“You’re welcome.” I cleared my throat.
She’d admitted as much that she’d lied to avoid me, but I hoped they helped her anyway. My muscles tensed, bracing for the worst news as she wrinkled her brow. She could say that she hated me. That she was moving. That she never wanted to see me again. Each thought made me want to throw up.
“I should apologize.” She gulped, moved her hands to her neck. Worry danced behind her eyes, and I grabbed one of her hands, intertwining our fingers. She sucked in a breath, and I ran my thumb over her wrist. I was beingthatguy, the PDA one. She clutched my hand, her finger digging tight into mine.
I used to think anyone showing PDA was a fool. But the thought of not seeing her again hurtworse.“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice hoarse.
She stilled my thumb—not a good sign. Then she sat up straighter. Her eyes blazed with heat and warmth. “I bought this jersey tonight. It’s yours.”
“Yes.” My lips quirked. “I noticed my number on it.”
She gulped and used her free hand to push some flyaway hairs behind her ears. She didn’t have any earrings on tonight, and I missed them. She blinked, and I squeezed her hand. “I really like seeing my number on you.”
Her tongue wet her bottom lip, and her cheeks turned pink. “I’m going to say a lot of things, and you can’t interrupt me. Okay?”
I nodded, every muscle in my body tensing, waiting.
“Wherever you go, I’m always going to be your biggest fan. You could play in freaking Antarctica, and I’ll still wear your jersey and watch every game. Nothing will change this. I will lo…” She paused, closed her eyes, and my mind finished that sentence.
I will…love you? Look for you?
When she opened her big brown eyes, she smiled. “I love you, Cal. And even if you leave for the NHL next week, that love goes with you—”
Holy fucking shit.My body came to life, tingling and buzzing with a happiness I had never experienced in my entire life.
“Elle—”
She held up a hand, silencing me. “I’m not done, Calzone. Please. If you ever read a romance book, this is my grand gesture.”
I swore the colors in the bar deepened, got brighter. The dark walls seemed…prettier. The sounds of laughter were better. The light overhead didn’t irritate me. She loved me. Elle lovedme.She said those words, with her mouth, and I could fucking fly.
“I’ve been avoiding this chat for a while because I was scared. I’ve lived in Gabe’s shadow my whole life, so I didn’t think I would be enough to be an exception to your three nights only rule. That I wasn’t exceptional enough. I might not be, but I don’t care. You might’ve slept with someone else and want to escape to the NHL to get away from me, and that’s fine, but you have me for life as a friend, if you want me. I found out I can stream the games for the farm team, and I figured I could drive out for a game if I schedule a weekend off from Charlie’s. I could take Lizzie with me and we’d watch you play. Gabe said I could borrow his car. I asked him.”
Her eyes watered, and her palms sweated against mine. She sniffed, loudly. “I thought I wanted some fictional hero from a romance book, but really, I just want you as you are. Grumpy and sad and the softest soul I’ve ever met. You.” She sniffed again. “Are the best person I know, and I want to tell you every day how amazing you are. If you let me. I’m asking a lot.” She hung her head, tears spilling down her face. “You might not even want this. You probably don’t.”
How could she possibly think I didn’t love her? That seeing her cry physically hurt me? We had some things to clear up, but fuck, my soul sang. This beautiful, joyful girl wanted meas I was.I couldn’t imagine anything better?
“Hey, can I say something yet?” I asked, my voice gentle.
She nodded.
“I love you too.”
She whimpered, and I moved fast to her side of the booth. She crawled onto my lap and wrapped her arms around my shoulder. She kissed my neck and cheek and face and then my mouth. Her warm soft lips were like coming home after being away for months. I hummed against her, my damn heart fluttering like a bird in the wind. The sounds from the bar faded away, and it was just her and me. She smelled like flowers and sunshine after a rainstorm, and I held her tight against me as I kissed her. My skin tingled with lust and love and fear because even though I wanted all she said, the fear still lingered. But I wouldn’t give up a shot with her because I was scared. Not anymore. I groaned into her mouth, our tongues sliding together slowly and needily. She dug her fingers into my shoulders when I deepened the kiss.
She pulled back and whispered. “I’m sorry if I hurt you by running out.”
“You did, but I hurt you too.” I cupped the back of her head, smiling so wide it felt strange on my face. The spark of hope doubled, then tripled in size. She made me feel this way, like my life wasn’t going to be a storm cloud forever. “Two things. Ineverslept with anyone, and I’m not leaving to go to the NHL yet.”
“But I heard a woman, and the text…” she said, her voice small. “It doesn’t matter. We weren’ttogether.”
“Baby, we’re together. It’s you and me now, yeah?” I kissed her forehead. “Reiner and his sister and his girlfriend’s sistercame over. He’s going to propose and wanted us to approve his plan.”
“Oh.” Her lips made a perfectly pretty oh.
“Yeah. That’s who you heard. I was freaking out about my overwhelming emotions for you so I let you assume the worst in a terrible attempt to protect you from myself.”
“Cal, you idiot.”
