Page 78 of Nodus Tollens
Then, without looking at us, he shoved between the crowd of people and vanished.
“Sorry about that. He can sometimes comes off as an asshole… but he means well. He’s a good guy with a good heart and has been my best friend since we were kids.”
Turning my head, I catch his stare peering down at me.
“It’s fine.” I gave him a small, reassuring smile as the tension in my body began to level out from Mal’s departure. “But if you say he’s a good guy, I believe you.” I trusted the fact Hayes knew his best friend way better than I did. Though it was obvious the man was a broody anti-social giant, I had no room to talk when it came to first impressions. Hayes didn’t exactly get the sweet version of me, and yet, here we were anyway.
“How did the two of you meet?”
A chuckle fell past his mouth as if a long-lost memory had struck him.
“Shit… back in grade school.” He said like he couldn’t believe it was that long ago either. “I sparked up a conversation with him one day outside when he was sitting against a tree reading a book. Fucker told me to leave him alone, but I, of course, didn’t listen…So, here we are over ten years later, and he still gets annoyed as hell with me.” He laughed deeply, causing my heart to warm. In his words and tone, you could tell he cared immensely for Mal. Then suddenly, his soft smile faded, and, with a sigh, he looked out into the distance. “Mal’s a complicated character. Always has been and probably always will be, and I fucking hate that for him. He deserves so much more than he thinks, and one day I hope he finds his reason to become that amazing, genuine person I know he can be.”
It hit me hard that when Hayes cared about someone, he did it with his whole heart and soul. That’s why I was swept up so easily by him because, with him, nothing was half-assed. Everything was done at full throttle, just like his love that had snatched me from the depths of my despair and made me whole again. I never stood a chance against him. Even now, I find myself falling more deeply for my hockey player.
“For your sake, I hope he finds his reason too.”
The words felt strange as they left my tongue, but he quickly replaced the feeling with a hard kiss on my forehead. Closing my eyes, I took a moment to memorize his lips. It was something I wanted to keep with me forever. Even when I was gone, I hoped that small gesture would never part from my memories.
“How about we make another bet, Blue? You up for it?” He mumbled teasingly against my forehead, causing a smile to break out immediately.
“If it has anything to do with skating, then no.” I giggled. “My hip is still sore from the fall.”
Frowning, he dragged a hand down to my hip, where he rubbed it in slow, soothing strokes.
“It is? Shit, Blue. I’m sorry.” His frown deepened. “No more skating without holding onto me.” He dropped another kiss on my head.
“I think I’d be fine never skating again.” I laughed through my hip pain. “So, what is this bet anyway?” I lift my brow, waiting for an answer.
“Ever played pool?” He nodded toward the vacant pool table in front of us.
“A couple times, you?”
“I’m the reigning champ around here, baby.” He boasted, but I could tell it was a bald-faced lie by his cheeky grin.
“Oh? Are you now?” I teased back. “Care to prove that theory then?”
His grin deepened, and he dropped his head into the crook of my shoulder.
“It’s a fact, Blue. Not a theory.”
Rolling my eyes, I went along with it.
“Alright, hockey player.” I changed my words around to appease him. “Care to prove that fact then?” I made sure to over-exaggerate the word ‘fact.’
“Let’s go.” He gave my butt a soft little pat before dragging us over to the pool tables. As he did so, my thoughts wandered back to Mal. His tortured face when he realized who I was. Even the lost expression he had when he disappeared. It bothered me more than I had initially thought. I didn’t want things to be weird or awkward between the three of us, but I knew the best thing to do was pretend that the day at the hospital had never happened. I had said it once already, but now, I just had to actually believe it.
19
MAL
The heart was heartless.
That’s right, I said it.
It was a cruel, unforgiving bastard, and it gave zero fucks about how it may affect your soul. Mine must have been broken or at least faulty. It had to have been when the woman of my dreams stepped from out of the shadows she had been hiding in, with my best friends’ arms holding onto her like she was his fucking world. Right then, I knew hearts were cutthroat organs. I felt the weight of the world come crashing down over me as the coffee-colored eyes I’d dreamt about and fucking prayed to see again stared at me like she was just as much in shock as I was. How was it possible that she looked even more stunning than the day she ran from me? Her blonde hair appeared even shinier and angelic, while her simple, comfortable outfit made my cock harder than any slutty dress or mini skirt I’d ever seen.
A rush of emotions had tumbled through me, and I couldn’t just settle on one. First, it was shock, then confusion, but now anger started to bubble up in my veins as I watched the adoration in Haye’s eyes as he peered down at the girl who’d been haunting me. A jealousy like I’ve never experienced washed over me like a tidal wave and threatened to wreak havoc on all those who surrounded me. I was already in a shit mood, but this… this was the fucking icing on the cake.
