Page 67 of Mr. Swoony

I start to follow, but Jade grabs my arm and tugs me in the opposite direction. “Don’t follow her.”

“I can cheer her up.” I turn my body as if I’m not going to listen to Jade.

“You’re coming with me.” She tugs on my arm.

“Why?”

She raises her hand for a taxi, and one immediately pulls up along the curb. “Because you can’t be trusted. You get some boy time with Bodhi tonight.”

She opens the door of the taxi, and I take one last look at Eloise’s back continuing down the street. Her legs look so fucking good in her summer dress. I wish she would’ve picked a burlap sack to wear to say goodbye to her no-good, asshole fiancé.

“Get in,” Jade says.

“This is completely unnecessary.” I climb in, and she gets in next to me, setting the hat in the middle seat. It’s big enough to be another person.

“If I let you go home, you won’t be able to control yourself. Trust me, Conor, if you want a chance with her, give her time to sort this all out on her own.”

“But—”

“There’s no but. If you go in there and try to fix it by crossing something off her list or bringing her ice cream or some other sweet gesture, you might end up just being the rebound guy. Now, if all you want to do is have sex with her, then I’ll have the driver drop you off. Is that what you want?”

“Are you asking if I want to have sex with her?”

Her eyes bore into mine, and she inhales a deep breath. “Only. I meant do you only want to have sex with her.”

“No.” I shake my head, and my shoulders sag. “Just so you know, this is taking all the restraint I have. I’m going to listen to you, but if you’re wrong… well, I’m not gonna be happy.”

“Ask Henry. I’m never wrong.”

She laughs, and I shake my head, rolling my eyes.

The cab drives away from my building and toward Jade and Henry’s house. Probably a good idea for her to take me far away. The fixer in me wants so badly to step in and make Eloise feel better. But if this means I get an honest chance with Eloise, I’ll grin and bear this discomfort. Hell, I’m a fucking professional hockey goalie. I’ve taken worse for far less of a reward.

Twenty-Seven

Eloise

It’s been a week since my dinner with Tristan, and the sadness over the end of my relationship has slowly melted away, leaving only relief behind. Relief that I finally got up the nerve to say what I should have a long time ago. I feel as though I can finally leave that part of my life behind and discover this new version of me.

Conor has been giving me space ever since our little spat on the sidewalk, if you want to call it that. I’m kind of surprised honestly. Usually, Conor’s MO is to cheer me up. The man hates to see people upset, I think.

I walk out of my bedroom as Conor is coming in the front door, obviously returning from working out.

“Hey,” I say with a smile.

He stops and tosses a pile of mail on the table by the door. “Hey.”

“Good workout?”

“I was training. I work with a guy before the preseason to make sure my excellent skills remain intact.” He doesn’t crack a smile, just heads into the kitchen to grab a water. “What about you? What are you up to?”

Ugh, I hate this distance between us. More than I would have thought I would.

“I’m heading out to go do some random acts of kindness.”

He peeks his head out of the fridge. “Include dinner, and I’m game.” When he grins at me, my shoulders relax a bit.

“I don’t remember inviting you.” I turn and smile to myself as I grab my purse from the chair.

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