Connor reaches his arm out to me and pulls me into a side hug. My body freezes when I feel his lips press against the top of my head.
“I’m so fucking proud of you. I don’t think I’ve told you that yet.”
I don’t know if he’s ever actually uttered those words out loud. My throat closes up and my nose stings as I try to fight back the impending tears.
“Thanks.” The word comes out hushed but I turn into Connor, squeezing him as hard as I can before backing away.
Afraid he might see my watery eyes, I avoid eye contact at all costs.
“Okay, well, I’m out of here. You guys have fun.”
And with that, I turn and frantically find someone, anyone, on my team to use as an escape route.
Luckily, Liv makes her way out of the locker room just as I’m about to leave on my own. I beeline it toward her, pulling her body with me toward the exit with not so much as an explanation.
“What the hell, Char? Where’s the fire?”
Once we’re safe outside, albeit cold, but safe, I put my hands on my head trying to calm my racing heart.
“Connor is here.”
Liv has absolutely no reaction to this news which only frustrates me more.
I throw my hands out to my sides, exasperated. “As in,here.At the rink.With Luke.”
My annoyingly calm best friend and linemate still doesn’t show an ounce of emotion.
“Okay. Did we not know this was going to happen? I mean, they are best friends.”
Groaning, I lean my head back searching for some vitamin D but coming up short due to the cloudy sky. Looking back down at Liv, I do my best to explain my predicament in a sensible way. Even though I’m acting a bit ridiculous right now.
“Yes, but Connor wasn’t supposed to be here until tonight. He walked up to us when my face was buried in Luke’s shirt.”
Liv whips out her phone from her jacket, extremely uninterested in this entire conversation.
“I still don’t see what the big deal is. You guys need to tell him soon anyway. Maybe it’s good he saw you guys being affectionate. Maybe it will help lessen the surprise if he sees how close you two have gotten before you drop the news.”
Huh. I never thought of that.
This is why a girl needs a best friend. So when one is freaking out, the other can be the voice of reason.
“You’re right.”
“I know.” She still doesn’t look up from her phone.
I lean down and grab a handful of snow, pressing it into the most perfect snowball, and proceed to pelt her with it.
“You bitch!” Liv’s laughing now. She stuffs her phone in her jacket then turns to grab some snow of her own.
Then, like we’re little kids again, we chase each other around the arena having the most perfect snowball fight at the Olympics.
I wake up to the smell of coffee and fresh baked goods. Slowly, I roll over, still naked after last night’s post-game exercising, courtesy of the bare-chested man holding a mug of coffee out to me.
Sitting up, I clutch the sheet to my chest, and grab the mug from his hand.
Our fingers brush, and I’m not too ashamed to admit that it still sends a buzz through my body.
“Good morning.”
