Page 74 of One Shot

“Well, that’s a relief, you can't be too perfect for me.” She smiles her perfect Bellinger smile.

I start the movie, and she makes more hot chocolate and popcorn for us. We are about ten minutes in when I notice her staring at me.

“What?” I laugh.

“He would have liked you,” Laur says. “Nick. He would have really liked you.”

“He did like me.” I take another sip of cocoa. “We weren’t best friends, but you know I knew him, played with him a little, and looked up to him.”

“You idolized him.” She’s mocking me. “But so did I. So did everyone.” She shakes her head to clear her thoughts. “But I meant Nick would have liked you for me. He would have approved.”

“Obviously, I’m a catch.”

My smile goes from ear to ear. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled so big in my life. She laughs and turns back to the movie.

A minute or so later, she whispers, “He despised Nathan. Nick said he was a whiny, narcissist who will always be a few sticks short of a full set.”

“Nathan Kovek? That is exactly what I say about that douche.” She ignores me and keeps watching the movie.

“By the way I didn’t know it was Kovek until you said Nathan. Bren left that part out. Tyler said he would tell me his name but didn’t get to it before I left Haee’s to come find you.”

Her eyes widen with panic.

“It’s okay. I promise I will not do anything except maybe have everyone hit harder on the ice than we would have been already. No one likes that guy.”

“Yeah.” She snorts. “Nick said that too.”

She cozies up into my side, and I put my arm around her. I have waited too long to have her next to me.

“Everyone likes you though,” she whispers, not taking her eyes off the movie. “I sure do.”

“Nah,” I say, picking up a piece of popcorn and throwing it at her. “You said you love me.”

Chapter thirty-four

Laur

Abrawny, muscular body is wrapped around me as I groggily open my eyes, waking up on the couch. Lucas and I must have fallen asleep. I slept so peacefully next to him. I’m glad everything is out in the air now. A blaring phone alarm stirs Lucas awake.

“Shit! I’m going to be late for practice.”

“Then get out of here! I’m going back to sleep anyways.”

He has very adorable messy bedhead . . . I could get used to waking up next to him. Judging by his enormous grin that radiates happiness, I don’t think he would mind that.

“Wait, you told me you loved me. That means you’re done swearing off love, right?” I pick up a pillow, ready to launch it in Lucas’ direction. “Lucas Donato, get your ass out the door before I throw this pillow at you!”

“I just needed to check! If you are going to be my girlfriend, you can’t be going around campus saying you have sworn off dating. People will think I’m crazy!”

“Girlfriend?” A warm sensation fills my chest hearing him say the word.

“Well, yeah. Haven’t you heard that girls around campus have me plastered on their walls? If you love me so much, you need to call dibs, Laur.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Go, you are going to be late, and I am going to be in trouble.”

“Okay, okay, I’m leaving.”

He opens the door, but I jump off the couch and run to him before he can get a foot outside.

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