“Oh.” I go back to eating too. I’m not sure what to say. I appreciate he’s noticed that I’m trying hard not to upset Kara, but I don’t want him to get in a fight with her over me. That would only make my relationship with Kara worse.
After a few minutes, he says, “You like hockey, right?”
“Yes.” I meet his gaze. “I love hockey.”
He looks pleased. “The Miners are playing Calgary tonight. The game’s at 7:00 p.m. Wanna watch it with me here?”
I hesitate, but then say, “Sure.” I already expressed my worries about Kara. If he’s determined to spend time with metoday, I’m not going to reject him. He’s a grown man. If he doesn’t mind upsetting Kara, that’s his call.
His face lights up. “Really?”
I shrug. “I was going to watch the game anyway. It… it’ll be more fun with you.”
He nods. “Exactly. It’s not much fun watching alone, but that’s what I’ve been stuck doing most of the time. Kara thinks hockey is boring, and I’ve tried watching it with Jack, but he can’t sit still long enough to watch a full game. Sometimes, if I want company, I watch hockey down at The Fox & The Kettle. But it’s more comfortable on my couch rather than sitting on a hard barstool the whole game. I’ve been suffering alone for years.”
“That’s tragic.” I suddenly feel lighter. Happier.
“It is tragic. You gotta have someone to yell at the TV with. Otherwise you just look like a fool.”
“Yeah.” I smirk. “Solo screaming at the TV is frowned upon by all polite society. But if you have a screaming companion, then it’s all good.”
He grins. “Exactly. You get it.”
I stand and take my empty plate to the sink. “We’re low on beer. How about I go grab some at the market? We need laundry detergent too.”
He joins me at the sink and he hands me his plate. “I’ll come with you. I was going to pick up some flowers for Kara for tomorrow anyway.”
My stomach tenses at the mention of her name, but I say brightly, “Good thinking. That’ll make her happy.”
He raises his brows. “I sure hope so. Something needs to.”
I don’t address his comment because it’s not my place to criticize Kara. Instead, I say, “I’d also love to get some fresh air and exercise today. I saw you have a snowboard in the garage. Would you… uh… maybe want to do a little snowboarding after we shop?” I feel vulnerable inviting him to do something with me, but he’s indicated he wants to hang out, right? There’s nothing weird about friends inviting friends to go snowboarding.
He looks pleased at the invitation. “Absolutely. I didn’t know you knew how to snowboard. Georgia isn’t known for its snowboarding. Where would you go usually?”
“I’d make the trip to Sugar Mountain in North Carolina. It was about a two-hour trip but it was worth it when I got the snowboarding itch.”
He nods. “This is fantastic news. Kara prefers sitting in the lodge drinking hot chocolate to getting out in the snow, but I’d kill to get on my board.”
“Well, no one needs to die.” I laugh, ecstatic at how the day is turning out. “I was going to rent a board since I sold mine when I moved. Maybe I can do that while we’re out shopping.”
“No need.” He looks smug. “I have an extra board.”
“You do? Excellent.”
He snaps his fingers. “Hey, how about you go to the store, and I wax the boards while you’re gone? Kill two birds with one stone.”
“I can do that.” My excitement grows because he’s serious about joining me. I’m thrilled to have a snowboarding buddy.
He hesitates. “Uh, would you mind picking up a nice big bouquet of flowers for Kara? Make it big and flashy. Money is no object.”
“Sure.” I laugh gruffly. “But make sure she never finds out I picked them or she’ll hate me even more.”
“Duh.” He grins. “I have strong survival instincts. I would never admit I delegated her flower buying to another person.”
His phone on the island rings and Kara’s name lights up on the screen. “Speak of the devil,” he says and I don’t think it’s my imagination that his jaw clenches as if he’s irritated. But when he notices me watching, he quickly paints on a smile and answers the cell.
“Hey, babe.” He wanders out of the kitchen, lowering his voice, though not enough that I can’t hear with my keen-shifter hearing. “How’s work going?”
