Page 14 of Empty Net

“It meansah.”

“Not when you say it like that, it doesn’t.”

“Nothing bad. You just sound a lot like those same exact guys who swore relationships were terrible before getting into one. Now look at them—happy and in love.”

“Oh. Well, yeah, I guess I do.” She shrugs as we continue to sway. “Sorry. Ignore me. I’m in a bit of a mood tonight.”

“Your mother?” I guess.

She nods but doesn’t elaborate. Her eyes are latched on to the bowtie around my neck as she stares through me, and tightness tugs at my chest. She looks so sad, and I hate it. I hate to think the one person who is supposed to love her and treat her with respect no matter what has upset her like this, especially tonight after she’s worked so hard to put together this incredible party. The night’s been tainted by her mother.

“She keeps trying to set me up, and I don’t want any part of it,” she confesses after several quiet moments.

“Because you don’t believe in love?”

“No, because her date options suck.”

I chuckle. “Makes sense. Is that why you told her you’re seeing someone even though you aren’t?”

“How do you know I’m not?” she challenges, tipping her chin up defiantly.

I lift a shoulder. “We talk in the locker room sometimes. I overhear things from Hutch.” She looks worried by that momentarily. “All good, though. Promise.”

It’s true. All Hutch has said about Lilah is that he hopes she isn’t going down the same road he was before he met Auden, a road of loneliness and bitterness.

“I know I shouldn’t have lied to her, but she wants me to have a date for my father’s birthday party next weekend, and I panicked because…let’s just say the last guy she set me up with wasnotit.”

She sighs, and I agree. Sheshouldn’thave lied to her mother, but I can understand why she did. As much as I love my own, I wouldn’t want her setting me up on dates either.

“Whatever,” she mumbles. “I’ll find someone.”

I have no doubt she will, someone as beautiful as her, but there’s still something bothering her, something else. I don’t know what exactly, so I take a guess.

“Your mother is wrong.”

“What?” She pulls back to look up at me. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. I get the feeling she said something else, and I just thought you should know she’s wrong.”

“You don’t even know what she said.”

“No, but I know you.” I tug her closer, my hand splayed across her lower back as I drop my lips to her ear. I want these words to just be for her. “You’re kind and funny and put together this party when you have no investment in this team other than just being a really good friend to the captain’s girlfriend, all while looking absolutely fucking stunning in that dress. So, she’s wrong, Lilah. Whatever she said, she’s wrong.”

Her steps falter again, and I catch her, keeping her on pace and not missing how she doesn’t respond.

Did I fuck up? Was complimenting her taking it too far? Is she completely weirded out now that I’ve said she looks stunning? I don’t want to take it back because it’s true. The way her dress is molded to her body should be illegal. And that slit on the side? The one that revealsjustenough to make you wonder what’s underneath? It’s making me think things I definitely shouldn’t be thinking, especially when it comes to Lilah.

But her silence is killing me, and I don’t know how long passes before I blurt out, “Did I say something wrong?”

When she peeks up at me, a light laugh falls from her lips. Her eyes are no longer glassy from the booze; they’re glassy from unshed tears.

“No, you didn’t. You said everything right.”

“Oh.”

Another soft laugh as she settles further into my embrace, her head resting on my chest, her hair tickling my chin. “You’re a really good guy, Fox, you know that?” she says quietly, her breath warm against me, and for the second time since I tugged her into my arms, I blush.

I’ve heard a lot of people say I’m a nice guy. Hell, my teammates were just teasing me about it earlier this evening, but coming from Lilah at this moment? I don’t know. It’s good to hear.

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