I’m hoping I might be able to convince her.
Packing up the last of the lunch items into the wicker basket, I grab the blue-and-white checkered blanket and head out to my truck.
I drop the basket into the backseat and pull out of the driveway. I know she said she was busy today since I had practice, but I’m hoping I can pull her away for at least an hour or two before I head over to the arena to start studying film.
I mean, everyone has to eat, right?
I smile, thinking about Chloe working on her dream. The one my brother never encouraged her to pursue.
My knuckles go white around the steering wheel. How did I get stuck with the world’s biggest dick for a brother? Someone who treated his fiancée like utter shit?
Frankly, I’m glad she’s done with him.
Chloe deserves better.
Flicking on my blinker, I turn into the parking lot of her apartment building and find an empty spot.
I spot her curtains from my seat, seeing her shadow move beyond. Even through the flimsy material, I can see just how sexy she is.
I only hope she says yes to me. But I won’t know if I never get the courage to leave my truck.
Opening the truck door, I hop out and make the short walk to her apartment. Rapping my knuckles on her door, I wait.
When she greets me with a wide smile, I have to do everything in my power to keep it together. Because in a white tank top with a fancy lace pattern that covers her chest and a pair of cutoff jean shorts, she looks fucking stunning.
It’s hard to be around her and not think of what the two of us have done together. Does she think about it as much as I do? It takes all I have to focus on hockey and not her every second of the day.
“Hey. What are you doing here?”
“I thought we could do lunch together today.”
“Don’t you have practice?”
“Not until later. I’ve got everything waiting in the truck.”
“Umm.” Chloe looks at the messy table behind her. “I guess I could take a break for a little while.”
I give her my best smile. “I mean, everyone has to eat at some point, right? I promise, I won’t keep you long. I don’t want to be a distraction.”
“You’re not a distraction, Dax. I mean, I already burned myself today, so I probably should take a break.” Chloe reaches toward the table behind her and grabs her keys and sunglasses before stepping into a pair of sandals. “Let’s go.”
She brushes past me in a whirl of citrus and blonde hair. That faint aroma pulls me right back to that night where I had my hands all over her. Where it was just the two of us in that room. No one else.
Fuck. I do not need to be sporting a boner at a picnic with my best friend.
“Where are we going?” Chloe asks as I hop into the truck after her.
“There’s that cute park near downtown I thought we could go to. Do I need to swing by the store and buy you something for your burn?”
She holds up her bandaged finger. “I’m all taken care of.”
“As long as you don’t lose any fingers,” I say.
“I won’t.” She slides her dark black sunglasses on and rests her feet on the dash as I steer us toward the city.
A silence settles over us. One that I’m not used to. Could things be weird because she wants to forget about what happened? How can you forget about your friend dry humping with you and getting off?
I don’t know if that’s possible.
