Page 29 of Slapshot
“I guessed pink.” His gaze briefly skirts over the black scarf wrapped around my neck. “Are you waiting for someone?”
My phone vibrates and I suppress a groan as I read Vivian’s text,Sorry, I totally forgot about a study session tonight. Make it up to you tomorrow!
“Not anymore.”
“Cool. Want to hang out?”
My gaze falls to his lips and I remember all too well what they felt like on mine. “No. I have somewhere I need to be.”
“I thought you said you weren’t waiting for anyone.”
“Vivian and I were supposed to go somewhere together, but she had to bail.”
“So, you’re free?” He smirks.
“I still have somewhere to go.”
He nods. “All right.”
I hesitate for only a second before I decide that seeing Lex walk inside of a gay bar sounds more entertaining than going alone. “Do you want to come with me?”
“Absolutely. Besides, you owe me an explanation for the other night.”
“I was hoping you were too drunk to remember.”
“No chance.”
We walk in silence down Main Street. The sun has set, and the wind whips my hair around my face. Lex is in jeans and a hoodie. His shoulders are shrugged up toward his ears and hands shoved in his pockets.
“Don’t you own a coat?”
“Nah.” He shakes his head. “Hardly ever needed one in Arizona. Even a sweatshirt was too warm most days in the winter.”
At the corner, we stop to wait for traffic.
“Where are we going?” He removes his hands from his pockets and rubs them together. Long fingers, strong and veiny hands.
“It’s just up on Church Street.”
When the light turns and the crosswalk signals us, Lex takes my hand and pulls me along.
“Your hands are freezing,” I complain. Somehow the cold seeping through his palm to mine radiates a warmth inside of me. As we approach our destination, I pull my hand free and motion to the building. “We’re here.”
11
Kaitlyn
“I’ve heard of this place,” Lex says as he holds open the door for me
“You have?”
Warmth greets me as I step inside. The bookstore is to the right. Beautiful shelves of hardcovers and paperbacks. I expected a small selection of books, but even without walking all the way in, I can tell it’s a lot larger.
To the left is the bar area. I lead us past booths and tables to the bar.
I unbutton my coat and shrug it off as we take a seat.
“This place is cool,” Lex continues to glance around the place taking it all in.
