Page 18 of Forever After All

I poke my head into the living space at the end of the hall, which opens into a large living room on the left and open-plan kitchen-diner on the right. The entire back wall of the apartment—if you can call it that—is made up entirely of windows that have amazing views of Pine Harbour and the neighbouring town. The kitchen has dark wood cabinets with black countertops and copper lighting hanging over the island in the centre. Appliances stretch along the side wall.Who needs that many appliances?There’s a heavy wooden dining table and bench in the corner and old French art posters on the wall.

In contrast, the living room is light. Light brown walls stretch the length of the room with a large tan leather couch centred against it. Green and tan accessories decorate the arms of the couch, and some side tables are covered with books, dried flowers, and an old record player. There is a huge multi-coloured rug in the centre of the floor, covering most of the hardwood, giving the room a cosy feel. This place is nice. Real nice.

As I’m looking out of the window watching the sun setting over the water, Alice brushes past me, and it catches me off guard. I was too busy admiring the view to hear her coming out of, what I assume is, her room.

"I told you to make yourself at home. Go grab a seat and I'll put some coffee on."

But I don't move from the windows. I like to people watch, and this is a great people-watching view.

"You did. Sorry, I was too busy sussing the place out. What a great fucking view. This apartment is awesome." Propping myself against the pane of glass, I continue observing the world. It must be great to have such an open space, while having so much privacy being this high up.

With two mugs of coffee in hand, Alice props herself next to me and hands me one of the mugs. Together we watch the sun disappear as evening descends upon us. I glance to my side to take her in again, and she's completed her look with some black high-tops. She smells sweet, like caramel, and her lips are painted the perfect shade of red.

"I forget how beautiful this view is sometimes. You don't appreciate it as much when you get to see it every day."

"Hmm." That’s the only noise I am capable of making as I imagine kissing the lipstick right back off her mouth again.

"You look so fucking good."

Think it. Don't say it, you fucking clown.

"Oh, thanks," she replies, looking a little embarrassed. "You don't look too bad yourself, mister." Alice gently nudges me in the side and moves a little closer to me than I'm currentlycomfortable with. I feel her body heat against me, and I'm about three nanoseconds away from my dick telling on me. Trust me, there is nothing else I like more than having Alice so physically close to me that I can feel how warm her skin is. But she has made itquiteclear that we are just friends, so I don't want to ruin it. She's really cool and I want her in my life however I can have her, even if that is just as friends.

Yeah, she's really fucking sexy too.

Shut up, brain.

"We should head out. We don't want to be late." I cut through my own personal torture to diffuse the sexual tension that only exists for me.

"I'm actually really excited for my first hockey game!" She beams, and little dimples form on her cheeks.

"Wait. You've never been to a game? Ever?"

"No, I haven't." She grimaces at me in jest. "Don't hate me for it, I couldn't handle that. You can teach me everything I need to know."

I put on my best dad voice and reply. "You've not only let yourself down, but you've let me down too. I'm not mad, Alice, But Iamdisappointed." A low rumble of a laugh follows.

"Wow. That was cold." She shivers mockingly and walks down the hall towards the apartment door, grabbing a beanie hat from the back of a chair and pulling it down over her curls.

Not looking at Alice's ass as it sways tests every ounce of my willpower.

Chapter 10

Alice

Saltern City is forty-five minutes outside of Pine Harbour, it’s the smallest city in the US with an NHL team. Population of 480,000. Home to the Saltern Glass, which is Carter's old team. Saltern City was voted the best small city to live in the entire southeast. It has a low crime rate, great education centres, employment opportunities, and green housing.

All facts I have googled in the car on the way to the game. It’s embarrassing to say, but in the entire time I’ve lived here, I have never been to Saltern City.

Walking through the arena, music blares through the speakers as the teams are warming up on the ice. I stop to look through the plexiglass on the way to our seats and find myself staring at a man dressed in purple, orange, and white who looks like he is making sweet, sweet love to the ice. I've never wanted to be a sheet of ice before, but here we are.

Wow, these men are flexible.

And hot.

I feel a hand grab me by the elbow, and I look up to see Carter ushering me through the crowd.

Dipping his head down to whisper in my ear, he says, "You'll get a better view of that from our seats. Alice, close your mouth, you're drooling." His deep voice vibrates from my ear down to the base of my neck, and it makes me shiver a little. He huffs at me playfully, and I feel my chest redden from getting caught eyeballing a player.

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