Page 66 of Not the Puck Bunny

“It was delivered to the reception desk near the front door,” Xander finally said. “I said I was coming this way anyway and I'd bring it up for you.”

“You didn't buy it for me,” I stated.

“Of course not.” He looked as though that was the most ridiculous idea he ever heard. “Why would I waste money on something like that?”

“I have no idea,” I said. “It didn't seem like something you'd do.”

“Of course not,” he said again, like I'd just paid him a compliment. “Now?—"

“I have to thank you,” I interrupted. “The time we had together was…interesting. We had some good times in the early days. But you packing up and leaving was a wake-up call. It was a reminder that I should be out living my best life. That isn't with you. It never was and never will be. I honestly wish you happiness. Whatever that means to you.”

“Andi.” He put out a hand to me, but must have seen the expression on my face. He realized I was not only serious, but done. Done with him and his judgment. Done with any plans he thought we should have. Done standing here wasting time talking to him.

He lowered his hand. “If you ever change your mind…"

“I won't. But if you need a friend, maybe we can be that some day.” Spontaneously, I stepped forward and gave him a quick hug.

Over his shoulder, I saw Cam step into the doorway. He saw me standing with my arms around Xander, and turned and walked away.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Cam

I knewwhat I wanted to say to her. I'd rehearsed the words in my head over and over. I had everything nailed down tighter than a play in the last half of a play-off game. I was going to tell her everything that went through my mind in the last twenty-four hours.

But then, stepping into the doorway and seeing her with him, everything went right out of my head. I felt as though someone slapped the puck so hard it flew past all the seats and smashed through the wall of the arena.

I don't know, maybe it ended up in the ocean, before sinking under the waves. Whatever, it was not in my brain anymore.

The only thing in there now was her andXander. Yeah, I'd looked him up after she mentioned him the other day. He was exactly the kind of man a woman like her would go for. The kind she'd be expected to marry and have children with. Solid, reliable, rich. Boring as fuck.

I hurried towards the elevator. I pressed the down button before deciding to take the stairs instead. I didn't want to linger here any longer than necessary.

I'd seen her beautiful blue eyes looking at me over that other guy's shoulder. She might decide to come after me. If she did, I needed to be somewhere else right now.

If I was stuck in an elevator with her, I'd change my mind. I'd never go through with what was now running through my brain. I'd pin her to the elevator wall, slide my hands up her skirt and make her come so hard she forgot her name.

“Cam!” I heard her call out before the door closed behind me.

I wanted to glance back, but I kept trotting down the stairs, barely paying attention to where I was going.

I pushed out at the bottom and headed to the street. I hurried through the crowds and over to thepromenade on the opposite side of the road from the arena.

There, I sat down on the sand and waited.

It didn't take her long, and she was puffing lightly, when she sat down beside me.

“It's not what you thought,” she said.

“What did I think?” I looked over at her. She was so fucking gorgeous it hurt. Her cheeks were pink and her curls were particularly unruly. She was definitely wrong when she said nothing was cuter than a basket of kittens. She was.

She frowned, confused at the expression on my face. Or maybe I had food on my cheek. No, it was definitely the expression.

“I thought maybe you thought I got back together with him,” she said slowly. “But you don't think that, do you?”

“Fuck no,” I said. “I know how we feel about each other. I figured you needed some space to make it clear that he's not a part of your life any more.”

She let out a soft breath and her eyes shone. “I called your name.”

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