Page 108 of Guarded Love

Wilder tosses a throw pillow at me when I don't explain my reasoning. "That's it? That's your analysis?"

"Deep stuff," Asher adds, smirking. "Really insightful commentary there, Dalton."

I catch the pillow and set it aside, forcing myself to pay attention to the conversation going on around me. Knox has moved on from complaining about the refs to arguing with Levi about defensive positioning, while Asher and Wilder debate whether the current Titans roster could beat last year's team.

"You're all wrong," I say, just to contribute something. "The problem isn't the power play or the defense. It's?—"

The front door opens.

My words die in my throat as voices carry from the entryway. I see our guests for the evening file in one by one.

Selene walks in first, laughing at something over her shoulder. Isla, Hailey, and Jade follow behind her, chatting about who knows what.

And then my jaw almost drops when I see the woman I’m obsessed with: Willow.

She steps through the doorway like she owns the place, scanning the room with those sharp green eyes. When her gaze finds mine, there's the briefest flicker of acknowledgement before she looks away.

"Ladies!" Wilder calls out and he hops out of his seat. "Perfect timing. We were just proving that Levi has no idea how hockey actually works."

"I heard that," Levi mutters, but he's grinning.

I watch Willow shrug out of her coat. She's wearing dark jeans and a cream sweater that makes her skin look even brighter under our shitty lighting. She hangs her coat on the back of a chair before finding a seat on the other side of the room.

Away from me.

My stomach drops like I've just taken a hit to the boards. I wasn't expecting her, not really. Knox mentioned the girls might stop by, but he didn't say Willow would be with them. She usually avoids coming over here like the plague, so it was the last thing I expected. I hope I’m keeping up the mask I’ve been wearing every time I’m near Knox or else I’m screwed.

Willow looks completely unaffected. Like Puerto Rico was just another vacation, another week that came and went without leaving any marks. The way she sits down on one of our couches while laughing at something Jade whispers to her makes me wonder if she’s as affected as I am and she’s just doing a better job of hiding it. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Wilder move and spare a look his way. He glances up mid-conversation and I watch as his gaze lands on Jade for just a second too long before he looks away like it never happened. Huh. Makes me wonder what he was saying or thinking about his best friend.

I don’t give myself an opportunity to explore it. Instead, I turn my attention back to the videogame, but I'm not really watching. Every few seconds, my eyes drift her way. Her hair falls over one shoulder, and I find myself remembering how it felt between my fingers.

"Blaise, you're up," Knox says, holding out a controller.

"What?" I blink, realizing the game has ended and they've been talking to me.

"Winner plays next," Knox repeats, eyeing me strangely. "You okay, man? You seem distracted."

"Just tired," I lie, taking the controller. "You know how it is."

I settle back into my spot and start a new game with Asher, but my focus is shot. Willow laughs again, and the sound cuts through all of the noise in my head like it's meant only for me. I glance over without thinking, and for a split second, our eyes lock. Her smile falters slightly, lips parting just enough that I remember exactly how they felt under mine. For that moment, it's like we're the only two people in the room.

Then Selene says something that makes Willow turn away, breaking whatever moment that was. My hands tighten on the controller as I force myself to look back at the screen.

"Dude, you just scored on your own goal." Asher laughs. "What the hell was that?"

"Shit." I shake my head, trying to refocus. "Sorry. Brain's somewhere else."

The rest of the game passes and things don’t get any better. In fact, the best way I can describe it is that it was a blur of missed shots and terrible plays. Thank fuck this isn’t a real game or else I’m convinced Coach would bench me. I can't concentrate with Willow in my peripheral vision, the way she tucks her legs under herself on the couch, how she absently plays with a strand of hair while listening to the other girls.

"I'm getting another beer," I announce, standing up abruptly. "Anyone want anything?"

A chorus of requests follows me to the kitchen. As I'm pulling bottles from the fridge, I hear footsteps behind me.

"Mind if I grab some water?" I’m both surprised and not that it’s Willow standing behind me.

I don't turn around immediately. Can't because all hell would break loose within me. "Course not."

Willow slides past me and it’s close enough that my arm tingles where her sweater grazes my bicep. I keep my eyes on the fridge, staring at a random shelf instead of her face, but the urge to pull her close is strong.

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