Page 87 of Empty Net

It’s all fake, Lilah. Don’t get used to it.

“It was good,” I tell him, ignoring the thoughts trying to push through my mind. “Auden and I got pedicures.”

“That sounds nice. Been a while since I’ve had one.”

My brows rise. “Youget pedicures?”

“Yeah. Why does that surprise you?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think I’ve ever dated a man who admitted to that,” I say as he shifts around in the bed, trying to get comfortable.

There’s a slight pause, and it takes me a moment to realize what’s caused it.

I don’t think I’ve ever dated a man who admitted to that.

Shit. It makes it sound like what we’re doing is real. I don’t know why I phrased it that way. Perhaps just a slip of the tongue or maybe something more. Either way, Fox continues, acting as if nothing happened, and I’m surprised at the relief that floods me.

“Not manly enough of me?”

“No, no.” I shake my head. “If anything, I like that you admit it. Most guys wouldn’t. They’d just sneak in and out of the shop, then scoff when other men bring it up.”

“I used to go with my mom.”

“You used to get pedicures with your mom?”

“Stop looking at me like that.” I’m rewarded with another one of those rare scowls of his, and just like before, I enjoy it far too much.

“Like what?”

“Like that’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard.”

“Well, thatisthe sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Even sweeter than me trying to save the turtles?”

I look at my nightstand where three figurines sit, the ones I’ve collected for him in his absence. I can’t believe how excited I am to give them to him.

“Eh, I don’t know about that,” I say, looking back into the camera.

His signature grin comes back. He flicks his chin toward me. “Did I wake you?”

I look down at my flannel pajamas dotted with white circles on a pink background. “No. I wasn’t asleep yet.” It’s not technically a lie. “Too wound up over that bad call to sleep.”

He laughs. “Careful, you’re starting to sound like an actual hockey fan.”

I think Iaman actual hockey fan now, and it has everything to do with the brown eyes grinning at me all the way from Missouri.

“Since you played tonight, you won’t be playing tomorrow, right?”

“Nah. It’s Dash’s net tomorrow night. But that’s good. He has a better record against St. Louis than I do.”

“Do you keep track of all that stuff?”

“Eh, sometimes. Usually, I try to ignore all the stats and shit like that, but sometimes it comes in handy. Some teams just have a goalie figured out, you know? Don’t want to hop in the net if that’s the case and give up those two points.”

“You guys are number two now, you know.”

“Heard some rumblings.”

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