Page 113 of Hard to Judge

It’s nearing the end of the second period. Rangers lead the Blackhawks by one. They snagged that goal in the first minute of the first quarter.

It’s not enough for Hailey. Not nearly.

After the first, when the teams hit the locker rooms, she orchestrated the Rangers section in a cheer I’ve never sung despite having season tickets for the past five years. For her, though, I yell it from the top of my lungs. Arlo does too.

We’re a couple of beers in, and I’m feeling really damn good.

“One more round?” Arlo hollers over the roar of the crowd. He’s sitting on the aisle with Hailey smooshed between us whenever she actually sits. Which isn’t often.

“Sure. I can go,” I offer.

“I’ve got it.” He waves me off. “Make sure she doesn’t storm the ice.”

“I’ll try.” I laugh, imagining our little siren sunshine scaling the plexiglass, enraged at a bad call.

“Do you want anything?” Arlo hollers since Hailey obviously missed the first time he asked.

She grabs his jersey, eyes intent on the game. “Them to stop the puck!” She jerks him around. “Stop! The! Puck!”

The greater crowd roars as the Rangers goalie misses the shot by a fraction of an inch, allowing the puck through and the cherry to twirl.

“No!” Hailey screams, releasing Arlo and shaking her fist in the air.

“Bring her back something sweet,” I suggest.

He nods and slips away before she can rant at him.

One of the teams calls time-out, and Hailey collapses into the seat. Her cheeks are flushed. Her hair is wild. She looks thoroughly fucked and fucking gorgeous. She’s full of life and love…

She hasn’t shown me the tattoo yet, which is starting to kill me slowly. She says I’m not ready to see it, but I am.

I lean onto the armrest between us and pull her face to me.

Her lower lip pokes all the way out, and her brows furrow.

“You weren’t kidding about loving hockey.”

“I kinda hate it right now,” she huffs.

My laugh is thick and loud, and then I’m smashing my mouth to hers.

She opens for me immediately, teasing the tip of my tongue with hers. Somewhere behind us, a guy hoots. It feels good to kiss her in the open. We haven’t done it back home. I don’t exactly know why. None of us have said this…whatever it is…is a secret.

I pull back and find her wide gaze on me.

“I love you, Hailey.”

Her mouth falls open.

“Please, don’t feel like you have to reciprocate or say anything at all. I just…” I’m rambling. “You’re amazing. For Arlo, but for me too. To me, you’re the light and bright. At the sametime, you allow me to free my dark side. It’s like we balance each other. I know this isn’t a permanent thing, but…”

I feel like I just got kicked in the chest, saying those last words out loud. They’ve been in my head for a long time, but saying them makes them real.

“It doesn’t diminish how I feel about you. Not at all. I just?—”

“Say it again,” Hailey whispers. I don’t hear it as much as read it on her lips.

“Which part?” I laugh uncomfortably.

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