Page 98 of Don't Leave
“You never led me on. You were always upfront about your feelings. I guess I’d hoped at some point, you’d feel the way about me that I feel for you.”
“It was never my intention to hurt you.”
“I know,” he acknowledges with a slight smile.
“I’m—”
He shakes his head. “Don’t say it.”
I fall silent as my lips quirk.
He draws in a breath before slowly releasing it. As he does, I get the feeling that everything will be all right between us.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry about.”
My hesitant smile grows as I squeeze his hand. “Thank you.”
Even though I don’t love Luke the way he wants me to, I still have deep feelings for him. I think I always will. What happened between us—the experience we shared—bonded us together. I don’t think it’s a connection that can ever be broken.
Luke’s gaze clings to mine. “I told you before that no matter what you decided, you wouldn’t lose me, and I meant it. We’re friends, Cassidy. And we’re always going to be friends.”
CHAPTER 29
CASSIDY
“Slap it to me!”
I wind up and hit the puck to Cole who flies across the ice. The rubber disk lands right on the end of his stick as he races with it to the goal and flicks it in the goal. We’ve been here for about thirty minutes, and it feels just like it used to. I love spending time with Cole on the ice and over the last month, I’ve missed it.
Missed him.
As difficult as it was talking with Luke yesterday, I’m so glad I cleared the air. Even if nothing changes with Cole, I know that remaining friends with Luke is what’s best for both of us.
After I thought about it, I decided that maybe Cole was right, and I was allowing what happened last year skew my feelings for Luke. I didn’t want to believe that was a possibility but when I tried to separate my emotions for him, I wasn’t able to do it.
They were too deeply intertwined.
“Water break?”
I nod as we skate to our water bottles on the bench. After removing our gloves, we toss them onto the long stretch of wood before guzzling down our drinks.
When I finally come up for air, the words slip from my mouth before I can stop them. “I’ve really missed spending time on the ice with you.” Everything inside me freezes, hoping that I haven’t ruined the moment.
Heat fills my face as one heartbeat passes and then another.
Just as I open my mouth to backtrack, a smile curves his lips. “Me, too.”
Relief ruses through every cell of my body as my muscles loosen. I realize that if I’m going to be honest and tell him how I feel, it needs to be now before I lose my nerve.
“What I’ve missed most of all is our relationship.” Those nine little words are the most difficult ones I’ve ever had to say. As soon as they escape from my mouth, I want to snatch them out of the air.
I’ve never been good at putting myself out there.
But Cole is worth it.
He’s worth the risk of rejection.
His gaze searches mine as the silence stretches between us. When he fails to respond, air gets clogged in my throat, making it impossible to breathe. My heart pounds harshly against my ribcage. That’s the moment I wonder if maybe too much has happened, too much time has passed, and it really is too late for us.
