“What?It's true!”He's grinning now, clearly enjoying my discomfort.“One time he tried to impress a girl by showing her his hockey stats and she literally fell asleep.”
“That happened once, and she was jet-lagged.”
“She was not jet-lagged.She was bored.”
Ally laughs.“Well, lucky for him, I’m into lost causes and boring stat sheets.It’s kind of my charity work.”
“I like her,” Owen announces.“She laughs at you.That's important.”
“Thanks for the endorsement, kid.”I reach out and shove his shoulder lightly.“Don't you have a bus to catch?”
Owen glances toward where his teammates are starting to gather, then back at us.“Yeah, Coach said we're leaving in ten.”He hesitates, then looks at Ally again.“You should come to more games.Jay's way less annoying when you're around.”
“I'll keep that in mind,” Ally says.
Owen grabs his bag, then surprises me by stepping forward and wrapping his arms around me in a quick hug.“Thanks for coming.”
I hug him back, my chest tightening.“Wouldn't miss it.”
He pulls away, already trying to play it cool.“Yeah, whatever.Don't get weird about it.”
“Too late.”
He turns to Ally and, after a moment's hesitation, gives her a quick hug too.“It was nice meeting you.Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid.”
“That's a tall order,” Ally says, “but I'll do my best.”
Owen grins, then jogs off toward his team, turning back once to wave before disappearing into the crowd of players.
I watch him go, something warm settling in my chest.
“He's sweet,” Ally says softly.
“Don't tell him that.It'll go to his head.”I take her hand, threading my fingers through hers.“Come on.Let's get out of here.”
I lead her through the rink and out into the parking lot, the cold night air hitting us the second we push through the doors.The lot is mostly empty now, just a few cars scattered under the fluorescent lights.
“So,” Ally says, her breath forming small clouds in the air.“Where to next?”
She leans back against my car, arms crossed loosely over her chest, looking up at me with those dark eyes that have been driving me crazy all night.My jacket swallows her whole, the sleeves pushed up around her wrists, and something primal twists in my gut at the sight of her wrapped up in something that's mine.
I step closer, close enough that I can see the way her breath catches.Close enough that I have to look down at her.
“I had this fancy place booked,” I say, my voice lower than I intend.“Nice restaurant.Reservations and everything.”
“Very impressive.”
“But looking at you right now...”I let my gaze drift over her face, her lips, the way the parking lot lights catch in her hair.“The only thing I'm hungry for is you.”
Her lips part, but she doesn't say anything.Doesn't move away.
I lean in and kiss her.
She melts into it immediately, her hands coming up to grip the front of my shirt as my mouth moves against hers.I press her back against the car, one hand braced on the roof beside her head, the other finding her hip, pulling her closer.
She makes this soft sound against my lips that short-circuits something in my brain.
The kiss deepens, turns hungrier.I nip at her bottom lip and she gasps, her fingers tightening in my shirt.My hand slides down from her hip, fingers trailing along the outside of her thigh, slipping beneath the hem of my jacket she's wearing.Her skin is warm, soft, and when my palm curves around the back of her thigh, she arches into me with a whimper that goes straight to my head.
