to wear yours, Char.”
This fucking guy.
He’s a show off if I’ve ever seen one. Just last night at the bar, he bagged some chick on Team Finland by claiming, “The lead is the most important position. I’m the first personto throw a stone. It’s up to me to set my team up for success.” The girl was hanging on his every word, even if half of them were complete bullshit.
Remembering exactly what happened last night, I attempt to knock my lead down a peg. Or two.
“I’m pretty sure the Finnish goalie you were making out with last night would be heartbroken if you didn’t write ‘31’ in blue and white on your face tonight.”
Liv snorts, Brendan and Zack simultaneously chant “ooh, burn” after my dig, but Charlie whips her head toward me, her eyes as wide as saucers.
“You’re coming to my game?”
I hate how shocked she sounds. But I guess I can’t really blame her since I avoid her at all costs when her brother is around. Can’t have him catching me with a hard-on, so sacrifices must be made.
But we’re in Sweden now. It’s a Connor-free zone. Is it really so bad if she knows I want to see her play?
Fuck it.
“Yeah. I’ve been dying to see you play in person again.”
Charlie’s jaw drops and she stares at me in disbelief. She’s too fucking cute for her own good.
Before I can think better of it, I reach out and place two fingers under her chin and push her mouth closed.
I lean in and quietly enough so only she can hear and whisper, “Why don’t you close that pretty little mouth before it starts giving me some bad ideas?”
I didn’t intend on going there, but there’s no taking it back now.
Slowly, I slide my thumb across her jaw before pulling my hand back and shoving it into my coat pocket.
Charlie’s breathing picks up. I can tell by the plumes of cold that keep leaving her mouth as she attempts to catch her breath.
Wyatt clears his throat next to me but my eyes are gluedon Charlie, waiting to see what her reaction is after my inappropriate comment.
“When did you guys get into town?” Liv asks abruptly. I turn to her and her eyes bounce from Charlie back to me and my team.
Damn it. I really wish she didn’t come to her best friend’s rescue. I’m dying to hear what Charlie has to say. But it’s probably for the best. As bad as I want her, there’s no way she’s going to go there with me.
