Page 21 of Hat Trick
The corners of Emerson’s lips curl, and he pats me on the shoulder. “You’re smarter than people give you credit for.”
“Ummm,thanks?”
“You’re welcome,” he answers smuggly before patting me on the ass and grabbing his sponge out of the bucket.
Wanting to ease what I know is Lil’s monumentallevel of discomfort, I saunter over to her driver’s side window and tap the glass. She exhales heavily before lowering it. Bending at the waist I rest my forearms against the door and peek my head inside. Still looking out the front of the car, she holds out a five-dollar bill between two fingers. I snatch it from her and say, “I’m assuming you didn’t know this was the hockey team’s carwash?”
I curl my lips in to fight the laugh that’s wanting to fall out as she dramatically turns her head in my direction.
Fuck, she’s pretty.
“What do you think, Dominic?”
I can’t help it, I lean forward and plant a chaste kiss on her pouty lips. The only person paying attention right now anyway is Emerson, and I can’t see her and not kiss her. “I think you’re about to get the best car wash of your life, Honey.”
I tap the inside of her door twice before righting myself and looking over at Emerson. “Sponge me, Emmy. We got a show to put on.”
Emerson rolls his eyes but tosses me the sponge, and I don’t miss the way he shoots Lil a wink through the windshield.
I also don’t miss the way her cheeks turn pink at the gesture.
Just as the queen, Miss Roan, begins the last chorus, I fold myself over the front of her car, pressing my sudsy pecs right against the glass. And when I hear her laugh come from inside the car, I feel like I’ve won the lottery.
1 Pink Pony Club - Chappel Roan
CHAPTER 16
I’M HERE…
EMERSON
I’m not going to lie, spending my Friday afternoon fundraising via shirtless car wash wasn’t exactly how I wanted to spend my day, but it had its perks.
Seeing Lil after a week with little-to-no communication was like a breath of fresh air. Hell, I’ve barely even had the time to text except the message I send her every morning reminding her to lock up her apartment because she literally always forgets.
One time I walked right into her place at ten o’clock at night while she was in the shower.
Safe to say I was beyond unimpressed.
Anyway… that was perk number one. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss her this week. My every unoccupied moment was spent thinking of her and everything that happened back at the resort. And when I wasn’t thinking about her, I was thinking abouthim.
Perk number two is currently sitting shirtless on mycounter eating a spoonful of peanut butter. I might shake my head at his antics, but seeing him be, well, him this morning was just what I needed.
And when I wasn’t thinking about the noises Lil made as she was between us, or the look that Dominic would give me as she moaned in pleasure, I’m stuck thinking about what all of this means. When I’m playing hockey, all I can think about is what if she picks him over me. When I should be studying, the thought of Dom realizing that Lil is a better fit for him than me, or that we’re simply better off as best friends—that’s where all of my focus is. And when I lay down in bed at night, the one thing that is at the forefront of my mind is that eventually, I’m going to get pushed to the side.
Cast away.
Made less important.
An afterthought.
Because that’s been the story of my life for as long as I can remember.
Emerson will be fine. He always is.
We don’t have to worry about Emerson.
If anyone can handle it, Emerson can.
