And now, with his arms wrapping fully around me, warm and unyielding, I didn’t want to let go. But I did. Because that was what I’d trained myself to do—let go first, before anyone else could.
2
NOAH
June
“You still smell like coffee and vanilla,” I blurted before I could stop myself.
Her eyes widened, then she laughed—really laughed—the way she used to when I’d screw around and say something dumb to get her through finals week. “What, you catalogued my scents?”
“Maybe.” I shrugged, grinning because I couldn’t help it. “Not my fault you basically lived at the café in the union. Every time you hugged me, I smelled like a vanilla latte for the rest of the day.”
Her cheeks went pink, and I had to look away for a second, because damn. She still had that effect on me.
Back in college, I was never gonna risk screwing up what we had. She was the best part of my day—every day—and I figured being her friend was safer than trying for more and losing it all. I was the guy who carried her laundry baskets, the guy she stole fries from, the guy who sat through three hours ofThe Notebookbecause she wanted “background noise” while she studied.
Yeah, I had it bad. Always had. But I kept my feelings for her locked up.
Because Em Sanders? She deserved smooth. Confident. Someone who wasn’t the oversized offensive lineman with goofy jokes and an unshakable crush.
So I played it safe. Stayed in the friend zone. She’d declared so many times she never wanted to date again because of her past, and I believed her, refusing to pressure her in case it destroyed our friendship.
Except now—standing here with her smile hitting me like a damn freight train—I felt every bit of that crush all over again. And it was worse. Stronger. Because she looked even better now, and I wasn’t the same kid anymore.
“You know,” I said, leaning an elbow on the bar beside her, close enough that her shoulder brushed my arm, “you still hug like you’re trying to snap my ribs in half.”
She smirked, lips curving like she was about to roast me. “You’re built like a redwood tree. It’s the only way to make sure you actually feel it.”
“Fair point.” I grinned, leaning closer. “Still. You could’ve warned me. Gonna need an ice bath after that one.”
She bumped my chest with her hand, rolling her eyes, but she didn’t move away. My pulse spiked at the contact, as stupid as that was. God, I’d missed that. Missedher.I’d been trying to figure out who the hell I was besides an offensive lineman, and I didn’t realize how much of my life was justfootball.Women only wanted me because I played for the Rampage. They didn’t care about me, just the fame. Yet Em never gave a flying shit that I played a sport. Probably because her brother was a pro NHLer.
“Hey,” I said, tilting my head, “you remember our old thing? When finals were kicking our ass and we’d try to outdo each other with…what’d we call it?”
Her face lit up. “Our adventure List.”
“Yeah, that’s it!” I snapped my fingers. “Little stuff, stupid stuff—like who could sneak into the stadium first or who could eat the nastiest cafeteria combo.”
She groaned, covering her face. “Don’t even bring up the ramen and ranch incident. I can still taste it.”
I barked out a laugh. “Hey, I took one for the team. And you dared me, so it’s your fault.”
Her eyes were sparkling, her laugh bubbling out so easily it made my chest ache.
“Anyway,” I said, lowering my voice enough that she had to lean closer to hear me, “I think we should bring it back. Adventure List: Alumni Edition.”
Her brows lifted. “Here? Now?”
“Why not?” I shrugged casually, but my heart was hammering. I always loved the smirk on her face when she completed the list. She’d do a shimmy, and her blue eyes would widen with glee. Nothing was sexier than when Em was happy.And while she smiled now, something was behind her gaze that hadn’t been there years ago. Sadness, maybe? Uncertainty? Em had been the most confident girl back then, so I wanted to find out why that faltered.
“Unless you’re scared you can’t keep up with me anymore.” I shrugged, pretending to scoff.
She narrowed her eyes, mock-offended. “You thinkI’mthe weak link here? You’re on.”
I was still laughing about the ramen-and-ranch story when Em suddenly froze, eyes catching on something over my shoulder. Then her whole face lit up, brighter than the damn Ferris wheel behind her.
“Theo!” she squealed, taking off before I could blink.
