He kisses my forehead as he pulls me tighter against him. This is what I’m gonna miss. Feeling safe. Feeling like myself.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“How do you know anything’s going on?” I ask.
“Because you’re always thinking about something.” He runs a finger across my cheek. “Or worrying about something.”
“I’m not worrying about anything.” I shift my weight up and press my lips against his. “I’m just thinking about how awesome our next date will be. I mean, two weeks of anticipation. You’ll have a lot to live up to.”
“Oh, trust me, I’ve thought about it.” He holds me close to him as his lips meet mine again. “All I’ve been able to think about is coming back to school and seeing you.”
“Two weeks.” I give him a small peck. “We can handle it.” Another peck.
“Our first New Year as a couple, and we won’t even be together.” He drums his fingers against my back. “I’ll be in Michigan.”
“We can Facetime,” I suggest. “Kissing over a camera might not be ideal, but it’s something.”
“You know, I think I might need some kisses to help get me through the next two weeks.” He brushes my hair behind my ear. “You wouldn’t want me to be deprived of you for two weeks now, would you, Bowman?”
I smile as Declan pulls me into him, laughing before my lips meet his, “Looks like you can read minds.”
Because I was thinking the same thing.
He’s gonna find out eventually.”
I’m sitting with the girls at the diner for the first time since we went home for the holidays. Which went so well on my part that I came back to campus a week early.
“He’ll find out when I want him to find out.” Maia sighs. “I mean, I don’t think a hockey player has ever stepped foot inside this diner.”
“Umm, Declan has been here several times,” I reply.
“He doesn’t count. He’s not a hockey player when he comes here; he’s your boyfriend,” she argues.
“I still can’t believe Declan has a girlfriend.” Tate laughs. “We were all sure he’d be like a forty-year-old virgin.”
Brinley and I tilt our heads at her.
“Okay, we know he’s not a virgin, but Fletcher and I were sure he would be stuck on hockey for his whole life. Put girls on the back burner,” she continues.
“He was just waiting for the right one to knock some sense into him.” Brinley grins. “And he finally found her.”
“Yeah, he’s really lucky to have you,” Maia adds, and I turn toward her.
“Nice try, but changing the subject won’t work.”
“I’m not changing the subject,” she argues.
“Why are you so worried about seeing Cam?” Tate asks. “It’s been like, what, three years?”
“We didn’t end on the best terms. I don’t know if, even after three years if I’m ready to see him.”
“Well, unfortunately, you’re gonna have to see him.” Brinley takes a sip of her milkshake.
“Why?” Maia wonders. “Did you tell the guys to come to the diner?”
“No,” she says like that’s a stupid question. “I’m not that stupid.”
“Okay, but you said I’m gonna have to see him.”
