She gives me a soft smile. It’s strange, really. She’s always wearing a game face at practice. “You can bunk in my room for the night.”
Scowling, I shake my head wildly. “That—no—your father—no.”
“Oh my god, stop being weird. I’m like one of the guys.”
The air leaves my lungs in a whoosh. That might have been true twenty minutes ago, but now that I’ve seen her in this goddamn little outfit? She doesn’t even come close to being one of the guys. Fuck, her curves have my mouth watering. This is so fucking bad.
“Still,” I say, pulling my shoulders back. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Fine,” she sighs, “be tired tomorrow for our game. I’ll happily play goalie for all three periods.”
I groan. She’s right. We have to be out of the house by five a.m. “Can you set an alarm so I’m up and out of your bed before anyone catches us?”
A sly smirk creeps up her face. “Sounds so scandalous.”
“Adeline,” I warn.
Smiling, she pads by me and brushes her hip against mine. “Yes, JJ, I’ll set an alarm. C’mon.”
I stay where I am for a few seconds so I don’t have to stare at her ass as we walk up the stairs. By the time I step into her room, she’s already climbing into bed and pushing a pillow to the other side.
Hovering beside the king-size mattress, I ball my hands into fists. “You sure this is okay?”
“Yeah, just don’t try to snuggle me in the middle of the night and make things weird.”
“Ha.” I cough out a laugh as I settle on the empty side of the bed. “Like I would ever.”
With my head on the pillow, I inhale deeply. It smells like vanilla and coconut and a scent that’s so very Adeline. It’s rare that we spend time together when we’re not sweaty messes, but even when she is, she still emits this sweet natural scent. She never smells bad, while the rest of us absolutely reek.
On our sides, we face one another. She’s wearing another of those smiles, and with the way her brown hair cascades around her, I can honestly say she’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.
“You okay?” she asks.
I swallow the lump suddenly lodging itself in my throat. She’s talking about my mom, about how my life has just been upended. “I guess.”
“Two truths and lie,” she whispers.
I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling, heat gathering behind my eyes. “Um, your bed smells good, your brother’s singing could use some work, and I’m okay.”
The bed shifts, and then there’s an arm wrapping around my waist. Closer now, Adeline squeezes me, offering me her warmth and comfort. It’s weirdly natural to hug her back. To pull her so close that she’s forced to rest her head on my chest.
When she does, she whispers, “My brother’s singing could use more than a little work. But you will be okay, JJ, I’ll make sure of it.”
I’m not sure why, but I believe her.
EIGHT
ADDIE
When I hitmy second mile, I finally feel like myself again. This is what I needed. Since moving out of my apartment and leaving the team that I spent four years with, everything has felt off.
The consensus is that it will take time to get used to this new life. To not playing hockey professionally. To not living on my own. I’m not so sure. Maybe it’s because all these changes occurred at the same time. Maybe it’s because my old teammates have been texting constantly, always talking about their training camp, which started this week as well. Either way, it’s all hitting me extra hard.
But with the fresh air filling my lungs, the rolling green hills as a backdrop, and a perfectly curated playlist on shuffle in my ears, the world seems a little brighter.
I make it around the park twice more, then head back to the brownstone situated a mere fifty feet from the park entrance. As I hit the front walk, I check my watch. Four miles in thirty-five minutes. Not too shabby.
Not professional hockey level, but I don’t need to be in the same kind of shape as the players.
