A month ago, the arena felt like a stage I had to control.
Now it feels like… his.
And somehow, mine too.
***
By the time we get to the rink, Colby’s hand is in mine like it’s always been there. Like it doesn’t require a decision. Like he doesn’t care who sees.
Which means, of course, the universe immediately sends me into the lion’s den.
Dex is the first one we run into.
He’s leaning in the player entrance like he lives there, with coffee in one hand, phone in the other, and sunglasses on indoors, clearly fueled by no sleep and bad decisions.
His gaze drops to our joined hands.
He freezes.
Then he raises his coffee like he’s toasting us.
“Well,” he says. “Look at that. The man finally got himself a girlfriend the hard way.”
Colby squeezes my hand once, likeignore him.
I don’t.
“Good morning, Dex,” I say sweetly.
Dex points at Colby. “This guy went on an emotional journey when Match.com would’ve taken twelve minutes.”
Mason appears behind him, already grinning like he knows exactly where this is going.
Colby exhales. “I don’t do online dating.”
Dex blinks. “You… what?”
“I find women the old-fashioned way,” Colby says flatly.
Dex squints. “Define old-fashioned. Oh, I know, begging.”
Mason snorts so hard he has to brace a hand on the wall. “I would’ve paid real money to see that. Do you say pretty please when you ask women out?”
Colby shoots him a look. “You’re not helping.”
I bite my lip, failing to hide my smile. “You beg?”
Colby shoots me a look, shaking his head. “Please don’t encourage them.”
“I’m just saying,” Dex adds. “The man could’ve downloaded an app. Instead he emotionally raw-dogged courtship.”
Mason loses it.
I laugh too, and Colby finally has enough.
“You idiots don’t know shit about dating,” he says calmly, but lethally. “If any of you did, you wouldn’t still be single and emotionally confused.”
Dex opens his mouth.
