I lifted a shoulder. “Didn’t want to miss it.” I glanced down at her lips as we stepped onto solid ground again. “Okay if I kiss you?”
She bit her bottom lip, then pressed them together. “We’re not supposed to be disgusting, remember?”
“Oh, right.” I dropped her hand, but kept hold of her waist. “You want hot chocolate or anything?”
She waved her hand. “I’ll get a pretzel after I hit the bathroom.”
I squeezed her waist. “I’ll get it for ya.”
“Careful,” she sang. “You’ll start a sugar daddy rumor.”
With a quick glance around, I patted her ass. She looked back at me as she walked away, my hand leaving her at the last possible second. I felt cold and exposed without her.
Uh oh. I’d felt this before. Feeling lonely when someone walked away, feeling like I had to stay attached to them like a magnet.
This might have been Feelings. Feelings, proper. Feelings, trademarked.
What else was I doing at a high school hockey game?
I got into the concessions line to give myself something to do. I scowled at the desiccated pretzels twirling on an ancient pretzel machine. Was she sure this was what she wanted? Whatever. If I was wrong, I’d be out what, three, five bucks?
“Looks like your Em traded up.”
I tried not to snap my head up at the mention of her name. Jeff was a few people in front of me in line.
The guy went on. “But you can’t compete with cougar bait, I guess.”
Every muscle in my body tensed. I didn’t give a shit about an insult thrown my way, but the implications it had for Emma? I would tear this asshole limb from limb and feed his parts to hogs if that would shut him up.
But as it turned out, I didn’t have anything to worry about, because Jeff spoke up. “Nah, it’s good to see her happy. I’m glad she’s doing something for herself.”
This was a 180 from the last time Jeff and I met.
The other dad was undeterred, doing his best to provoke Jeff. “She’s always been a looker, but enough to bag an NHLer?”
Okay, yep, now I was mad again. I reminded myself that tonight was about Liam and causing a scene was out of the question.
But I could do what I did best: be a menace.
That fucker had his phone in his hand. I tapped the woman in front of me and leaned down. “Hey, I’ll get your snacks if you let me get in front of you.”
She let me through and I winked at her.
Then I jostled that fucker in the elbow hard enough to make him drop his phone. “Oh, shit, man. You dropped your phone.”
The guy startled and turned, then startled all over again. “Oh. Uh, thank you.” He crouched to get his phone and I resisted the urge to sink my toe into his ass to make him fall over. When he stood, he dusted off his pants. “Hey, are you Harlan Royce?”
I stuck my tongue in my cheek and wrinkled my brow. “Who?”
Jeff held back a laugh. He got called forward to the concession window, but I stepped in front of him. “I’ll get it. Does Emma like cheese with her pretzel?”
Jeff bobbed his head. “If memory serves, yes. Maybe get it just in case.”
“Small price to pay for her happiness,” I said.
I beckoned the woman I’d ditched in line to get her order, and the asshole guy somehow felt included. “You don’t have to get my food,” he started.
I waved him off. “No, not you. She’s my friend,” I said, pointing to the woman. “I don’t know you.”
