We both turn and head into our apartments, and for an unexplainable reason, I walk to the kitchen, slam the detergent on the kitchen counter, open the freezer, then half a minute later find myself knocking on Tyler’s door with a bag of frozen peas in my hand.
By the third knock he opens, and his face squinches because he is surprised it’s me. Let alone holding up a bag of frozen peas.
“Here.” I hand them to him. “I wasn’t sure if you have enough ice. I can only imagine your shoulder and upper body are a little effed up too. I remember because I’ve seenit on Seb.”
In a quick movement, Tyler grips my wrist, and he yanks me forward until I almost tumble straight into him as I’m caught by surprise.
This is the complete wrong time for the ache between my legs, but it’s happening.
He’s strong but it’s not enough to hurt. I stare up into his dark eyes as he towers over me. He steals my breath, and maybe that’s the misery that he wants to inflict on me.
We just stew in this standoff for a few moments. I swear, with one more pull, our lips would be dangerously close. He has my eyes captivated because I see him searching for some sort of answer on my face.
“Thank you.” His voice is gruff.
Make no mistake, I sense the electricity between us.
But he abruptly lets my wrist go, and I’m standing there speechless with my body trying to stabilize.
Taking a step back in disbelief, I’m unable to study his expression because the door slams in my face as I stand there at a loss for what I’m feeling in this very moment.
I’m angry that he causes something to stir inside of me, and I’m angry it’s him because he is the last person I need in my romantic life.
The only thing I can do is punish him for that.
So tomorrow, I’ll find holiday decorations for his door that I’m well aware he will hate.
CHAPTER 3
TYLER
Carrying my dry-cleaned suits, I exit the elevator. I’m trying to see the bright side. After a week of missing practices, I’ve been cleared for practice tomorrow which means that I will most likely fly with the team for our game against Buffalo.
It takes one glimmer in the corner of my eye to make me do a double take.
“Fucking no,” I grind the words out to myself.
I don’t even need to wonder who took it upon themselves to add silver garland above my front door. Or a wreath with a giant red bow. Someone is crossing lines today, and I’m not in the mood for this blatant disrespect of my property.
I toss my dry cleaning over my shoulder with the hanger on my hooked finger and basically stomp straight to Lainey’s apartment. My fist lands on the door for a strong knock, then another, and another.
The door rushes open. “Okay, okay. I got the message the first time.” She seems slightly disheveled from rushing to the door; she’s wearing yoga pants and a long-sleeve shirt that hugs just under her shapely ass. When her eyes follow a linefrom my middle up, her face melts into recognition, and a sly smile even begins to curve on her mouth.
“Cut the crap. No, even better, take some scissors and cut down the decorations on my door.”
She sets her hands on her hips, completely in her element of enjoying a win. “Oh.” She fakes a pout, and for some reason, I make a mental note that her lips are the perfect shape for activities that I shouldn’t consider doing with this woman, unless it’s to release some of our bizarre tension. “Someone isn’t in a festive mood. I forgot Scrooge’s cousin is my neighbor.”
“Cute. Now take it down.”
Her eyes assess me for a second or two, and her proud accomplishment disappears. “I just thought you might want a little holiday cheer, and Enzo and I took the liberty of checking it off your to-do list.”
“Oh. Didn’t think of asking me first?” I reply flatly.
She holds her long finger against her thumb in the air. “Maybe there is a little smidgen of me that knew it would piss you off.”
My eyes skate to the side, and I roll my lips in. “Oh, what a surprise.” I’m flippant. “Please take it down.”
Her eyes squint again, and she seems to be studying me. I don’t like that. “Why do you hate the holidays so much?”
