I hide a smile. “Deal. I’d be happy with McDonald’s if it meant going with you.”
She doesn’t comment on that. “And I don’t really understand hockey,” she admits, nibbling her bottom lip. “But I can go. I can watch if it means that much to you. I just may need to watch some YouTube videos first to figure out what’s happening.”
My hidden smile wavers into a bigger one. “I can give you a crash course,” I offer.
She nods for a moment, thinking. “And I’m not the best cook or baker, but I do okay. I can make a birthday cake as good as anyone. As long as it’s from a box.” She adds the last part quietly, but I appreciate it all the same.
“Sounds good to me, sweetheart.”
And I mean it.
Winter watches me, only looking away once to glance at the sleeping feline still curled into a ball on top of her.
Her next words wrap around my heart and remain there. “Then I want that too.”
I don’t stop the smile from forming this time.
And when she sees it, that pink color creeps back onto her cheeks right before her lips curl up at the corners to match mine.
I think,I love this girl.
But I don’t say it.
Not yet.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Winter
Istay atThomas’s place solely for the security it offers. According to Ashton, my apartment building is swarming with reporters who want to hearmy sideof the story, whatever that means. Something tells me it’s bullshit. If I show up, they’ll yell out their questions and accusations and take a million pictures that I don’t consent to. They’ll run with whatever story makes them the most money.
And, okay, I also stayed because Oreo fell asleep on me and I quickly followed suit.
The truth is, I don’t have the energy to go home or deal with the people who want the next big headline. I don’t want to be the freakshow that they use to get a big paycheck, especially when they have more vital things to focus on. My past doesn’t deserve to be front-page news, and I won’t let anybody make a spectacle of me because of it.
I texted Kourtney yesterday after no fewer than twenty missed calls from her, ranging from “Are you okay?” to “I’m tracking your location and busting down the door.” The latter is when I realized I needed to tell her not to get arrested for breaking and entering, not that I think Thomas would mind.
The explanation I left her with was vague, and I felt bad for not offering her more information. But I…couldn’t. I could barely process the way my life was unfolding. Trying to explain it to my sister was even harder. The last conversation I had withher before falling asleep was an apology for our past becoming a viral moment that is nobody’s business.
Me:I’m sorry you got dragged into this. I’ll make it up to you
Kourt:How do you propose that?
Me:IDK. Groveling?
Kourt:If you stay with the rich guy, then you can afford me a better present than that
Me:*glare emoji*
Kourt:*angel emoji* *eggplant emoji*
Me:You’re gross
Kourt:You’re the one having sex with a married guy *wink emoji*
Kourt:Although I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like him way more after seeing what he did for his wife
I didn’t have to tell her I agree. His friendship with Emaly is nothing like I’ve ever seen. He loves her the way she loves him—unconditionally, without fail. He was ready to live the rest of his life as a villain if it meant she could be happy with her person.
