Page 97 of The New Guy
“Childhood memories. Her pick.”
“Ah. I’m not good with those, so I have to make stuff up.”
“I shouldn’t have slept here,” he says, glancing around. “With my flu germs.”
“Doesn’t matter,” I point out. “If I didn’t get it from Jordyn, I’m not getting it. My test was negative again tonight.”
“In that case…” He rolls onto his side and pulls me to his chest. “I miss you like crazy.”
“I know.”
He chuckles.
“I meant that I know because I miss you, too.”
“You have principles,” he whispers. “And reasons. I’m trying hard to respect your boundaries. It’s just that you look so fuckable all the time.”
“I don’t want to violate my own rules,” I mumble against his T-shirt. “But I still want you to violate me. It’s a problem.”
His chest shakes with laughter. “You know that’s not all I want, right? It’s not just sex. It’s never just been the sex. I’m falling for you.”
Those are heady words, and my needy heart dances the tango inside my chest. But I know it’s not that simple. “It’s way too easy to fall for you, too. But hockey is your first love, and hockey is a jealous bitch. You’re basically cheating on hockey to be with me.”
“That is frighteningly accurate.” He sighs. “I know you think it can’t work out. But I’m going to prove you wrong. I’m going to get my early contract renegotiation, and then I’m going to find a way to live my life. It will all come together.”
“Uh-huh,” I say, rubbing a soothing hand on his chest.
“I know you don’t believe me, but I’m going to convince you.”
“Okay.” I smile in the dark. “Now we need to sleep, though. You can convince me tomorrow.”
His arms tighten around me. “You’re not kicking me out, right? I think I deserve to sleep here. That’s my payment for babysitting.”
“Fine. But you have to be a good boy.” I’m reminding myself as much as him, though.
“Will do.”
I disentangle myself from him and lock my bedroom door, so Jordyn won’t see us in bed together. Then I get under the covers. “Good night.”
With a snicker, he slides into bed next to me. Then he curls up beside me and puts an arm around my waist. “Good night, hottie.”
“Thanks for taking care of my little girl.”
He kisses the back of my neck. “It’s easy. I just say yes to whatever she asks for.”
I groan, but it’s half-hearted. His embrace feels like the best thing that ever happened to me.
And I fall asleep not five minutes later.
* * *
When I stumble out of bed at eight the next morning, Hudson is gone, and Reggie is smirking at me from over the rim of her coffee cup on the sofa. “Fun night?”
I shake my head. “Not in the way that you mean. Where’s Jordyn?”
“Playing with my iPad in her bedroom.”
“Did she see…?”
