Page 89 of Wild in Minnesota

“Different? Not for you. You’re a fuck up. You can’t change, you never will. All you’ll do is disappoint and hurt her. You’re the same guy I’ve tried to help but refused. Everything you touch, you destroy. If you care about Fern, you go tell her whatever you have to and end this now. Let her go. Got me?”

Dave turned and walked toward the showers as I stood struggling to breathe.

My eyes shot left, and there he was, walking toward me. I decided, at that moment, I was throwing all caution to the wind. If this unbelievable man wanted to see what we could have together; I was in. Yes, he had a previous encounter with the nearly naked woman I’d met in his apartment, but it was the past. His past. Bye-bye common sense, gut-feels, and the little voice in my head. Screw you all. I want Gabe.

I stood as he reached me and dropped the duffel bag from his hand to the ground.

“Hi.” It came out in a whisper while it took everything in me to not jump into his arms.

“Hey.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets while he looked at the ground.

“Gabe?”

His eyes slowly found mine, and I was struck by the sadness in them. The emerald jewels that brimmed with smiles and sexiness were filled with despair.

“What’s wrong?

He cleared his throat. “I’m glad you’re here. We need to clear the air. I didn’t expect to see you today.”

An eerie silence tightened my stomach.

Here I go. “I’ve been thinking about the other night. What you said about leaving the past in the past.” There. The words were out. Now I needed that sexy grin and his lips on mine.

But the moment stood still while his head nodded slowly. “I’ve been thinking about everything, too.”

I felt a little lost. “What I meant was that I’ve thought about everything you said, and I want to see where this can go.”

My words appeared to stun him as his mouth dropped open. “You do?” Disbelief was written all over his face.

I nodded. He stared at me for a few seconds, and then, like spinning on a dime, his entire demeanor changed. His shoulders stiffened, and his jaw clenched. “But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I’m not a guy for anything long term.”

Confusion crawled into my chest. “You said you wanted more than a day-by-day thing.” I held up my hand. “And the promise ring. Our promise.” What was happening? My temples started throbbing. His vibe was one of almost indifference, making the acid in my stomach start to simmer.

He let out a sarcastic laugh that pierced my heart. “I got wrapped up in you, but at the end of the day, I can’t do more than a day-by-day thing. I’m not capable.”

“What the hell are you saying?” No, no, no. Don’t do this. “You said you couldn’t get enough of us.” Please remember.

He inhaled sharply as if he was just about to dive in the deep end. “Clearly, you’re not picking up what I’m laying down. First of all, you don’t want me. I’m a selfish bastard who hurts everybody. Secondly, you and me were hot, and that’s what I like.”

My skin heated. “So all the shit you said?—”

“Was just shit I said.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I got wrapped up in the moment.” His words were knives sinking into me. But his eyes were sad as he inhaled and slowly released his breath. “You are one hell of a lay, Fern.”

My heart squeezed so tight I was dizzy. Before I knew what happened, my hand slapped his face with such force my palm stung. He stood, completely still, as his eyes dropped to the ground. I tore off my fake promise ring and flung it at his chest before turning on my heel and walking as fast as my feet would carry me.

I pushed my way through the mob of fans exiting the arena, hating each and every one of them just because. The icy air hit my tears that I was certain would result in tear-cicles at any second.

I roamed through the parking lot, trying not to cry, and then couldn’t remember where I parked my car. Fortunately, a woman stopped me thinking I was having a stroke or medical emergency as I yelled at the moon for betraying me. Yup, I’d been screwed over by the whole flipping universe.

The kind stranger, Melanie Parmett, helped me find my car, and agreed Gabe was the scum of the earth. I told her to use my story to warn her daughter of the horrible creatures that men are. Especially hockey players. She might as well use the damn story to help someone.

All the way home, I bitch slapped myself for believing I could handle anything with Gabe Wolkowski. We both went into the deal, both knowing it was nothing more, and I believed the lies that slid out of his mouth like the slush out of a slushy machine at the gas station.

After sneaking past my mother’s bedroom, I finally crawled into bed. My Lollipop ring tone sang out in the room that was way to freaking chipper for my mood. It was Dave.

“Hi. Good game tonight.” Shit, I’d left right after the game. Had the team gone into the locker room when Gabe came after me? Now that I thought about it, why did he come after me anyway? WTF? If he was repulsed by the thought of anything more than a fling, why in the hell did he run after me? I guess I’m just WTF-ing my way through life.

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