Page 11 of Feels Like the First Time
“Evening, sunshine,” he said, all steel and velvet.
Ignoring the flutters that took flight, Ali crossed her arms. “What are you doing here?”
He looked at the Lexus in the driveway and grinned. “Apparently playing the hero. I didn’t know Gail was coming to town, and from the frazzled look on your face, neither did you.”
The frazzled look had little to do with Gail, and everything to do with watching the people she cared about get hurt. She’d barely salvaged her dad’s night. Once Bridget realized that Hawk was there, she’d distract herself from the guilt of leaving him by either hanging on Hawk, or hanging all over Hubby 2.0. Which would leave Hawk the odd man out.
A position that he’d worked hard to convince everyone, including himself, no longer applied. He’d played the game well, and was now considered a legendary ladies’ man around town. But Ali saw right through thenew day new girlfaçade he’d created. He might drive her batshit crazy, but deep down Hawk was a stand-up guy. Hawk was a lot like Marty; he always saw the best in people. He was loyal, honest, and stupidly faithful. Refusing to give up on those he loved even when they didn’t deserve his devotion.
And sadly, he was still devoted to Bridget. Who was about to pop the cork on her upcoming nuptials.
Hawk was bound to find out. But hearing the news and seeing the ring were two different kinds of hurt. And Ali didn’t want her friend to hurt any more.
“You can’t stay,” she said.
He leaned a hip against the porch railing and hit her with a smile. “Two seconds ago you wanted to kiss me. Now you’re telling me to go. You’re sending off mixed signals, sunshine.”
“Ali, who’s at the door?” Bridget called from inside. Her heels clicking against the wooden floors, counting down the seconds until utter and complete devastation.
“Bridget is coming,” she whispered.
“I know,” Hawk said, his eyes warm with appreciation. “You told me, remember?”
“Ali?” her sister said, sounding even closer.
Ali walked out on the porch and shut the front door behind her. Voice still in a whisper, she asked, “Then why did you come?”
“Because Kennedy was swamped with orders, Luke is helping her, and you had a special pie that needed to be delivered.” He lifted the lid to showcase the doctor-approved coconut cream pie.
“You came, knowing the evil stepsister was inside, to bring me a pie?”
Hawk was always cordial with Bridget, but that didn’t mean that seeing her didn’t hurt. In fact, it always managed to reopen healing wounds. Which was why, Ali was certain, Hawk did his best to steer clear of his ex. “I camebecauseI knew she was in town and I didn’t want her to take over your night.” He pushed off the railing and stepped into her, his voice warm and masculine when he spoke. “There was also the dress.”
Her heart skipped three whole beats, then those annoying butterflies took flight in her stomach. She had to work hard to sip in air. “I changed. It clashed with the boots.”
He smiled. “I like the shirt, although after your night I bet you’ll wish you’d worn thePETITE AND PACKINGshirt you got for your birthday.”
Ali laughed. She couldn’t believe it. Bridget and her five-carat comet were two seconds from impact, and Gail was probably sweet-talking Marty into a disastrous walk down memory lane, and Ali was laughing.
Although it came out sounding horrifyingly close to a sob.
“That bad?”
“Bridget only eats food that once had a soul, Gail is single and apparently looking for her next adventure…with my dad, who is on his second beer of the hour, my shoes say Ball Buster, and I’m still sober.”
“I can fix that.” Hawk toed the case of hard cider that he’d set on the porch. “Or you can say fuck it, hop on the back of my bike, and we drive into town and break into the thirty-year-old bottle of Scotch I have hidden in the bar.”
“Why would you do that?” she asked, hating how squishy he made her feel.
“Because even though you drive me crazy, you’re still my friend, and I’d like to be yours if you’ll let me,” he said quietly. “And I’ve been saving that bottle since winning the Stanley Cup, and today seems like a pretty good reason to crack it open.”
The game he’d finished on a blown-out knee. Hawk delivered the final goal that brought the trophy home and the crowd to its feet. His team had been celebrating what had been called The Comeback Win, as Hawk had been on his way to the hospital, learning that his career was over.
Alone.
Well, he’d learn about the end of this dream, too, but he wouldn’t have to deal with it alone. Because he was right, while their relationship as of late might be as warm and fuzzy as sparring porcupines, there was a time, before Bridget, where they’d vowed to always have each other’s back.
“Fine.” Feeling suddenly protective, another annoying emotion that Hawk seemed to bring out in her, Ali headed toward his bike. “But I get to drive.”
