My heart stutters. “So… it's true?”
“Does it matter?” he asks quietly. “You're with Zach. You love him, and I've always respected that.”
“It matters to me,” I insist. “I need to know if… if I've been unintentionally leading you on.”
Chris shakes his head firmly. “You haven't. I knew where we stood the moment you mentioned him. I've never expected anything more than friendship from you, Honey.”
“But you do have feelings for me?” I press, needing clarity.
He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I think you're amazing,” he admits finally. “You're smart, you're kind, you're genuine in a way most people aren't. Yes, I'm attracted to you, but I'm not pining away, waiting for you to leave your boyfriendfor me. I learned the hard way it does nothing except drive me crazy.”
Part of me exhales in relief, but the other part twists with doubt. “Okay, but… I just don’t want to hurt you, Chris. You’ve been such a good friend to me, especially with everything going on lately.”
“You haven't hurt me,” he assures me. “And you won't, as long as we're clear with each other.”
“So… we're okay? Being just friends?”
Chris lets out a short, forced laugh. “Of course. I'm not over Bailey, anyway. Girl broke my heart and took it with her.”
“Right,” I say, giving him a small smile. “Your high school sweetheart.”
“Exactly. So I'm hardly in a position to be making any romantic overtures, am I?”
His tone is light, but there's something in his eyes that makes me wonder if he's being entirely truthful. Still, I'm relieved that he's not professing his undying love for me or asking me to choose between him and Zach. That's the last thing I need right now.
“I like hanging out with you, Chris,” I say sincerely. “The rink has become my sanctuary in all this craziness. I don't want to lose that.”
“I like hanging out with you too,” he says, and this time his smile seems genuine. “And you won't lose the rink. Or me. We're friends, Honey. That's not going to change.”
I believe him—or at least, I want to. But Chase's comments and Jenni's insinuations linger in my mind, making me wonder if there's more beneath the surface than Chris is willing to admit.
As if reading my thoughts, he adds, “Don't let Jenni get in your head. She likes to stir things up sometimes.”
“What do you mean?”
He hesitates, choosing his words carefully. “I just… I think she likes to create drama where there isn’t any and makes up connections that don’t exist.”
“Like between you and me?”
“Like between you and me,” he confirms. “She probably meant well, but…” He trails off, shrugging.
I think back to the bar last night, to Jenni’s pointed comments about Chris—and her suggestion that Zach was jealous. Was she deliberately trying to create tension?
“Is there anything else bothering you?” Chris asks, breaking into my thoughts. “You seem… I don't know, on edge today.”
“Just midterm stress,” I say, which isn’t a complete lie. It’s just not the whole truth. “And the internship is intense.”
Chris studies me like he knows I’m sandpapering over something but chooses not to call me out on it. He just nods. “Well, if you ever need to vent, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks.” My voice comes out softer than I intend. I glance at my watch, surprised to see the time. “I should probably go. I have a ton of reading to do before Monday.”
“Sure.” He pushes to his feet and offers me a hand. For a second, I hesitate before taking it. His palm is warm around mine, but it makes me miss the rough edges of Zach’s. “Want me to walk you back to your dorm?”
I shake my head quickly. “No, that's okay. I could use the fresh air to clear my head.”
Chris shrugs, playing with his gloves. “Suit yourself. Just try not to throw yourself under a bus while you’re at it. Would be a bitch to hose you off the sidewalk before practice tomorrow.”
The laugh slips out before I can stop it—small, reluctant, but real, breaking the awkwardness between us. “I’ll do my best.”