“Can we talk?”
“Yes.” I closed my mouth and couldn't speak further because of the constant push-and-pull impulses.
“Somewhere that isn't an ice rink with an audience.” He jerked his head at Kai who pretended he was adjusting his pads.
I leaned on the boards because my wolf was straining forward, wanting to be closer to Thorne. He wanted to breathe in our mate’s scent without the barrier of cold air. I held him back as I’d been doing each time I encountered Thorne.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said. That whatever your brother did, maybe you could make it right.”
“And?”
“And you're not your brother. It's not fair to punish you for something he did.” He met my gaze. “But I can't talk about this here or in the cafeteria with your teammates walking past.”
I didn’t push, wanting him to suggest what we should do. “What did you have in mind?”
“Dinner with just the two of us and no interruptions.”
That was what I wanted, as his fated mate, to spend alone time with him. But my initial wariness and dislike was well-founded because of him punishing me for Bodie’s actions. But Thorne’sadmission that his reaction was wrong tamed my revulsion a little, though it was still there.
My wolf was excited to put my animosity behind us, while I was planning how to do this meet-and-greet. I thought fast or on my feet, as Bodie used to joke when we were on the ice.
Huh? You’re standing. I don’t get it.
“I know a place. Let me sort it out.”
A smile tugged on one corner of his mouth. It was more than he’d ever given me, not that I’d been welcoming to him either.
“Okay.”
We exchanged numbers, and he left with his hands in his pockets. My wolf begged me to follow him, but I persuaded him to back off.
We’re meeting up. That’s what you wanted.
Kai came up behind me. “That was interesting.” I glanced over my shoulder at him grinning. “It’s just an observation.”
I skated back to center ice and fired the remaining pucks at the net without aiming. Most of them missed. Kai stopped the rest and said nothing, which was the most generous thing anyone had done for me all week.
When I reached my apartment, I called someone who could make this meeting happen in a pleasant, secluded location.
Dan Warren was a team superfan.He was a season ticket holder and was the owner of one of the swankiest restaurants in the city. He'd introduced himself after my second game and told me if I ever needed a favor, just call.I told myself that wassomething people said, similar to, “Let’s do dinner.” But now I was about to test if his offer was genuine.
“Raff! What can I do for you?”
“I need a private dining room for tomorrow night. Just for two people.” I crossed my fingers that he wasn’t going to grill me for the reason.
“Say no more. I've got a room at the back of the restaurant. Seats four, but I'll set it for two. Candles, the works."
"Whoa, it's not a date,” I explained. We were far from that, but Thorne and I might be able to put this thorny issue to bed once we talked it through.
My wolf shook his head at my use of “thorny” and told me never to use that word again.
“Sure it's not” Dan laughed and hung up.
I flopped onto the bed. The flamingo was on my nightstand where it’d sat since I returned from my parents' place.I buried my face in it and shed a few tears.
Tomorrow night I'd sit across from my fated mate in a candlelit room and try to have a civilized conversation while I was pulled in two directions.I'd try to listen without reacting, but Thorne was my mate and Bodie was my dead brother. Whatever Bodie had done, I needed to be able to apologize so we could move on.
“I wish you could tell me what to do, Bodie.” As usual, he didn’t answer.
Despite the anger, confusion, and defensiveness I felt when Thorne was close, I wanted him. And that was getting harder to ignore.
“It's not a date.”
The flamingo stared at me with its one good eye, and I imagined Bodie laughing at me.
