Taking a deep breath, I sink under the surface of the lake. I let the cold water flow around me. I need it to quell the thoughts about Dax’s ass.
Not something I need to be thinking about. It’s only because I’m in such a bad headspace right now.
That’s it. Nothing else.
I’ll let myself have that peek and move on.
It won’t be hard, right?
Chapter Six
DAX
That was a really bad idea. A very bad idea. In the whole universe of bad ideas, skinny-dipping with my best friend that I’m secretly in love with? That’s at the top of the list.
Fuck. I really shouldn’t have done that.
Picking up my bag, I toss it over my shoulder and head toward my truck.
After our dip in the lake, we had a quiet few days.
Playing games. Watching movies. Cooking dinner together.
The weather turned to rain again, so there wasn’t much we could do besides stay inside. It’s one of the things I love most about being around Chloe. The easy silences.
We’re never straining to fill them.
Throwing my duffel into the car and standing next to the driver’s door, I remind myself to switch my focus to the team’s upcoming training and offseason practices.
It’ll be the distraction I need to keep from thinking about Chloe.
But it’s hard not to think about that little sliver of skin Isaw on the side of her chest as I went into the water. Because even that tiny inch of skin has me thinking of everything I want to do to her. Things that Ican’tdo to her.
Even though she’s officially done with my brother—and sworn off all men—she’ll always be Duncan’s ex.
Which makes me hate my brother even more because I’ll never get Chloe that way.
“You ready?”
Chloe’s jogging down the front steps of my cabin, bag in hand. In a pair of overalls, with her hair swept into a messy contraption on top of her head, she looks better than I’ve seen her in days.
“Waiting on you, Sunshine.”
Chloe smiles at me, dark sunglasses hiding her eyes.
“I’m not ready to go back to the real world.” She sighs, shaking her head. “I wish we could stay here forever.”
“If only I didn’t have to go back for hockey.”
“Hey.” Chloe nudges me and throws her bag into the back of the SUV. “You have to win the cup. I’ve been waiting too long to see you lift it.”
I beam back at her. “I’m planning on it.”
“Good. You can focus on that. I’ll have to find an apartment.”
Firing the truck up, I point it in the direction of the main road. “You know, you can stay with me as long as you need.”
“I can’t. You know I can’t.”
