But that’s not why I made sure to stock my fridge with ginger-beer after noticing how much she enjoyed it at the Taco Festival. Or why I have twenty bags of those mango-flavored chips hidden in the garage.
I watch her make herself comfortable on my couch, glad she’s there, where she’s safe, instead of meeting random ‘nice’ guys for dates.
I refuse to investigate why I feel this way.
My mouth curves up when Alia switches the screen from the movie she selected to hockey.That’s my girl!
Wait, no. Notmygirl. Just a girl who happens to be mine—no, goddammit—my friend.
“Someone send you nudes?” Theo waggles his brows when I glance at him. I take the opportunity to turn my phone off and stash it away.
“No.”
“Was it a girl?” he nags as we walk down the tunnel, the din at the exit indicating a full arena.
“Yes.”
“Hot?”
“Yes,” I sigh. “But she’s just a friend.” I check the tape on my stick. It’s perfect; cleanly wound, like it was five minutes ago.
“You sure about that?”
I arch a questioning brow but all he does is grin like a moron. Like normal.
“You were smiling so much, I thought it might be a hookup,” he says.
“It’s nothing,” I reply with a grimace. I can’t get pulled into the quicksand of thinking it could be anything at all. Not when she’s Rohan’s cousin. And definitely not when she’s meeting other men on dating apps.
All I get are stolen moments of watching her on my security camera like a psychotic creep. Mom would be so proud.
My stomach churns but Coach’s bark to send me out on the ice gives me much needed reprieve. I lock away all thoughts of brown eyes and gentle laughter, welcoming instead the familiarity and rush of crowds booing me and the boys as we go up against their home team.
As I lose myself in the fight for dominance in a sport that’s always been the love of my life, a disconcerting thought wriggles into my brain.
Hockey is where I’m safe. She’s a demanding mistress and I’ve never had trouble giving her all my time and attention. She is all I’ve ever needed.
But, for the first time in forever, this thought doesn’t bring me comfort.
For the first time, I wonder if there’s more.
16
CALLUM
ZamBROnies
Theo-who-won’t-shut-up:
WHERE MY BOYZ AT
Rohan:
Literally standing two feet from you.
Theo-who-won’t-shut-up:
Not you, Yogi.