Her eyes light up. “Sushi. Especially if they have crab.”
I make a mental note to check the menu items, but there’s not that many sushi houses around.
“I really wish you guys were playing the Predators in Great Falls.”
A smile spreads across my face. I wish that, too, then I could sneak out after and see her. “We can’t play them every week. You could come to my game. It’s Friday night, no school Saturday.”
She purses her lips together. “I’ll think about it.”
“You’ll think about coming to your boyfriend’s hockey game?” I playfully joke with her. “Wow, have someplace better to be?”
“Friday night, Dad flies in and wants to discuss something. He’s been rather cryptic lately.”
I don’t want to keep her from her family. I play hockey every week. “Okay, well, if you get bored, you know where to find me.”
“Maybe I can convince Dad to change it to Saturday night and we can have dinner at their new place.”
“We?” I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but is Bristol inviting me to have dinner with her parents?
Bristol scrunches her nose. “You’re right. It’s too soon, we just started dating. I mean, we haven’t even gone out on a date.”
“You’re rambling, and it’s really cute. If you’re nervous about me meeting your parents, we can wait. We don’t have to rush anything, Bristol.”
She exhales a heavy breath and sits up in bed. “I know that. I hardly think us having dinner with my parents constitutes rushing anything. I’m a little worried you and Dad might have too much in common and he’ll steal you away.”
“I promise, Bristol, I won’t start catching feelings for your old man.”
Her laughter is contagious, and I can’t hide the smile on my face from her.
“Glad I can make you laugh,” I say.
She rubs the tears away, her face bright red from her fit of giggles. The more I study Bristol and get to know her, the more I keep falling for her.
“So, does that mean I’ll see you at tomorrow night’s game?” I know I’m pushing my luck, but I like knowing someone is in the stands, cheering me on. I don’t get that very often.
I certainly never had that with Iris.
Our friendship didn’t extend beyond the bedroom.
She drags out the first syllable. “Maybe,” she says and smirks. “I’ll have to check my calendar.”
“I know, you’re such a busy bee.” I tease, knowing that most of her time is spent in her dorm. She’s a homebody through and through. “Well, if it makes any difference, I’m sure Harper, Zeke, Nova, everyone you’ve already met will be there.”
“Well then, that makes all the difference. I’m definitely staying home.”
I can’t tell if she’s joking.
“Okay.” I try not to feel offended, but if she doesn’t like my friends, then we’re going to have a serious problem dating.
“You wear your heart on your sleeve, Liam,” Bristol chirps up and blows a kiss at me. “I’ll be at your silly game tomorrow. I wanted to surprise you, but I don’t want you to hang up and think I’m mad at you, or that we’re fighting.”
“You’re going to be there?” My voice catches for a second, and I smile, genuinely thrilled. After today, I really want to see her.
Shit.
My eyes widen, realizing that I can’t bring her back to the house to spend the night.
Not with the blood-soaked carpet and crimson-stained walls.
