Page 25 of Westward

I looked down at the kid, trying not to laugh. With a smile, I reached forward and slipped my arm over his. “Why, thank you, gentle sir.”

“It’s truly no problem. I have been looking for a sugar daddy.”

I pressed my lips together as Jasmine rolled her eyes. “I’m glad you’re having fun on your break at least. Have a good night you two.” She said her goodbyes and went to talk with another committee group, leaving the two of us standing there, confused.

I closed my eyes. “If somehow a story of me and an eighteen-year-old boy gets on some form of social media, I will have to beat you.” I let go of Will’s arm, and he just grinned at me.

“Like the town would say something like that. Plus, I’m a catch. Just saying.”

“That sure of yourself, are you?” I teased.

“No, but that sure of someone else.” He wiggled his brow and gestured towards Lizzie.

I scowled at the kid. “Your teacher and I are just friends.”

“Sure. And I’m the pure sense of responsibility and joy over here,” he said wryly.

“Is there something I should know?” I asked softly.

The kid shook his head. “Not at all.” He cleared his throat and gave me an odd look. “You don’t have to hang out with me, you know. I know you’re just doing it because Ms. E. feels obligated.”

“I don’t do anything that I don’t want to do,” I lied.

“You’re here, and you had to hang out with that woman for how long? No, I’d think of something else to do.”

“Fine. There’s a ton of shit I have to do that I don’t like. That’s what happens when you’re an adult, especially in a job like mine. But Will, if I didn’t want to hang out with you at all, I wouldn’t. I promised Lizzie that I wouldn’t be an asshole when it came to you, and she’s been dealing with so much shit recently, it just made sense for me to be here. Plus, you’re not ugly, so I guess that’s fine.”

“So you don’t want to date me?”

“You’re disgusting, you know that?”

“I can’t help how I was raised.”

I sighed, wondering how Lizzie dealt with so many teenagers all the time. “That woman is far stronger than me.”

“Duh,” Will said with a laugh.

“You’re lucky that I don’t beat children.”

“I’m an adult now. Thank you very much.”

“Barely.”

“Now you’re just hurting my feelings.”

“What is going on between you two?” Lizzie asked as she came forward. I resisted the urge to reach out and take her hand with mine. She wouldn’t appreciate the attention, but damn it, I just wanted to hold her. Will gave me a knowing look, and I flipped him off as casually as possible.

“I’m just making sure that Jasmine freaks out every time she sees him now.” Will grinned as if he weren’t a menace, and Lizzie rolled her eyes.

“She’s a good person, you know. We were never the town rivals the world thought we were.”

“Really?” I reached out and pushed a piece of her hair behind her ear without thinking. Lizzie’s mouth dropped, her eyes dilating, and Will whistled beneath his breath.

“I see Rune over there. I’m going to go help him with his booth.” The kid practically ran, leaving Lizzie and me alone. Well, as alone as we could be surrounded by a small town that couldn’t keep its interest off of us. They never had been able to, even when we’d been in high school. And you would think after so many years of being in the spotlight on the ice, I would be used to it, but not anymore. Not when it came to Lizzie. She was always the difference, and that should worry me. And yet with her gaze on mine, and my fingers sliding along her jaw, I didn’t feel much.

“Have you eaten?” I asked, needing to take care of her.

A soft shield covered her face at that moment, her expression going blank, and she cleared her throat. “Yes. Teagan made sure I did. And then your mother came and fed me some more. I promise, I’m being taken care of.”