Page 127 of Hockey Halloween
She scoffs. “How wouldyouknow?”
Ligaya
I can’t believe I’m sitting here with a half plate of lasagna, talking about my tits and holding back a smile. But nothing was ever normal between me and Tristan.
“How wouldyouknow?”
“I felt you in my arms last week, Ligaya.”
He puts his utensils down and wipes his mouth. The motion makes me look at his lips while he speaks, slow and steady, as if relishing every word. “And since I haven’t thought about much else since, I know for a fact your tits are magnificent.”
Damn. I don’t know if I should be insulted by a man audaciously commenting on my breasts or exhilarated that the man is Tristan.
“I’m not sure if I should be pissed or flattered.”
“No need to choose just yet.”
“Smooth. Does this usually work with your dates?”
“Aha, you agree this is a date,” he declares smugly.
“Don’t twist my words.”
“You make it too easy.”
I shake my head in a gesture of exasperation, but I can’t stopsmiling. Flirting with Tristan is like a moth flying into a flame and thinking,but I’m built differently!
Delusional.
“Wiggling your way into the rehearsal was sneaky, even for you. What did you think it would accomplish?”
“Maybe I wanted to buy you dinner to make up for how badly I behaved.”
“A gift card would have accomplished the same thing.”
“I’m more a man of action.”
“Sure you?—”
My rebuttal is interrupted by spine-chilling screeches emerging from the table across our booth.
“Chloe!”
“Oh my god!”
“Help! She’s choking!”
Women’s voices rise, drawing focus to their friend whose long blonde curls fall into the marinara sauce. The woman’s jerky head movements are erratic and unnatural.
Before my brain fully comprehends the situation, Tristan has leapt off the booth, hooked his arms under the woman’s armpits, and lifted her up with a heaving tug. He proceeds to administer the Heimlich maneuver multiple times.
When she doesn’t respond, dread floods my veins.
Her face is nearly purple and her limbs are as limp as a ragdoll’s.
What if he’s too late?
Tristan’s face speaks volumes even as he seems determined to keep going. There’s an unmistakable anxiety in his eyes.
