Page 44 of Facing the Line

“But, like, casual. Fun. No one gets hurt. Because we’re just friends who hang out and kiss sometimes.”

He raises a brow and comes out of his trance. “In that case…”

Cupping his hand around my jaw, he brings his lips to mine. Fireworks shoot off in my belly and shivers race along my spine. Heat pools between my legs as he slips his tongue into my mouth to twine around mine. I fist my hands in his hair and tug him closer. I want more, faster, deeper. I want everything.

When he pulls away, panting, I’m dazed and disoriented. Why did he stop?

I’ve kissed other people since Jonas last spring. I don’t know how many, but I’m not a nun. I convinced myself that those were good kisses. But none of them have even come close to how I feel when I’m with him.

“Have a great day, Hadley.” He smirks at me, and there’s no way I will have anything besides this kiss on repeat in my brain for the foreseeable future.

Chapter

Twenty

JONAS

Hunter: Hey man, how’s your new roommate?

Jonas: Way less grumpy in the mornings than you.

Jonas: Actually, way less grumpy all the time.

Jonas: Seriously, she’s great. Not too messy and doesn’t mind putting up with Evan. How’s Chicago?

Hunter: It’s awesome. I love living with Natalie and seeing her all the time. Conditioning is kicking my ass, though. The pros are a whole new level.

Hunter: But Coach prepared us well. And I still can’t believe I get paid to play hockey. I’m literally living my dream.

Covered in a fine sheen of sweat, I let myself into my apartment and stop short in the entryway. Hadley reclines in a pillow nest on the floor, staring at her laptop screen.

When Hunter moved out, he took his sofa and entertainment center with him. Evan and I haven’t gotten around to buying anything else…hence Hadley’s set up on the living room carpet. It’s pretty pathetic but we’ll figure something out soon.

We need to, because I’m not sure I can handle seeing Hadley on the floor in a pile of blankets. Her shorts showcase her long legs and her hair, piled in a messy knot on top of her head, makes me think about other activities that would muss her up.

Like a hot and heavy make out session. My hands, skimming over her bare arms, cupping the nape of her neck. Pressing her body close to mine, those incredible legs wrapping around my waist. My lips, dropping kisses along her jaw until I finally land on her mouth.

We haven’t spoken since she propositioned me this morning. She broke my brain, and words failed me. I got so flustered I ran out on her. I remember kissing her, though. When I’m old and my memories fail me, I’ll still remember that kiss.

But we definitely need to talk.

“Hey, Jonas. How was your day?” She asks, staring at me with those clear blue eyes that make my knees weak.

“It was good.” After a twelve-hour shift at the hospital, I hit the gym. I’m exhausted, both mentally and physically, but I can’t slack off now. I can’t let the guys down again. Plus, I should study. At some point, I need to choose if I’m finishing the nursing program or throwing my hat in the pro hockey ring. Butuntil I make up my mind, I need to use all my time off in the summer to prepare for both paths.

Trying to shake off the anxiety that curls in my belly every time I think about the future, I stalk over to her pillow pile and flop down beside her. “Can we talk?”

“Sure, what’s up?” Hadley closes her laptop and shifts, looking at me.

“Well, this morning…” I scratch my head. “I think I blacked out and then kissed you and ran away.”

“That might be accurate.” She laughs, a delighted tinkling sound, but then her face falls. “Are you not okay with everything?”

That’s the question, isn’t it? “I just wanted to be sure. Because Hunter…”

“He doesn’t live here. He’s not your teammate anymore. And he doesn’t weigh in on my relationship decisions.” Her voice is laced with steel, and she sits up ramrod straight.

“I totally respect all of that. But even still, he’d be pissed.” Whether he has any right to or not, Hunter wouldn’t like the idea of Hadley having a fling.

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