Page 31 of The Captain

But at the same time, I was pushing myself to make her uncomfortable. I wanted to hang out with her outside of tutoring, outside of her being dragged to my games.

“Come on, we’ll watch a movie or something.”

“I don’t really want to watch a movie,” she said, her eyes darting to her room door and back.

“Okay, go grab one of your books and come read while I watch a movie then.”

“Really?” she asked. “You’d be fine with me reading while you watch a movie?”

I shrugged, trying my best to stay as nonchalant as possible. “I’m not really into reading, otherwise, I would do that with you.”

She sighed and grabbed her phone out of her back pocket. Biting her lip, she finally let her shoulders drop and said, “Fine. But I’m changing into something more comfortable.”

I raise a hand. “Fine by me.”

She disappeared into her room, and I found the TV remote, flipping it on and searching half-heartedly for something good to watch. My mind, however, was on the woman in the next room over, wondering what was “comfortable.” Was it a silk nightie? Was it lingerie? Was it boxers and an oversized T-shirt?

Moments later, my question was answered when she entered wearing her normal hoodie, this one with some words about being in a book on it, and some black leggings with sock-covered feet. Her hair, which had been up in a messy bun all evening, was now down around her shoulders, curled and kinked in some areas.

I was still watching her as she flopped onto the couch, tucked her feet underneath her, and started reading.

She was the most gorgeous fucking woman I’d ever seen.

There was something so simple about her beauty—something I knew I should probably keep to myself—about the way she presented and held herself. She wasn’t someone who overdid makeup, she kept it low key, probably trying not to draw too much attention to herself.

It didn’t take much for my attention to be drawn toward her, though. The first time I saw her, I was eighteen years old and instantly infatuated with her. I couldn’t help it then, and I still couldn’t help it in that moment, watching her find her place and instantly surge into her book.

She didn’t even look at me, and I grinned when I realized she was comfortable enough with me to just dive into whatever she would normally do. She didn’t try to make me comfortable, didn’t offer me a drink or snack or anything else. She just let me sit here and wait for my sister while she did her own thing.

And I don’t know if I realized it then, but this would become one of many favorite memories of mine.

ELEVEN

Lincoln

Present

The hockey house was silent.

That was an eerie fucking feeling to wake up to, but not a sound was being made. Last night, my teammates had thrown a raging party downstairs. People were yelling, laughing, drinking, and playing drinking games, some were even playing video games. It was a mess.

I sat in my room and put together Cassie’s basket, feeling like an absolute fool while I did it too.

I didn’t know if it would spark any momentum with her, I wasn’t even sure I should be doing it. But when I saw my chance to get the special edition book for her, I had to do it.

The woman was so obsessed with books that the old place she used to share with my sister was covered in them. Now I knew they sat in boxes in her mom’s garage.

She deserved to have her very own library full of books, and I’d let myself imagine how that would look and how I would make that happen for her.

Before I’d lost the privilege of doing things like that for her.

Rolling over, I scratch at my chest before gripping my phone in my hand. I was due to be at work in an hour and needed to get up, but I was lacking the motivation.

That is, until I look at my screen and see a text from Cassie.

Cassie: I’m not sure what to say other than thank you. This means a lot to me.

Fuck, I can’t even breathe. My heart jackhammers in my chest, and I sit up all the way, throwing my legs over the side of my bed and resting my elbows on my knees. I grip the phone in my hand, trying to think of what to say.

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