Stella plays with her napkin before speaking up. “I think she would be good for you.”
The table goes silent as they watch for my reaction. My eyes narrow and my shoulders stiffen. I know Stella means well and I know she wants me to be happy but it’s really none of her business. Especially now.
“She’s a great girl and I like spending time with her but I’m not looking for anything right now,” I finally answer.
“You gonna sit over there and tell us you don’t like her as more than a friend?” Luka asks, bluntly.
I’m already shaking my head. “I didn’t say that.”
Aiden lifts his chin towards me. He’s been pretty quiet this whole time but that’s not surprising, he doesn’t usually engage when the guys are being stupid. “What’s the hold up, then?” he asks.
I shift in my seat uncomfortably. This is not where I saw tonight going. We’re supposed to be on a high from our win. Not deep diving into my dating life. “It’s complicated.”
“It’s only complicated if you make it that way,” Beau says, seriously.
“Since when did you become all philosophical?” I accuse.
“It’s the truth, dude. Shit doesn’t have to be complicated. People overthink too much. Like, why can’t it just be two people getting to know each other. If it works out, it works out. If not, means it wasn’t meant to be.”
“Wasn’t meant to be.” I repeat, stupefied and in utter disbelief that Beau Coleman is over here throwing out life advice like we didn’t find him passed the fuck out last week after the Omega party outside on the sidewalk. He was laying headfirst in the bushes with his pants down around his ankles and his ass in the air. Like he went to take a piss and just fell over right there. Ishake my head like I can somehow merge the two versions of him.Freaking impossible.
And I’m not the only one noticing how weird this is. The whole table has gone silent listening to him dole out what I would consider pretty solid advice otherwise if it wasn’t aimed at me.
“It’s not always that easy, man. Sometimes shit is just out of your control,” Aiden adds.
“Exactly!” I nod my appreciation for Aiden sticking up for me.
Beau throws his hands out dramatically, “But why wouldn’t you just see where it goes. Maybe she’s not your forever but she’s your right now. Life is like seasons, and some people are only meant to be there for one season.”
“Did you just quoteGilmore Girls?” Stella asks, astonished.
My mind is too blown to even form a response.
Beau shakes his head, “No.” His eyebrows scrunch together like he’s thinking really hard, “At least I don’t think so. I saw it on a meme.”
“Who are you?” Aiden asks, flabbergasted.
Beau doesn’t seem fazed by our reactions as he picks up a handful of fries and shoves them in his mouth. “Shit makes sense when you think about it,” he says as he chews, unbothered.
I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose with my thumb and index finger.In what alternate universe am I right now?And why the hell are my friends doling out advice via memes and t-shirts?
I huff in frustration. “All this is beside the point. I don’t want a girlfriend or to date or whatever the hell you are talking about. I just want to focus on hockey and graduating.”
Beau leans back in his chair, his eyes leveling me with a severity I’ve never experienced with him before. “I’m going to ask you a question and I want you to really think about it before you answer me.”
I gulp, not knowing where the hell he is going with this.
“What if you miss out on the most pivotal moment in your life because you were scared? Because that’s really what this comes down to. You’re scared because she isn’t a fucking puck bunny, and you know if you give her at least half a chance you’re going to fall so damn hard.”
“The fuck, bro,” Luka whispers in awe.
Aiden chokes on the sip of water he just took and Nash looks just as dumbstruck as I feel. The girls both give each other knowing looks, like they’re in on a secret that only the two of them know.
Something in my chest tightens at his words, my body rebelling against his suggestion. Yeah, sure Millie is hot, sweet, kind and smart and we have a lot of fun together but that doesn’t mean we’re soulmates or whatever the hell Beau is insinuating.
I would know if I met my soulmate right?The question sits uncomfortably on my chest.
“Your face is telling me you feel something, but you have absolutely no idea what to do with those feelings. All I’m saying is don’t get in your own way, Cap,” Beau says.
