Page 64 of Nodus Tollens
“Yah, I could see that at your game. Is that your dream, to go pro?” I questioned, and for some reason, his expression shifted. Some wouldn’t have noticed, but I could. The brightness in his eyes slowly faded.
“It would be nice, but I don’t know, we’ll see.” He shrugged, brushing off the topic immediately.
Huh, interesting.
“And what about you? What’s your dream, Blue?” Hayes flipped the conversation over to me, putting me on the spot.
That was a good question. A question I avoided entirely because who in the hell knew what my dream was. I didn’t have one.
To not die young? Was that an appropriate answer?
“That’s still yet to be determined.” I answered instead.
“Really?” He seemed surprised. “What about when you were a kid?”
Tugging my hand abruptly, he pulled me into his side just before someone zoomed past me and nearly knocked me over. My hands instantly fisted his sweatshirt as Hayes glared at the skater.
“Hey! Watch where you’re going!” He shouted angrily while wrapping a protective arm around my shoulder and dragging us toward the side of the rink. All heads turned in our direction, but he seemed too worried about me to care what anyone else thought. “Fuck’n asshole skaters.” He mumbled to himself, and it hit me that this was the first time I was witnessing Hayes mad. He was always calm and collected, sweet and soft-spoken, and for some reason, I hated the idea of him being upset. He reminded me of the sun, or a rainbow, always bringing me joy and happiness, whether I wanted it or not.
“It’s okay.” I tried calming him, and when he wouldn’t look at me, I snuggled my head into his chest. The second I did, his muscles relaxed, along with the tension that was clearly filling his head with angry thoughts.
I didn’t care that we were out in public or that I could feel judging eyes on my back. All that mattered to me was that Hayes needed me, and I was slowly beginning to realize that. As much as I needed him, I think he needed me just as much, too.
“How about we play a game?” I said after pulling my face away from his chest. Glacier blue eyes peered into mine questioningly, but I could see the eagerness swarming his features.
“What kind of game?” He chuckled.
“Hmm…” I bit the bottom of my lip while thinking but immediately regretted the subtle act when Hayes’s heated stare dropped to my mouth. “A race.” I blurted out before thinking.
Great idea, Wren. Race the hockey player.
Pulling his stare from my lips, he reared back in amusement.
“You want to race me?”
No, I wanted to lick those dimples, but instead, I stupidly offered to race you.
“Sure, why not?! I think you’ve taught me well so far.”
Shaking his head, he grinned widely before booping my nose with the tip of his finger.
“You’re doing way better than I thought you would, Blue. I’m so fucking proud of you.” His eyes softened as he took me in with those tender eyes and a heart-stopping smile. “But racing you? With all these people around, I don’t want you to fall and bust your ass. I’d feel like a shitty boyfriend if you ended up getting hurt on our first date.”
Boyfriend?
Did he just call himself my boyfriend? And why the hell didn’t I want to correct him?
“Boyfriend?” I swallowed while pulling away from him slightly to regain some rational thinking.
We never established what we were, and maybe it was my fault for being so innocent and not knowing anything about dating. But the second he said boyfriend, there were no negative thoughts whatsoever. Instead, it had made my heart blossom.
“Shit, did I say that out loud?” He panicked while scratching the back of his head and skating himself backward until his back hit the glass behind him.
Now, standing alone for the first time, I couldn’t help but smile at his reaction. He was worried about what I would say and probably feared that I would reject the title, but he couldn’t have been more wrong.
“I mean, one day, I’d really fucking like to be your boyfriend… If you’ll let me, but if not, I mean, I hope not…” He continued to ramble nervously, and I couldn’t help but completely swoon at how adorable he looked. Even stressed out and blabbing, he was insanely adorable.
Then using what he taught me, I pushed off one foot and glided somewhat gracefully over to him. His eyes watching me carefully.
