Page 75 of O Goalie Night
No, "like" isn’t enough, not even close. This is something deeper, something I’m not ready to name, but I know it’s real, and it’s everything.
CHAPTER 30
BETH
“What if she doesn’t like me?”
I will myself to stop playing with my seatbelt as we drive to Ben’s penthouse in the city. I just spent eighty dollars on this manicure and I’m hoping if I’m careful it will last me through the holidays.
“That’s literally impossible,” Foster answers, not taking his eyes off the road. He reaches over and takes my hand which had already started picking at the seatbelt again.
“It’s entirely possible. I have flaws, like everyone.”
He frowns as his eyes scan me up and down in appraisal. He shakes his head. “Nope. I’ve studied every inch of you and you’re perfect.” He kisses my hand before locking his eyes on mine. “Every. Inch.” He winks and I swat at him, making him laugh.
I missed him while he was away last week. His laugh, his smell, his presence. Yes, we texted constantly and Facetimed almost every day, but still; I missed having him at home. Knowing that Foster’s house is only going to be “home” for another week made hisabsence even more difficult. I leave for my parents’ in nine days and when I return, I’ll be moving into my own place.
But my complicated feelings about leaving Foster’s house is a problem for another day. Today I am focused on not making a terrible first impression with Valentina.
I know I shouldn’t be so nervous about meeting my brother’s girlfriend, but I can’t help it. She’s a supermodel. Her job title has the word “super” in it. The idea of being around someone who seems to live in a world of luxury and sophistication is intimidating. Her work must be so glamorous and thrilling.
The most exciting thing that happened to me today was that my class won the school door decorating contest and we got ice cream sandwiches.
They were really good ice cream sandwiches.
“What if we have absolutely nothing in common? What are we going to talk about?”
Foster shrugs. “Both of your boyfriends are hockey players.”
A small squeak escapes me, startling him.
“What?” he asks, looking curiously between me and the highway in front of us.
“Nothing. You just said that you’re my boyfriend.”
“I am your boyfriend.”
My boyfriend. My heart flutters, and I bite back a grin, attempting to play it cool, but inside, I’m squealing.
“So, if you’re my boyfriend, then by using deductive reasoning, would you consider me your girlfriend?”
The corner of his mouth turns up ever so slightly. The subtle movement might have gone unnoticed, but I know his face well enough to know when he’s fighting a grin,and right now it looks like it’s taking everything in him not to laugh at me.
“Yes. I consider you my girlfriend.”
“Oh.”
“Oh?” He cocks an eyebrow at me as he stops at a red light. “Do you not consider me your boyfriend?”
I do. Is that crazy? It’s only been two and half weeks since we first spent the night together and Foster’s been on the road half of that time. But I feel more for him already than I ever did for any other guy I’ve dated, and it’s getting harder to keep it a secret. I almost let it slip while talking to my sisters over the weekend. I don’t know how much longer I can hold it in.
Realising that he’s still waiting for me to answer, I say, “I would be open to considering it.”
Foster smirks. “You’re considering considering it?”
“Yes. I am taking it under consideration.”
“Well, let me know when you’ve considered it.”
