Page 12 of Blindside Love

Speaking of which, you’d think finding out about her daughter would be a red flag, maybe even a speed bump or a major turn-off. But instead, it just made her that much hotter, that much more of a confident, independent woman, and I love it. Ellie is feisty, if a little unsure, but I know deep down there’s an absolute badass inside her.

“Yeah, no. They can continue directing their interest that way. That brunette has already come over twice. I’m just not feeling it.”

“You usually aren’t,” Cade says with a shrug, his eyes on our teammates. His lips are curled up just slightly as he watches how ridiculous they are with the girls—especially the rookies; they eat that shit up.

Hell, we all have at some point.

“Yeah, that life just got old for me. Random one-night stands with women who only wanted me for my career and money. I’m just over it.”

“I get it. I don’t know… I guess I just figured after everything with Claire, you’d want to play the field a bit,” Cade says with a shrug as he takes a sip of his drink.

He’s not wrong. I had definitely planned to dip my toes back into the dating pool, but this last week, I just haven’t been in the mood. Hell, I’ve opened the app up a couple of times, but no one sparks any interest. I want to feel defeated, but I know there’s someone out there who will set my heart on fire and remind me what passion feels like again. Like the passion I used to feel for hockey that has been slowly slipping away the older I get.

“I mean, I’m not going to lie to you, that was my plan.” I smile, taking a sip of my drink as I consider how much I want to tell Cade. We’re close, we always have been, but I don’t even know what I’d tell him. I met a girl twice, and nothing ever happened between us, but I can’t seem to get her off my mind. That sounds fucking crazy. “I’ve even gone on those dating apps—don’t tell Sawyer—there’s just no one that sparks any interest in me. On the app, at least,” I mutter out the last part.

“What the fuck does ‘on the app’ mean? Is there a new girl, and I’m just now hearing about her?” Cade grunts out, annoyance saturating his voice.

“Well, there is this girl, she’s actually my new neighbor,” I sigh, my tattooed hands gripping the glass as I try to figure out the best way to explain this.

“And have you hooked up with this new neighbor?” Cade questions, his eyebrows furrowing as he waits. Very impatiently, I might add.

“God, I wish. No, that’s the thing, nothing like that has happened. We just had this weird, awkward run-in, well, two of them, actually. But fuck, I don’t know. There’s just something about her. Something different. Then I found out she had a kid, and instead of wanting to run, it actually just made her more interesting because I could see this independence, this strength inside of her that was sexy as fuck. I don’t know, man. She’s cute as fuck with this goddamn pink hair and her little body that is usually rocking overalls. But the best part about the girl is her feistiness. She’s feisty and confident and takes no shit. Not from me, not from her ex, no one.”

Cade chuckles, shaking his head as he sets his beer down.

“You’re a lover, T. And I mean that in the absolute best way. You always see the best in people. I love that about you, especially because you have so much love to give. Just be careful with it. Whoever they are, make sure they’re worth your heart before you give it to them.”

“Look, man, I’m not getting down on one knee anytime soon. I’m just intrigued, but that doesn’t mean I want to give her my last name and fill her with babies,” I grumble.

“Calm down, dude. Being interested in someone isn’t a commitment, and wanting to get to know her isn’t a crime. Chill out, have some fun, and get to know her a bit, that’s the fun part. You don’t have to have all the answers today—you never know what will happen tomorrow. Hell, we don’t even know what’s going to happen tonight,” he says with a shrug, nonchalant like always.

Cade is right. We don’t know. I’ve spent so much of my life trying to make it to my happy ending that I’m constantly on the go, never satisfied with anything. When it comes to relationships, it’s almost like I don’t want to date someone unless I know they’re the one because I’m so ready to have my person. The girl I’m supposed to marry, the one who I’m supposed to start a family with. That’s what I want, so spending time with anyone who seems less is hard. But that could also be stopping me from branching out, meeting new people, and, quite possibly, missing out on someone I could have a future with.

I hate when this motherfucker is right. The grin on his face makes me want to punch him.

“You’re right,” I tell him before grabbing my beer and taking a swig, doing everything I can to avoid eye contact.

“What was that, T? I couldn’t hear you over the sound of the puck bunnies mating calls,” Cade says, his lips turning up into a grin.

“Oh, fuck off. And wipe that smug ass grin off your face. It’s not becoming on you.”

“My grin is very becoming. Just ask your mom.” He winks.

“You’re such an asshole.”

“Who? Me? No way. Your mom said it at dinner last month. Complimented my smile and everything. Said I had nice teeth.”

I can’t help but laugh.

“You’re fucking ridiculous,” I tell him.

“Yep, but I always keep things interesting.”

“Damn straight,” I say, tapping my beer against his.

“But now the question remains, what are you going to do about your hot neighbor?”

“Fuck, I don’t know.” I take my hat off and run my fingers through my hair as I think. “I mean, her daughter did get me her phone number, so there’s that.”

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