Page 142 of Rebound
I have to smother my laugh. Roman looks at me over his shoulder, a knowing glint in his eyes.
“Kid, this is Lavinia Callahan. She wouldn’t be impressed by my hockey skills. Go get in your gear.”
He leaves and Roman skates back to me.
“I wouldn’t say I’m not impressed by your hockey skills,” I say. “Just that I appreciate some of your other skills more.”
He wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me closer and kissing me until I’m giggling against his mouth. “I’ll show you all of my skills tonight.”
“There are more?” I blink up at him owlishly.
“Baby, we haven’t even scratched the surface.” Stepping away from me, he picks up the puck. “Do you mind if we stick around for an hour or two? I haven’t really had the time to play with Tyler, and I promised him that I’ll do it today.”
“Wait, you’re playing with him? So, he’s not a random kid who walked in here?”
Roman plays with the puck in his hand, keeping his eyes on it. It’s not like it’s dark in the rink so I can clearly see the tops of his cheeks turning red.
“Yeah, I play with him sometimes. He’s the captain of his hockey team and has a full ride to Mercer. You’ll be impressed.”
He shrugs it off like it’s not a big deal that he’s going out of his way to play with a random kid. Like it doesn’t even mean anything. Where are all the Roman Maddox haters now?
It’s a stark reminder that Roman’s a closed book.
Whatever he’s feeling, whatever he’s thinking, he keeps it to himself.
“Are you telling me that the bad boy Roman Maddox is secretly a good boy?”
Roman drops the puck onto the ice, raising his eyes to glare at me. “Don’t call me a good boy again.”
I can’t stop the shit eating grin that splits my face. “Oh my God, you really are a good boy.”
I laugh as he chases me, and then Tyler walks out onto the ice. We spent the next hour playing hockey with him and it’s the most fun I’ve had in years. Roman’s a great coach. He’s quiet and patient, he watches and corrects. And he’s right. Tyler’s a really good hockey player, and he has what it takes to go all the way.
After we shower and change, I find Roman and Tyler standing outside the rink, both on their phones. When I ask them what they’re doing they tell me they’re trying to organize their schedules, so Roman can come back and play with Tyler again. It’s honestly so cute.
We drop Tyler off at the library where he tells me his mom is working. As we’re about to drive off, Roman gets a text message and he curses softly.
“We have to make a stop on our way back to the apartment. Is that okay?”
“Of course, is everything okay?”
Roman brings my hand up to his lips and kisses the back of it. “Everything is fine. Have you considered being more demanding? You don’t have to go along with everything all the time.”
“I like being easy-going.”
Roman drives with one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on my thigh the whole time. His grip is possessive, and I feel my body growing warmer at his touch. If only he’d slide his hand a little higher.
He drives with the easy confidence that he does everything, and I love that he’s so sure about his place in this world, that he’s not afraid to take up space.
I realize that’s an odd thing to say about a man because when are men afraid to take up space. But I’m also starting to understand that the last thing Roman wants is attention.
It’s starting to drizzle a little and it’s already growing dark by the time we stop in front of what appears to be a Pilates studio.
“Are we going to Pilates as well?” I ask him, a little confused.
Roman looks at me, his eyes dark. “No, we’re not here for the class. We’re here for the instructor.”
As soon as he says it, the back door of the car opens, and a dark-haired woman gets in. She brings with her the scent of rain and sweet Jasmine.
