Page 82 of Lucky
I shrug.“Well, I didn’t have to pay money for this, if that’s what you’re asking.I give them blood, sweat and tears from my soul, so Brienne Norcross handed me the key to the owner’s suite.”
Winnie stares at me with bugged eyes, mouth parted slightly.I stare right back at her.
She turns, walks to the front of the suite that has three rows of plush, leather chairs where VIP guests can watch the game from up high.She braces her hands on the railing as she takes it in, looking back over her shoulder at me.“This is the mostyouthing I’ve ever seen.It’s… kind of perfect.”
Then she looks back at the projector.“Okay.Important question.What are we watching?Miracle?The Mighty Ducks?”
I smirk as I take the laptop I have hooked to the screen and tap it off sleep mode.“Try again.”
The screen lights up and she takes in the paused opening scene ofYou’ve Got Mail.She told me on our first date it is her comfort movie.
Her mouth drops open and she moves my way.“You remembered.”
I nab the wicker basket full of snacks.I open it with a dramatic flourish.“I took notes.”
She blinks fast, clearly trying not to melt into a puddle, and I’m pretty proud of myself.“You… made me a movie date with snacks in your hockey arena?”
“Yup.”
She turns back to the screen, sits cross-legged on the blanket, and says, “Okay.Best date ever.”
“It hasn’t even begun,” I point out, dropping beside her.
“I said what I said,” she quips as she bends over the basket and pulls out the Sour Patch candy.
Half an hour in, we’ve made it through most of the popcorn and half a bag of Hi-Chews, which I’d never had before but are quite addictive.Winnie’s shoulder is pressed against mine, her knees tucked up, and every so often, she makes a running commentary about the movie.
“Meg Ryan’s wardrobe was peak nineties librarian chic,” she murmurs.
I look at it with a critical eye.“She looks like she runs a feminist bird-watching society.”
Winnie snorts and swats me with a napkin.“That’s exactly what makes it iconic.”
We fall into a comfortable silence again.Her head dips to my shoulder.Her hand finds mine.
I feel more at peace right now than I have in… maybe ever.Why is that?It’s a chick flick that I’m not all that crazy about, but somehow, I’d do this date over and over again if I could.
While I’m ninety-nine percent over the moon with these new feelings, that one percent terrifies me because my life has officially changed and the future is so unknown.Granted, I’m running full steam ahead toward a future that includes Winnie, but… well, we still have our differences we need to overcome.
“Hey,” she says softly.“Can I say something?”
I shift so I can see her better, the movie continuing without our attention.“Always.”
She chews her lip for a second.“When you were on the road trip… I missed you.Like, really missed you.And it scared the hell out of me.”
My stomach tightens.“Yeah.Same.”
Her brows rise.“Really?You’re scared.”
“First… it’s scary because I feel like you’re reading my mind.”I cock an eyebrow at her.“You’re not some sort of witch, are you?”
She scrunches her face.“Buttermilk seems to think so.”
I laugh and tip my forehead to touch hers briefly.“Winnie, I texted you about twenty times a day while I was gone and made my mom cook you dinner the second I got back.I’m pretty sure I’m halfway to obsessed.”
She lets out a quiet laugh, but there’s emotion behind it.
“I think,” I say slowly, “that walking you in here tonight… bringing you into this space… it felt like letting you into the last part of my world.”
