Page 90 of Promise Me

For once, she doesn’t have anything to say.

She bites her lips and nods.

And then I proceed to take the coldest fucking shower of my life.

I might not know a lot of things, but one thing is for sure; I have a choice to make.

End this now or chance losing the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

SADIE

I should have brought a heavier coat.

A shiver runs up my spine as I rub my hands together.

I’ve never been a big sports kind of girl. Growing up, I thought I wanted to be. It was the typical scenario where, maybe if I knew football, I could talk stats with our school quarterback, and then he'd notice me. Or maybe if I knew baseball, the pitcher on our town’s team would ask me out. Or even if I could dribble a basketball between my legs in one smooth motion, the point guard would take me to prom.

I learned just enough to know one position on each team. Heck, at the time, it was the position that mattered to me because of who was playing it.

Still, as I hear skates glide on the ice right now and sticks fighting for the puck, hockey was the one sport I intentionally took zero interest in. The obvious reason I didn’t care about it is currently standing in front of a team of boys, and one by one, they’re showing him the move he just taught them. I will be honest; I have no idea what it’s called. Even after all the times I watched his games without anyone knowing, I didn’t really pickup on the terminology. I was too dazed by the way he moved and how the fans loved him to learn anything else.

Should I want to know more? Maybe a little for Hudson’s sake, but honestly, I love that we have found other things to bond over. I don’t feel the need to impress him. I feel more myself with him than anyone else, and just thinking about it makes my heart beat a little faster.

No, what makes my heart race is thinking of last night.

The way he kissed me.

The way he touched me.

Hell, the way helickedme.

I know starting something between us is complicated, and I’m trying to let him sort it out on his own by not bringing it up, but god, the memory of how he made me feel is heavy, and I want more of that with him.

Only him.

Maybe I should give him space, but I don’t want miscommunication to be our downfall. Tonight, I’m telling him that I’m all in.

I blow out a breath into my hands.

Gloves. I will bring gloves next time.

Of course, there is a door that would lead me to warmth and concessions if I wanted, but it’s not the same out there.

I said I wasn't into sports or hockey, but I’m aware enough to know that watching this team would not have the same effect if I weren’t in this section where the action is happening.

Coach Beacher blows his whistle, and quickly, the boys all get into some kind of formation. Hudson grabs the helmet the coach offers him and then glides to his own spot.

He’s skating.

Until this moment, they have just been running drills, but it seems they’re putting the things they’ve been learning into action, and Hudson is going to do it with them.

I move to the edge of my seat as if that is going to change my view. Aside from me and a few other parents, there isn’t anyone here. I’m sitting in the first row.

The whistle blows again, and all the players move into motion, but my eyes remain glued to one in particular. The one who, until today, hasn’t been on the ice in three years.

My eyes start to blur, so I look up for a brief moment and blink until the tears vanish.

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