“Yes.” Okay, I was intrigued. “Why?”
“The guys want me to go.”
“Then do it?” I waved my hand in the air.
He rolled his eyes and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Are you going?”
“I don’t even know when it is, and I might have to work the next morning. So, doubtful.”
“Saturday night,” he blurted out too fast. His cheeks had a bit of red on them, and his chest moved faster than normal. Jonah was nervous.
“Are you asking me out?” I said, before thinking the sentence through. He’d made his thoughts on me very clear—we wouldneverhappen.
“What?” He took a step back, his movements awkward and nothing like the god he was on the ice. He was smooth, fast, and a beast. It was intimidating in a thrilling sort of way. Not like this, self-conscious and weird.
“No.No.”
Obviously, Ryann. Don’t be a moron.
“Then why are you getting all anxious asking me about the hockey party?”
“Because I don’t want to go, okay? Parties aren’t my scene, but the older guys said I needed to have an outlet, do something besides work out and watch tapes. I thought maybe, I don’t know, ifyou’regoing, I could tag along. You know them, and they like you.” He ran a hand over his face and let out an unhappy groan.
“Sure.” I shrugged and took my last bite of eggs. “If you promise not to be rude and storm out of the kitchen when we’re eating together again.”
His mouth parted, and he stared at me with a slack jaw, his hand frozen at the side of his leg. “Wait,” he said, blinking. “Did I upset you?”
“Upset is too strong of a word for it. More like irritated.” I got up and rinsed my plate, still feeling the weight of his confused stare. A part of me felt bad for him. He was nervous about the party and trying to fit in with the team when he had so much to lose, but his laser-focus could still hurt people around him. I leaned against the counter again and faced him. “Having a meal with someone is nice. Food was always a huge part of our family. Breakfasts, dinners, and brunches on weekends. It’s where we connected, and we always stayed at the table until we were all done. It’s a sign of respect, and I thought maybe we could befriends, J.D.”
“Jonah,” he said, his voice getting serious again. “I like that you call me Jonah.”
“Okay.” I curled my toes into the cold floor at the brief heat that entered and left his eyes in a single breath.
“I’ll sit with you next time.”
“Thank you.”
He ran a hand over his jaw, the movement showcasing how large his hands really were. They covered half his face. “You meant what you said about the party?”
“Yes. If I have to work early Sunday morning, then I’ll leave early, but I can go with you.”
His relief was evident. His mouth quirked up on one side, and his shoulders relaxed. “I think maybe we can be friends too.”
“Wow.” I put a hand over my heart and gave him my best fake smile. “Did it hurt to say that?”
“No?”
I snorted. “You’re too easy to tease,” I said, walking past him and into my room. “And I think the moment has already happened.”
“What has?”
“Us being friends.”
He turned, and we stood two feet apart, the air heavy between us. His answering grin was almost enough to knock me off my feet. His entire face lit up with the curve of his lips, and I open-mouth stared at my roommate.
“You’re right. Kinda snuck up on me, but I don’t hate it.” His grin fell when he studied my face. “Wait, did I say something wrong again?”
“No, sorry. Your smile. I hadn’t seen it before.” I shook my head, gaining my wits. “You have a wonderful smile.”
