Page 27 of Slapshot
“I don’t believe you.” He invades my space even more. His fingers find the end of my scarf and he tugs lightly. “You came and you look pretty.”
“I’m waiting for Vivian. I hadn’t planned to go inside.”
“Good thing I came outside then. How many different colors of these do you have?” He tugs the scarf again. This one is blue.
“A lot, I guess.”
“I like to imagine which color you’re going to wear every day.”
This guy. He’s too much.
“Let’s go inside. Let me buy you a drink as a proper thank you for today.” It’s sort of cute he thinks he’s in any condition to function well enough to walk, let alone buy me a drink.
“Consider it a gift to humanity. Those skates belonged in the trash.”
“My dad bought those for me. First pair of new skates I ever owned. I bet you never had to worry about that.”
“You’re right. I was flush with hockey equipment.”
“Sounds nice.”
“Don’t think for one second I had an easy life just because I grew up with money.” My tone is harder than I intended.
“I don’t think that. I don’t really know anything about you. Not for lack of trying.” The wind blows hard and I get a whiff of him. The alcohol and his body wash. “Tell me something about you.” I open my mouth, and he holds up a finger and waggles it side to side. “And not some smart-ass comment. Something real.”
“I…” My voice falters as his brown eyes are fixed on me. The way Lex looks at me makes me want to give him something, but my truths aren’t on the table. “I’m going inside to wait for Vivian.”
I take a step and then freeze. Dylan and Chastity are walking down the sidewalk hand in hand. Dylan sees me first. A slow smile tilts up one side of his mouth. While we didn’t exactly say goodbye on the best terms, my ex is too nice to walk past me without stopping to say hello. He lifts his joined hand to get Chastity’s attention and they lean close so he can whisper in her ear. I remember just what that used to feel like. Jealousy and sadness pour into my open wound. My roommate finally looks up to where I stand.
Quickly, I turn back to Lex. “Kiss me.”
His brows pull together in confusion. And since I don’t have the time to explain, I kiss him.
He has plenty of time to stop me. He doesn’t. He steps even closer and brings a hand to my chin.
Full lips press back against mine. He isn’t tender or reserved like I assumed. Greedy and consuming and everything I need to turn off the world for a few minutes.
His tongue seeks entrance and I give it to him. I open my mouth and lean into him so our bodies are flush. My body hums and sings for more while my brain shouts for me to flee. But Lex kisses like he plays hockey—desperate. And I think I’ve finally found the place that works for me.
The hand at my chin slides down and caresses my neck. His thumb rubs my skin tenderly as his lips press harder trying to get impossibly closer.
“Yo, Lex…” Pax’s voice interrupts us, and I pull away quickly and bring a hand to my wet lips. I glance back to where Chastity and Dylan were, but they’re gone.
“Woah, sorry. I didn’t know you two—”
“I was just leaving,” I say.
Pax holds up a hand. “None of my business. I’m going to get Tate’s truck.”
Lex waits until he’s gone to ask the obvious. “Do I want to know what that was about, or should I just chalk it up to my drunk charm?”
“Definitely not the latter.” My voice is shaky, but I’m not sure if it’s from that kiss or seeing Dylan.
“Kaitlyn!” Vivian steps out of the back of her Uber. I put some distance between me and Lex. She might disown me if she knew I kissed him.
My insides are tangled, and I struggle to speak when she gets close. “Hey, you finally made it.”
“I did, but it looks like I was too late to save you from bad company.” Her gaze slides to Lex. “Hey, hockey boy. Want me to buy you a drink?”
