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“Well, I guess so. But only because your abs make up for it.”
He quirks a brow. “You’ve never seen my abs.”
Tapping my index finger on my temple, I say, “Oh, but I have a very over-active imagination.”
Mitch’s head drops back and he laughs. I soak up the sound, relish in it, saving it in my internal ‘Mitch’s laugh’ bank.
We watch the rest of the movie in comfortable silence, holding hands and enjoying the nearness… even though the armrest won’t budge. I tried three more times.
* * *
Mitch dropped me back off at my place just in time so I could go get Noah from his friend’s house. Our date was much too short for my liking, but at least I get to see him again tonight at Noah’s game.
Wow, I think I’m officially a Mitch addict.
Noah rests in his room for his game tonight while I catch up on chores around the house. We make it to the rink and he heads straight to the locker room to suit up.
When I walk inside the arena, I’m greeted instantly by a sour-faced Steph.
“Really, Andie?” She asks me abruptly, getting way too close to my face.
“Really what?” I ask, completely confused.
She huffs and points to the bleachers. My heart nearly leaps out of my chest when I see not only Mitch, but Remy, Colby, Bruce, West and Mel. Mel waves at me with a big, friendly smile that warms my heart and I wave back enthusiastically. I completely forget Steph is in front of me until she clears her throat indignantly.
“I’m sorry, what’s the problem?”
She purses her lips so tightly, it almost looks like she’s sucking on an imaginary pacifier. I kind of wish she was, because that would keep her mouth shut. When I first met Steph, I thought she was a little annoying, but I never imagined she was a mean girl.
“It’s really petty of you to not only sleep with the coach, but also befriend the team, just to get back at Declan for ‘teasing’ Noah.” She uses air quotes with her gloved hands when she says teasing.
“My relationship with Mitch isn’t anybody’s business, Steph. And honestly, I have way bigger things to worry about than getting revenge on a ten-year-old boy.” I work hard to keep my face neutral and be the bigger person here. Because the idea of me plotting all of this is absolutely laughable.
“He’s twelve!” She defends. “And I think you’re jealous that he’s more talented than your brother. So you’re trying to keep Noah in the limelight.”
My facade breaks and I release a breathy laugh. “Steph, do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?”
“All I know, is you’re acting like a hussy.” She spits the last word in a venomous tone.
I gasp, horrified by how awful she is. Mitch is beside me, towering over both of us so quickly, I didn’t even see him coming. He places his big body between both of us like a wall of protection.
I can’t see his face, but he very slowly, and very sternly says, “Do not speak to Andie that way.”
Tori walks through the doors to the rink and notices the altercation. She rushes over toward us. “Guys, what’s going on?”
“Your friend called my girlfriend a hussy,” Mitch says, crossing his arms.
I step out from behind him so I can see what’s happening. Tori’s eyes widen and she whips her head to stare at Steph. “What? Steph…”
She pouts. “I said what I said. And I was standing up for Declan!”
Tori puts an arm around Steph’s shoulders, and drags her away silently.
“Girlfriend?” I ask, my heart pounding in my ears. That’s pretty much the only word I heard during this super weird altercation.
Mitch’s head turns in my direction, his gaze meeting mine. He looks serious, contemplative. I can’t read his expression or what he’s thinking. His eyes shift down to the floor, his hand coming up to scratch the back of his head. “Uh, yeah. Sorry about that. It just came out.”
“That’s okay.” I try not to let my face fall and place my hand in his. I want to ask what he means by it just came out. Did it just come out because he was defending me and it didn’t mean anything, or did it just come out because he really thinks of me as his?
