Page 44 of Rush the Edge

If she asked me to fuck her right now, I would. But she won’t. She’s much too stubborn for that.

“This is what you do to me by simplyexisting. I don’t want you at the rink anymore.”

I drop her hands and back away quickly. I keep my expression blank in an attempt to hide just how much touching her tortured me. I was trying to prove a point, but I think I only made things worse for myself.

Daisy exhales like she was holding her breath the entire time. The room grows small, and it’s so tight neither of us can move. Instead, we stare at each other like we’re at a crossroads.

Stay on track, Kane.

Snapping myself out of the trance I’m in, I turn and grab her shirt from the pile of clothes and toss it to her. The cotton hits directly on her chest, thankfully hiding her breasts.

“Get dressed. If you’re not at my car in ten minutes, call an Uber.”

And with that, I fling the door open and stalk down the hall, praying that she finds herself a new job so I can at least play hockey without her playing her own game inside my head.

Seventeen

DAISY

A small Hondapulls up at the curb, and I check the license plate before opening the door.

As soon as I fling it open, I freeze.

Confusion hits me as I stare at a sleeping baby tucked safely inside a carseat.

“Oh, sorry. Do you mind sitting up front?” I bend down and meet the face of the Uber driver who looks to be my age.

I quietly shut the door, hopeful not to disrupt the little girl’s sleep, and slip into the front seat.

“Reese?” I say my driver’s name, double-checking that she’s the right Uber.

“Yeah.” She smiles shyly before flicking her blinker on to pull out into traffic. “Sorry about…the baby. My sitter fell through, and I can’t really afford not to work.” She glances in the rearview mirror. “Thankfully, she sleeps well in the car. She won’t scream or anything.”

“Even if she was screaming, I’d much rather catch a ride with you instead of Kane.” I sigh angrily. “He is…ugh…I don’t even know!” I cross my arms and fume in the front seat. “I knew he was just trying to get in my head, and I can’t believe I let him.”

As soon as I turn toward Reese, I slap my hand over my mouth.

Kane has me so twisted that I forgot I’m in a car with a random person—someone who clearly isn’t a licensed therapist if she’s trying to make extra money by Ubering late at night with a baby.

“I’m so sorry,” I mutter quietly through a laugh. “Ignore me.”

Reese smashes her lips together, clearly trying to hide her amusement. “It’s okay. I’ve been there and done that...” She glances in the rearview mirror again. “Gained a little something from it too.”

I peek behind me at who I assume is her daughter. She’s quite honestly the cutest thing I have ever seen with her footie pajamas and purple binky half hanging out of her mouth.

“She’s adorable,” I whisper.

The lights of the dash show off her mom’s softening gaze. “Thanks. She forced me to grow up a little quicker than most, but she’s worth the late nights and odd jobs to make ends meet.” Her shoulders drop a smidge, and there’s a sadness in her tone.

“Are you from here?” I ask, wanting to get her mind off the sad topic.

Does she have family to help her? I get the hunch that the baby’s dad isn’t in the picture, but I’d like to think that if I were to get pregnant, my family would help me in any way they could.

Though, I know not everyone's family is good.

Take Kane’s family, for example—a brother who is selfish beyond belief and a mom who holds a grudge.

She shakes her head. “Are you?”

---