“Of course, it’s not like they pay you millions of dollars a season because you’re an elite athlete with a Cup plus two Olympic gold medals on your wall or something.”
The teasing words fell from my lips without thought.
Well, shit. Do you have no filter at all when it comes to this guy?
A full laugh had both of his shoulders shaking.
“That’s the spirit, Cade. You’re playing in the AHL now. You can give shit back as good as you get. You’ll be fine.”
Crinkles formed beside Asher’s eyes as his grin grew bigger.
An insane, inappropriately sized feeling of pleasure bloomed inside my chest at making him smile. It felt damn good to have this easy moment in a sea of so many difficult ones.
Before I could register the movement, Asher had brought the hand of his good arm up toward me, letting his palm rest briefly on my shoulder like he was about to give it a friendly squeeze.
My sudden flinch at his movement stopped him in his tracks, his hand barely ghosting the soggy mess of my T-shirt. I could see it happening as if I were outside my own body, but my reflexes triggered too fast to cover up my reaction.
He quickly withdrew his hand from my vicinity, bringing it back to his side. The smile he’d been wearing slipped off his face momentarily before another, more forced one took its place.
“Sorry.” I spoke at half my previous volume. Shame cloaked my body like mud, covering me head to toe in the filthy, heavy weight I never wanted to bear. “Just jumpy because I overdid it in there without eating first, I guess. You know how it is.” I threw out the words, as if my reaction had been normal and my body hadn’t clearly misread his intent.
“You’re all good. No worries, Cade.” The easy warmth in Asher’s eyes had turned into something cautious and assessing. “I’m just gonna—” He jerked a thumb toward the quiet street behind him. “Uh, go run some quick errands before tomorrow’s practice, you know?”
There was a ninety-nine percent chance that he was making an excuse given how goddamn awkward I’d madethis conversation. And a slim one-percent chance that he had an urgent need to get to Walmart before practice tomorrow, considering it’d be about the only thing open right now in this small town.
“Yeah, no, for sure. I get it.” I couldn’t keep the trickle of hurt out of my voice as I gave him a quick nod of goodbye.
I didn’t look back as I headed into the apartment lobby, mechanically scanning my brand-new key fob and offering a brief wave to the concierge.
The last thing I wanted to see in the eyes of the great Asher Landry was pity.
eight
ASHER
Ihad to drag my ass out of bed the next morning for my first official day as the Hammerheads’ assistant coach.
My eyes were full of gravel from the hours I’d spent staring at my new eleven-foot ceilings, after the way last night’s conversation between Cade and me had ended.
The way he’d jumped when I’d been about to simply pat his shoulder gnawed at my conscience all night. I hadn’t meant to cross any lines where Cade was concerned, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease around it.
What would make him react that way?
The last thing I wanted was Cade feeling uncomfortable around me. Even though we’d only spent a short time together, I couldn’t help but want to know more about him.
Not like you’re still thinking about the fact that he was hot as fuck with all that lean muscle on display under the bright lights of the arena. And you’re definitely not obsessed with his picture-perfect face and those bright green eyes that practically fucking sparkled when you managed to get a smile out of him, right?
I scrubbed my hands over my face as if I could forcibly remove all the snapshots of Cade my brain had inadvertently taken last night.
A second later, the sharp smack of a paw hit one of my still-closed eyes.
It must be 7:02 a.m. I felt around for my phone on the bedside table, turning my face away from my impatient roommate.
I opened my eyes a sliver to check the time on my phone that I’d brought within reading distance. Sure enough, my guess was bang on.
“Ugh. Poe, really? I’m coming. It’s not like you’re starving or anything,” I groaned.
Turning back to the feline in question, I risked opening my eyes fully.
