Page 184 of Faking the Goal

Kentaro shakes his head, a quiet chuckle escaping him. "Trouble."

I grin and turn another page.

Eventually, the teasing gives way to a comfortable silence. I sip my wine while he relaxes across from me, and for a while, the only sounds filling the room are the soft Christmas music playing in the background and the occasional turn of a page.

But my mind keeps drifting back to what he said earlier.

"Ken-chan?"

His eyes lift to mine.

"Thank you. For what you said earlier."

Something in his expression softens. "I meant it."

"I know."

I hold his gaze, and for once, there's no instinct to hide behind a joke or look away. Because I do know. I think that's what finally makes the words I've been holding onto feel easier to say.

"And for what it's worth..." A small smile touches my lips. "I forgive you."

His head snaps up, surprise breaking clean through his usual composure. His eyes widen slightly, like he isn't entirely sure he heard me correctly.

"Re-really?"

The tiny stumble almost makes me laugh. Kentaro rarely stumbles over anything, and apparently all it takes to short-circuit the great Grumpy Goalie is three words.

I nod, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face. "Really."

He keeps staring at me like he's waiting for the catch.

I roll my eyes, though there's no bite behind it. "God, don't make me say it twice. Your speech earlier already got to me enough."

"My speech?"

"Yes, your speech." I point at him. "All that sweet, sincere, emotionally mature stuff you pulled out of nowhere." My smile softens. "It was annoyingly genuine."

"Annoyingly?"

"Very. Completely ruined your whole emotionally constipated reputation."

He huffs out a laugh, but I can see the relief beginning to settle into his face.

I look down at my hands for a moment before continuing. "But that's not why I'm forgiving you."

The humor leaves his expression.

"I'm forgiving you because I believe you're sorry." I meet his eyes again. "Not just because you've said it. You've shown me."

He goes very still.

"You were an asshole to me when we met."

"I know."

"A judgmental asshole."

"I know."