Page 38 of Wild Pucker

"Right?"

Lily grabs a basket of popcorn and plops it down between us. We did this exact thing at the Valentine's house when we'd watch Northmen games together. After Luke and I were drafted to our junior hockey clubs, Lily would watch our games either at the arena or online and send us constructive criticism before, during, and after to keep us modest. Even now, I get at least one text from Lily daily, varying between snark, sass, and other Lily-isms.

I pause for a moment, just watching her and wondering. How would I feel if those little messages, those little pieces of her, stopped coming? What would it be like if she stopped sending me her self-made memes of me falling on my ass, getting hit, or doing something stupid on the ice? Or if she stopped sending me Instagram pics of fat pugs that look like loaves of bread? Or sharing TikTok filters that reveal what Taylor Swift Era you're in.Those filters are somehow freakishly accurate.

I would feel empty.

"Jeez, don't look so serious. You're giving me the heebie-jeebies." Her teasing interrupts my thoughts, and I shake out of it. Lily is here with me now. I just need to make sure it stays that way.

"Well, it's a serious faux pas to hog all the popcorn," I retort, grabbing the basket she inadvertently placed back in her lap and shovelling a handful into my mouth.

"That's not on your meal plan," she accuses, narrowing her eyes.

"Neither are you," I murmur in her ear. I can feel the shiver of shock course through her body and see the hair on her arms stand. "But that doesn't stop me from wanting to eat you like dessert."

Point for me.

Lily's eyes widen as she blushes. Her tongue darts out to wet her lips, and I feel myself gravitate closer to her. Unfortunately, I also sense several pairs of eyes all zeroed in on us, hanging on our every word. Or just the ones they can eavesdrop on.

"And when do I get my dessert, Chase?" Lily hums, desire and lust blooming in her eyes. She's so close the coconut smell that's uniquely her tickles my nostrils. Even from that slight brush of our lips, I can taste the grape lip balm she chose today. Lily has three Chapstick flavours she cycles through: grape, raspberry, and mint. "I've been practicing my big girl words, and I want to taste, excuse me, test them out on you."

Point for Lily.

I stand abruptly just as the horn blows, signalling the end of the first period. Holding my hand out for Lily, I pull her to my side, tucking her arm into the crook of my elbow. "Shall we go for a walk around the concourse?" I ask, leading her out of the box and away from prying eyes. She follows, shooting me another one of her best smiles.

"So," she starts as we begin our circular route, full of busy food and merchandise vendors and fans. "Do I get any hints about what our date involves tomorrow?"

"Nope."

"Okay, what should I wear?"

"Whatever you want. You look beautiful in everything," I answer, and I mean it. "How was your date with Samuel?"

"Didn't you watch the segments?" Lily questions, genuinely confused by my lack of interest in seeing her with another man.

"No. I take no delight in seeing you date another man. Besides, Luke loves rubbing it my face so much that I don't need to see it for myself."

"Oh? And what did my dear bother tell you?"

"That I need to up my game because Samuel kissed you, and you liked it. Did you?"

"Did I kiss him, or did I like it?"

"Both."

"Yes, and yes." Her words are like salt being poured onto an open wound. I tense, and I know Lily can feel it. "I'll be honest with you, Chase. I'll always be honest with you both because you guys are my friends first." Right now, I hate the word "friend" because what I feel for Lily goes far beyond wanting to wear friendship bracelets.

"I'm confused," she huffs, pausing near a beer cart off to the side. A young fan spots me, tugs on his father's jersey and points. The dad looks up at me, eyes wide as his son steers him over to us. I quickly smile, sign the kid's jersey, take a quick picture and send them on their way before Lily continues. "I've never dated two men at the same time. Two men who are both my friends and who I don't want to hurt. So yes, I did have a nice date with Sam. But he's not you, and I'm not sure I'm looking for nice."

Something warm and powerful blooms in my chest at her words.He's not you. No, Sam isn't me and anyone who isn't me doesn't belong with Lily. I'm about to say those exact words when a high-pitched, breathy female voice fills my ears, making my blood run cold.

Fuck, no!

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Chase Wilder. I haven't seen you since you left London and became a big NHL star. You never came back to visit me." Why would I visit a woman who took advantage of a young, angry, horny hockey player when she was supposed to be doing the opposite?

Anna Munro saunters towards us, wearing a Northmen's jersey that's a few sizes too small for tits her size. For a woman her age—she has to be pushing fifty—she looks good. Her hair is thick and slightly curled, light brown without a hint of grey. Her skin has aged, but it's smooth, like she may have had some work done. She's definitely had lip injections since the last time I saw her before leaving my junior team disgraced.

I shoot a quick glance at Lily, who looks anything but impressed. Anger radiates off her in waves. This is exactly the type of thing I wanted to avoid; my past being dredged up, ruining my future.

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