And somehow, it’s almost like no time has passed.
We could always talk about anything and everything, and that hasn’t changed. She enjoys hockey so I can tell her about my days, and since she works retail, there are always funny stories about her customers. Mostly, we’ve kept things light. I’m not sure if it’s because we already talked about most of the heavy stuff or if we just don’t want to get into it again when we’re apart.
Either way, we seem to be easing back into…something.
Friendship. Dating. A relationship.
I honestly don’t know and though neither of us said the words, it’s pretty obvious we don’t want to label it just yet. Which is fine with me. If my teammates, other than Jude, find out she’s back in my life, I’m going to get a fuck ton of shit from them. I don’t want to think about how Coach Petrov will react.
If I was smart, I’d walk away.
But I can’t.
At least, not until I figure out if the spark between us is indicative of genuine feelings or just the combination of shared history and physical attraction. She’s still gorgeous, even more so than before. If I’m honest, I don’t know how I’m going to keep my hands off of her. Sex isn’t the end game, not with Victoria, but it’s up there. It’s been about a month since I’ve gotten laid, which is a long time for me.
“Hey, we’re going to go get some wings and watch some basketball,” Milo says to me as the plane descends on Sunday. “You wanna go?”
“Sorry, I have plans,” I say casually.
He squints slightly. “Who with?”
“What are you, my mother?”
“Why are you being weird?”
“I’m not being weird! I made plans—what’s the big deal?”
“If it’s not a big deal, why won’t you tell me what they are?”
“Because it’s none of your business?”
“So, it’s a girl.”
“A woman, and yes.”
“Why didn’t you just say that?”
I roll my eyes. “I just did!”
“Okay, have fun.” Milo shrugs and goes back to doing something on his phone.
I feel a little bad for giving him shit, but this thing with Victoria is too new—and way too complicated—to tell anyone. Not yet. Jude and Chloe know, of course, but I know they won’t say anything.
Victoria and I are meeting at a restaurant on the water in Deerfield Beach, a little outside the area where most of our friends spend time. It’s inconvenient that I can’t just pick her up, but for the immediate future, it’s better this way. Besides, it’s all new. Ish. I mean, we know each other pretty damn intimately. I know how she likes to be kissed, what it sounds like when she comes, and what it takes to make her laugh. I have distinct memories of what it feels like to cup her breasts or be buried deep inside her. And most of all, I know how easy it is for us to just be together.
A walk on the beach or quiet evening at home was always fine with her. She liked going to my games, but it wasn’t mandatory and she never tried to show off that she was dating a player. She’s hard-working and talented, can be studious when she has to be, and we generally like all the same things.
Maybe horror movies and rollercoasters aren’t her thing anymore but my gut tells me the big stuff hasn’t changed. It’s just a matter of discovering how that works now that we’re truly adults. With responsibilities and obstacles that didn’t exist before. Her parents never liked me, but they probably assumed it was a first-love fling that would end once she graduated.
Instead, everything blew up in April, just under four years ago.
I see her waiting outside the moment I pull up and I jump out of my SUV, absently taking the ticket from the valet.
“Hi,” I say, drinking in how pretty she is.
“Hi.” She tilts up her face and I brush my lips across her cheek.
“You look beautiful,” I say.
