Naomi Gordie Fletcher deserved to be proud and happy, and it feltgoodknowing I helped her navigate that miscommunication. Because wasn’t most conflict just that? Misconceptions or misunderstood messages?
* * * *
“Dude, he was kinda into my idea. I wasn’t sure at first, but I think it’ll be great,” Naomi said, an hour later as we strolled across campus. Neither one of us said where we were heading, and I wasn’t going to ruin the moment by asking what we were doing.
It was nice just being with her and chatting with someone I enjoyed spending time with. Nothing more, nothing less. There was no reason to overcomplicate the feelings going on in my mind and think it was more than that. I couldn’t afford to think it was more. “I’m excited for you.”
“Thanks, by the way,” she said, her gait slowing. She reached over and gripped my forearm. “I know what you did.”
“And what is that, besides being wonderfully charming?”
She rolled her eyes and scrunched her nose again. Goddamn it. The motion shouldn’t be that cute, but it was, and my own lips curved up as I stepped toward her. Her grip tightened, and she said, “Clearing up the confusion.”
“Ah, well, it was easy as a third party. Also, let me ask you this. Hank.”
“Hm? There wasn’t a question in that statement.” She let go of my arm and giggled. “Are you insinuating something?”
“This is a judgement free zone, obviously, but I picked up on some vibes there.”
She snorted and waved a hand in the air, but it didn’t hide the slight blush creeping up her neck. “There isn’t anything to pick up.”
“Liar,” I said, unsure if I was teasing her to get a real answer out of her or because it annoyed me. She was off-limits. Coach’s daughter. The biggest hell no of all and yet...if his assistant coach was into her, then maybe it wasn’t horrible to think about kissing her every time she smiled?
“It’s nothing.”
“Oh, Naomi Fletcher has a crush on Hank.” I elbowed her side softly, and she did it right back, except in true Fletcher fashion, she tripped.
One of her feet got stuck on the other, and in slow motion, she fell into my side.Oomph.All her weight landed on me, and I caught her before we both hit the cement. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her against my chest as she regained her balance, andfuck.
She tilted her face up and stared at me with her large brown eyes framed by dark lashes. The same heat I felt in my gut reflected back at me. Her pouty, smart mouth was right there, and she wet her bottom lip with her tongue.
My skin prickled with want and desire as her lemon scent clouded me. I ran my hand up and down her back, almost groaning at how she arched against my hand. It wasn’t even intentional. It just happened. “Uh, are you, okay?” I asked, my scratchy voice a dead giveaway to the storm brewing inside.
“Hm, yes,” she said, breathless and needy. She made no moves to let go, nor did I. We just stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms with my heart trying to see how many times it could beat a minute. I would win first place, for sure.
“Naomi,” I said, pleading with her forsomething.For her to kiss me, for her to understand why I couldn’t kiss her. It was all very confusing, and when she tightened her grip into my shirt, I swallowed so hard we both heard it.
High pitched laughter caused me to jerk back, jumping away from Naomi like I’d gotten caught smoking pot in high school. A woman walked by, talking way too loud on her phone, and my face heated. I’d been about to kiss her. There was no question.
I rubbed the back of my neck and frowned as Naomi glanced at the ground. I should say sorry,anything,but my voice stopped working. It was like my mind knew I had to say something, but my mouth disobeyed every order. Who was running my body anyway? It certainly wasn’t my brain because I knew I should be leaving her alone.
“Um, hey, do you have plans tonight?” she asked, looking back up at me. The sun hit her face just right, and her eyes seemed more hazel.
“Nope.” I’d probably work out and annoy Freddie.
Wow, my life had changed in a year. As an undergraduate, I partied and always had something to do with the guys on the team. Here though, I didn’t have a circle. A familiar wave of sadness clouded over me as memories of the team hit me. The hockey house. The festivals. The pranks. The endless list of people to call if I wanted to work out or grab a drink. Here… I had two people. Freddie and Naomi.
Because you keep people out.I told my mind to shut the hell up. I hadn’t gone to therapy since I moved out to Illinois, and I knew I should. Ryann and Jonah brought it up every other time we talked, but it just seemed like another thing to do. Plus, I knewwhyI was this way.
It was so when they left, it wouldn’t hurt as bad. I understood that. It was hard enough just having Ryann and Jonah in my circle. The twins were too busy with their lives and new teams, and it was tough seeing them fulfill their dream of playing in the NHL. Once it got closer for them to go, it was easier to back off. Cutting people out was easier if you did it to them first.
Letting more people in? God, they’d be able to gut me. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and forced a smile. “Why? You got some fun plans going on?”
“Well, kinda.” She shrugged one shoulder and scrunched her damn nose again. “Our building has themed open-house nights once a month. It’s this ridiculous social outreach to bridge the gap between our neighbors which sounds dumb. But we love it.”
“A house party,” I said, grinning. “With shitty beer?”
“Pretty much. The theme is 90s grunge.”
