Also,he continues, loving the sound of his own voice,the ‘I’m pretending I don’t care about my phone, but I haven’t put it down for longer than a game’ thing.
I shut my eyes.Do both of you have radars for this?
I’m a forward.Max shrugs.I see openings.
You’re infuriating.
Uh-huh.Tell me anyway.
I sigh.Taking a deep breath, I decide telling Max more about Eddie isn’t such a big deal.He’s one of my closest friends.And if I can’t tell him, who could I tell?It’s because of Eddie.
He freezes, surprised that I’m actually opening up.Yes, I am aware of her name.It’s been mentioned before.Tell me more.
She’s an X-ray technician,I go on like instructed.I met her at the hospital the day I took Harper.
Max’s eyebrows shoot up like they’re trying to leave his face.
Dude, that’s a really sweet meet-cute.
A what?I ask him with a laugh.
A meet-cute.A cute way of meeting your partner.When I still give him a blank look of confusion, he shakes his head.Open a damn romance book every once in a while, you heathen.But anyways, I’m happy for you, man.Are you two serious?
We’re on our way…hopefully.She’s been hurt in the past.We haven’t talked about it in depth, but she’s mentioned that’s why she’s a bit cautious.She has a son to think of.
Max looks off into the distance, his face stone-cold serious.
I get that.It’s smart that she’s also thinking about her son and taking it slow with you.I can hear abutcoming.
When he continues to watch our guys on the other end of the rink, I probe him.But?
But.He skates to one side of my net, then the other, before stopping again.Okay, I’m only saying this once.
I brace myself.This can’t be good.Max is an easygoing guy.For him to be giving serious advice must mean it’s life or death.
It’s great that you’re respecting her wishes, going slow and giving her space.But don’t give her too much space.Don’t let her disappear into her fears and worries.If she means something to you, you’ll work through them together.
Give her space, but don’t give her distance,I say back, needing the words to stick in my brain.
Exactly.
My jaw tenses.I wasn’t planning on it.
Good.He shoves a puck toward me, and I stop it easily.Also, ask her out already and make it official soon.Sabrina has been throwing around the idea of setting you up with her sister, and that’s…terrifying.
I’m waiting until I get home to ask her to dinner.
Why?
Because I want to do it in person.I feel that in person, if Eddie had any doubts, we could address them then and there.Over text, she may overthink.
Max blinks slowly, like he’s trying to calculate if I’ve been replaced by a pod person.
If it were me, I wouldn’t wait,he advises.Look at you with emotional maturity and shit.
Shut up.
***
