Page 68 of For the Win

I’m still apprehensive and hesitant, but I want to be brave enough to go for something I want.I am brave.“Maybe we could.”

He nods.

“And just for the record, it’s not that I wasn’t interested.Okay, maybe the first couple of times I thought you were a big joker, making fun of my class.”

He closes his eyes.“Sorry.That wasn’t my intent.”He opens his eyes and holds my gaze.“The truth is, I was so attracted to you, I was trying maybe a bit too hard.”

My lips tip upward.“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I was attracted to you too.But I haven’t dated for a while, and I’m a little nervous about it.”

The corners of his eyes tighten.“Bad experience?”

I hold his gaze and nod slowly.

“Okay.I get it.”He lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses it.“We’ll just take it easy.Have fun.Okay?”

Now my heart is thumping too, and my veins are filled with an excited fizziness.I really like Harrison, and like he said...maybe we can give this dating thing a shot.

16

HARRISON

I’m probablycrazy to be doing this.I’m supposed to be focused on hockey right now, on proving that I can play well enough for the team to need me, and keep a spot on the team permanently.Proving that Coach was wrong—I haven’t been coasting.I’m supposed to be working my ass off.

Also, my dad is dying.I should be spending time with him.

Not starting a relationship with someone.

But I can’tnotdo this.More than ever, I’m convinced that Arya and I are supposed to be together.I won’t make the mistake of telling her that again, and I’ll respect her hesitation if she’s getting over a bad relationship, but I still believe it.I can do both...can’t I?Play hockey and prove myself, and prove myself to Arya?

I hope I can.

Now that I’ve had Arya in my bed, now that I’ve been inside her, now that I’ve made her come with my fingers and my tongue and my dick...there’s no going back.I’m not letting her go.

I have to let her go, though, to answer the door when our Thai food arrives.

I roll out of bed and pull on my jeans to answer the door, then unload the food onto the small kitchen table.Arya joins me, dressed in her leggings and tank top.She skipped the bra, and I approve of this, as I enjoy the sight of her nipples through the thin cotton.My dick also enjoys it.

I hand her a plate and a pair of chopsticks, and we sit and eat together.

“Delicious,” she pronounces after a few bites of the khao soy.

“This is my favorite.I could eat it every day.”

“I see why.I think I could too.”

She looks around the kitchen as we eat, taking in the bowl of fruit, the blender that I use to make protein shakes, the double wall oven, and the extensive collection of utensils hanging behind the cooktop.“Who cooks?You or your brother?”

“We both do.”I pick up a piece of beef.“He eats more junk food than I do, but he still likes to work out and eat healthy.He still plays hockey in a rec league.”

“That’s good.Is he working tonight?”

“Guess so.He doesn’t always keep my informed of his whereabouts.”

“That reminds me, I should text Taj and tell him where I am.”

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