Page 38 of Saving You

She gives me a big toothy grin, and I look up and see Bailey standing behind her. I stand to my full height and open my arms.

“Bails, you gonna hug me too?”

A blush colours her cheeks as she walks into my arms.

I wrap my arms around her tightly and lean down, to whisper in her ear. “Next time, I’m going to kiss you hello and I don’t care who sees it. We’re doing this, Bailey. You need to let me know if you don’t want it.”

She nods, and I pull back and look into her eyes. “Yes, you want this or yes, you’re letting me know you don’t?” I ask.

“Yes, I want this,” she says.

I’m about to kiss her when Charlie calls, “Aunty Liv.” I watch Charlie run towards Liv, who is standing with a group of people watching us. Bailey ducks her head and tucks a piece of stray hair behind her ear. I put a couple of fingers under her chin and lift her head.

“Are you ashamed, Bailey?” I whisper.

Her face fills with shock. “No, of course not. Why would I be ashamed of you?”

“Just checking,” I say before leaning down and dusting my lips over hers. “Because I really wanted to do that.”

There’s a smile on both of our lips as we pull apart. I reach down and grab my bag and the Build-a-Bear box.

“I’ll see you after, right? You’ll stick around with Liv until I’m done?”

“Yeah, we’ll stick around.”

She smiles at me, and I turn around and face Charlie, who is with the group that’s been watching us, but it looks like Olivia has kept her entertained with her back to us this entire time.

“Little Bear,” I call, and she turns around. “How about another hug before I go change?”

She smiles and runs at me, wrapping her arms around my legs.

“I’ll see you after, okay?”

She nods and runs back to join Liv. With one last smile to Bailey, I push open the door to the dressing room and head to my usual spot, dropping my gear.

I place the Build-a-Bear box on the top shelf of my dressing area and begin to check my sticks. Deciding to re-tape one of them, I rip the tape off and wrap it in a ball, throwing it in the garbage can in the centre of the room. Just as I finish applying tape to the bottom of my blade and begin to wrap it, a group of people stop in front of me. I look up and am met with a grinning Grayson, a smirking Matt, and a quizzical Josh.

“So, one beer last night and now you’re kissing her for the world to see,” Grayson remarks, and I go back to taping my stick.

“What’s it to you?”

“Well, you see, I’m just curious how ‘Mr. I Won’t Ever Get Serious’”—he uses his fingers to make air quotes—“decides after one beer with me that he’s now going to start kissing the single mom in public?”

I grunt.

“That’s all you’re going to give us? A grunt,” Matt pushes.

“Seems like Caleb here might need a little incentive. Is it serious man, or should we get her number from Liv? Because I heard Luke saying how hot he found her.”

My head shoots up, and I glare daggers at him. “Don’t. You. Fucking. Dare.” I emphasize each word as I grit my teeth. “You cross that line and I will help Hannah use every legal means possible to fuck with you.”

Matt just laughs. “Man, you really got under his skin if he’s threatening you with Hannah.” He claps Grayson on the shoulder.

“You’re serious about her,” Josh finally says.

I sigh. I’ve never been one to talk about my emotions, but it seems like it may be the only way to get them to back off a little. I disregard my stick and lean back against the wall.

“I tried to stay away. I tried to put space between us, but she just pulls me in. They both do. I can’t even tell you what it is that pulls me in.”

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