Page 115 of Secrets on Ice

“Me! You could have had anyone. You were a hockey star.”

“Yeah, but I was in love with my best friend’s sister.”

I smile, but then it quickly fades as memories swirl through my mind and silence falls between us. “Shit, I was the toxic one to you.”

“What?”

I nod as I remember all the things I did to Sully. “After we slept together, the next week, I got back with Kevin. Every single time I ran to you when Kevin fucked me over, you were there for me, and every single time I went back to him. I was an idiot.”

“We were kids, Em.”

“I know, but still …” I sigh. “That last time when you shared your feelings with me, and Cass and Trevor walked in, and you asked me to choose you. And I didn’t.”

“That stung, I’m not going to lie. But then I met puck bunnies, and here we are.” He grins.

I playfully elbow him. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. We were young, working shit out,” he says.

“Yeah, but I should have been honest back then. Maybe it would have saved me a hell of a lot of heartache, because I would have told you I felt the same if Cass and Trevor hadn’t walked in.”

Sully stares at me, surprised.

“But then I got scared, and fucking Trevor called Kevin and told him he caught us making out, and then Kevin came back, promising the world.”

“Guess it just wasn’t our time,” he says.

He’s probably right. “I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t fuck you up.”

“What? Because breaking my heart made me build a wall around it because I never wanted to get hurt like that again,” he teases.

I know he’s joking, but I also don’t think he is. I look up into those blue eyes and burst into tears.

“Hey, don’t cry. I was joking.” He tries to reassure me, pulling me into his side.

“But you weren’t because I know I hurt you and I’m hurting you again. I’m no good for you, Connor.”

“Hey now,” he says, wiping the tears from my cheeks. “You’re not hurting me, I’m a big boy,” he says, cupping my face. “I still like you, Ember, more than I want to admit.” Oh. “But it’s okay. I’ll wait.”

“What?”

“I’ve decided I’m going to wait. I’m giving you a year from today. If you haven’t met anyone by then, you’re mine.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I’m giving you one year to be single. I don’t care how many people you date. I’ll be jealous as hell, but you need this time to heal because this time next year, I want you to give me a chance.”

I’m stunned.

“Are you okay with that?”

“Yes,” I tell him.

This makes him smile. “Good girl.” He leans forward and kisses me ever so slowly. “I’ve waited nearly twenty years to call you mine, I can wait a little while longer.”

30

EMBER