“Yeah. I am.”
“Is it just a sexual thing?”
“No, it’s not just a sexual thing,” he barked heatedly.
Dean huffed out a laugh. “Okay, okay. Don’t bite my head off. I just had to ask.”
Victor felt compelled to stress his point. “Sure, Belle is pretty. Shit, she’s goddamn beautiful. But my attraction isn’t that fucking shallow. I respect her. She’s a hard worker, and she’s so goddamn sweet and smart and good to Pip. She went through the fucking war, walking every step of the way beside Vivian asshe grieved Phil with a newborn. The woman is rock-fucking-solid.”
Dean soaked that in for a moment. “You’re a beast on the ice, Vic. Seriously one of the best defenders in the league. I’ve always believed that. Do you know what it is that makes you so successful?”
Victor took the bait. “What?”
“You don’t hold back, man. When you’re out on that ice, you’re balls-to-the-wall fearless.”
Victor appreciated the compliment, though he didn’t understand why Dean was bringing it up now, because it didn’t match the conversation they’d been having. “Thanks.”
“So I’m going to offer you some unsolicited advice.”
Victor sighed. “Hit me with it.”
“Be a beast in your personal life. Stop holding back and making excuses. On the ice, you have one goal. To stop the other team from scoring. Now, it’s time to stop treading water and figure out what it is that you want in your personal life.”
Victor let Dean’s words soak in, perfectly aware his friend’s suggestion was easier said than done. He’d put his life on hold so long ago, he’d forgotten how to consider himself.
Which was ironic, as he recalled what he’d said to Vivian in his kitchen before she left on her trip. He’d told her that she deserved to do something for herself.
Belle had overheard those words and taken them to heart as well, putting herself out there and starting to date again.
What he hadn’t realized was, he should have been saying the same damn thing to himself.
“You still there?” Dean asked, when Victor didn’t reply.
“Yeah. I’m here. It’s good advice.”
“I’m glad you think so,” Dean replied good-naturedly. “And FYI, I appreciate that you want to spend time with Pip this summer, but you’re going to have to pull yourself away oneafternoon for happy hour. We’re long overdue for pints of Guinness at Pat’s.”
Victor grinned. “You’re right. We are. We’ll set something up next week.”
“Great. I’m gonna hold you to that.”
He and Dean said goodbye, but he didn’t have time to think about his friend’s comments because the second he placed his phone on the end table, he heard the front door open.
He followed Belle’s progress, listening as she closed the door and locked it before walking toward the living room. Obviously, she saw that the light was on.
She peered through the doorway. “Hey,” she said, giving him a bright, happy smile.
As much as he usually loved seeing that smile, the jealous bastard side of him was the stronger part at the moment, so he didn’t like it at all.
“Good date?” he forced himself to ask.
Belle nodded, entering the living room and walking over to drop down next to him on the couch. “Yeah. It was. Sean’s a really nice guy. Maybe a little bit nerdy,” she said with a grin, “but not in a bad way. Did you know Pat’s Pub is doing bar trivia on Wednesday nights now?”
Victor shook his head.
“We decided to stay for that after dinner. Sean is a huge history buff. I couldn’t believe some of the questions he knew the answers to. I swear if all the trivia had been history facts, we would have won.”
Victor nodded, trying to think of some response to offer that wouldn’t make him sound like a grumpy asshole, but nothing was coming to him.
