“The Korean place has the best short ribs,” Tate says, nodding toward it. “But their bibimbap is also amazing if you’re in the mood for something different.”
We get in line and order. I choose the bibimbap while Tate gets the short ribs, then we find a picnic table overlooking the river and settle down with our food.
“This looks really good,” I say as I mix my bibimbap together, the egg yolk running into the rice and vegetables. I taste it and it’s absolutely delicious.
“Told you,” Tate says, taking a bite of his short ribs. Some of the sauce gets on his chin, and I reach over with a napkin to wipe it away without thinking.
He freezes at my touch, his eyes meeting mine. There’s a moment between us that’s different from the intense sexual tension with Landon and Levi.
“Sorry,” I say, pulling my hand back.
“Don’t be,” he says softly.
We eat and talk as the sun sets over the river. The conversation is nice; I forgot what it was like to get to know someone and not just jump into bed with them. Since being apart from Landon and Levi, I wasn’t a nun, but I didn’t date. I was too scared to get hurt again. But if this is what I was missing, maybe I should have started sooner.
“Do you regret it?” I ask quietly. “Not getting to stay on the ice.”
“Some days,” he admits. “But mostly I’m trying to find how to make my life meaningful. How I can still influence the game and make an impact. It’s just different from how I imagined.”
“That’s very mature of you,” I tease. “And here I thought you were just a hockey guy who didn’t think about anything deeper than the next game.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “You really don’t know me very well, do you?”
“Not yet,” I say, meeting his eyes. “But I’d like to.”
By the time we finish eating, I’m relaxed and enjoying myself. Tate is funny and thoughtful, but doesn’t try too hard to impress me.
“Can I ask you something?” he says as we’re tossing our trash into the bin.
“Sure.”
“Did you agree to a date with me to make them jealous?”
I lean against the picnic table, considering the question before I answer. “No. We’ve decided to be friends. But they will always be in my life in some capacity, as their sister is my best friend. Does that bother you?”
“I don’t know,” he says honestly. “Landon and I have history, and then I’m also their coach. I don’t want to piss them off.”
“They will be fine. They were honestly just trying to be annoying to get a rise out of me, and Landon was a little jealous.”
We walk along the path beside the river. “Jealous of you going on a date?”
I chuckle. “I know about your history with Landon, and I promise your secret is safe with me. But I think he was jealous that he wasn’t coming too.”
“Really? I never know with him. If things were different... but they’re not. Do you think us going on a date is complicating things?”
“I think you’re great,” I say honestly. “I’ve had an amazing time tonight, but I’d be lying if I said I don’t still have feelings for Landon and Levi. That doesn’t mean I plan to get back together with them—it just means I’m still figuring things out.”
Tate nods slowly, and I can see him processing my words. “I appreciate your honesty. I’m figuring things out, too, so I guess we’re in good company.”
“Does it bother you?” I ask. “That I have feelings for them?”
“Yes and no,” he says. “Yes, because I would like to take you on another date, and I don’t want to cause any issues with them. And no, because I understand that life is messy, and people are complicated—feelings don’t just disappear because you want them to.”
We stroll along the riverfront for a while, our hands brushing occasionally. It’s peaceful and I would love to do this again with him. I think I could really like him, and that scares me, but if I want to heal from the trauma Anastasia caused, I need to put myself out there. When Tate realizes that I’m cold, he shrugs off his coat he put on when we arrived and wraps it around my shoulders as we head back toward his car.
Once we get back to the house, Tate jumps out and comes around to open the passenger door. He offers me his hand and walks me to the front door.
“Thank you for tonight,” I say. “I had a really good time.”
