Page 32 of Lucky
My face goes hot and I want to kick myself.Who blushes from a simple compliment?“Thank you,” I murmur.“You look beautiful too.Shit… I mean handsome.”
“You’re fucking adorable when you’re flustered.”He laughs and gestures to the booth.“Perfect timing.I ordered us coffee, but you can switch to tea if you want.I know you like floral ones but not sure the type.”
I slide into the seat, touched that he remembered that detail from our first date.“Elderflower and chamomile.Good memory, but I’ll stick with coffee this morning.”
He shrugs.“I’m a good listener.”
The waitress swings by with a mug for me, which she fills, and I add cream and sugar.I nod down at his cup.“Black.No nonsense.”
He taps the edge of his mug.“Real men drink it black.None of that cream-and-sugar shit women love.”
I blink at him, surprised by the sexist remark.My voice is tight.“Really?”
Lucky tips his head and laughs.“No, not really.I just wanted to see your expression when a man hands you something so ridiculous.On your videos as you break down your dates, you’re always funny about it, but I wanted to see if you actually get offended.”
I shake my head, my lips curving.“Yeah… I obviously do get offended.”
“Men are stupid much of the time.I mean… I’m not saying I have all the answers when it comes to women, but there are some dudes that you know were homeschooled by a pigeon.”
I snort hard as I’m taking a sip, almost drawing the liquid up my nose and down into my lungs simultaneously.“So,” I say, after a slight coughing fit during which he grins at me.“Tell me something I don’t know about you.”
He lifts a brow.“We’re starting off with hard-hitting questions, huh?”
I nod.“Always.Can I ask you something kind of nosy?”
Lucky glances over at me, mockingly.“Absolutely not.This is a deeply private and guarded space.”
I roll my eyes.“I’m serious.”
“Fire away.”
I sip my coffee and place the mug down.“What’s your dating history like?And don’t say ‘extensive but respectful,’ because I’ll throw the sugar canister at you.And also… this is strictly for scientific research.”
He grins, clearly amused.“Fair enough.My experience has been casual, mostly.A lot of short things.Nothing significant.”
I tilt my head.“By choice?”
“Partially,” he says, more thoughtful now.“I mean, hockey’s kind of the third person in every relationship I’ve ever had.The travel schedule sucks.The fame thing complicates trust.And sometimes, people just… want to be part of the brand, you know?”
Something tugs in my chest.“Yeah.That makes sense.”
“I’m not a commitment-phobe or anything,” he adds quickly.“I just haven’t found someone who made me want to rearrange my life for them.”
“Ever been in love?”
He exhales.“Not yet.You?”
A quiet laugh escapes me.“Yeah.Once.”
He looks surprised.“Serious serious?”
I nod.“It lasted a couple years.He was a nurse.Kind, thoughtful, funny.The kind of guy who remembered my coffee order but forgot to take the trash out every week.”
“What happened?”
I keep my voice calm, but my fingers twist the fabric tighter.“He cheated.Claimed it didn’t mean anything, but I guess it meant enough to blow up what we had.”
“Damn.I’m sorry.”
