Page 5 of Six Wishes

CHAPTER3

You betcha

Van

I drive out of the parking lot at Mud Duck’s like my ass in on fire. I watch in the rearview mirror to see what Chloe will do next, silently daring the douchebag she’s with to touch her again.

I’m not sure why I waited for her to come out. At first, I was sitting in my car messing with my phone. I made a call to my buddy, Zach, then was just about to leave when the image of Chloe’s long and lean body popped into my head. I don’t know why, but seeing her tonight felt like I got hit in the head with a bag of nickels. My brain was a jumbled mess, and I decided that I wanted to see her again. That’s when I figured that it would’ve probably been a good idea to have asked for her number.

I messed with my phone some more, not paying attention to the group of people walking out of the bar. I pulled up Alison’s number to shoot her a text and ask her for Chloe’s number. Alison is a girl I ran into a few weeks ago right in this very parking lot. I hit on her with a bad pickup line and asked her out. She laughed in my face right before her man came storming right at us.

Imagine my surprise when that turned out to be Wyatt Knight. We used to be close friends back when I first started in the NHL. Then I decided that I was too good for that and made sure to ruin our friendship for good. One bad mistake and he never wanted to have anything to do with me.

And that is why I asked for Alison’s phone number right in front of him, she gave it to me, and we became texting buddies. She is funny, and she laughs at my stupid jokes. Also, her GIF game is strong. I am hoping that she can help repair the drift between me and Wyatt. And now, bonus, she could give me Chloe’s number since they’re friends, which is how I met Chloe in the first place.

“Is Brooke coming tomorrow?” I heard a voice echoing across the parking lot and my head snapped up. There she was. And there was a dude with his hand on her back. What the fuck?

By the time the other girl got into her car and drove off, I could tell why the douche was lingering, making no attempt to get away from Chloe. The second I saw his head leaning into her to give her a kiss, I put my car in gear and gunned it for them.

I almost whooped when I noticed that my plan worked and their bodies came apart, with him pushing her behind him like he was going to protect her from whatever was coming their way. That was me. And okay, I’ll give him some points for that, but that’s it.

I stopped right next to them and rolled the passenger window down to get their attention.

“Chloe, I forgot to do something earlier.”

I rushed out of the car, grateful that I didn’t trip and fall on my ass. My mom was right. This sports car is pretty fucking ridiculous for a man my size. She didn’t use the F word, but that’s what she’d meant.

“What is it?” Chloe stepped away from behind the douchebag, eyeing me wearily.

I didn’t miss a beat when I grabbed her by the back of her neck. “This,” is all I said before leaning down and slamming my lips over hers. The momentum brought her closer to me, and her hands came up to rest on my shoulders. Even though her height is impressive for a girl, she is still small compared to me, and I could feel her lifting herself on the tip of her toes to get closer to me the more our kiss deepened. I took a lick at her bottom lip, and her mouth opened like this was all she’d been waiting for.

Douchebag, as I came to think of him, clearing his voice loudly next to us broke the moment, however, I was not ready to let go. I decided to capitalize on her dazed and confused look by asking for her phone. After she unlocked it, I entered my number in there and called it for good measure so that I now had hers as well.

“Text you later,” is all I said before slapping another hard kiss on her. I then walked away and drove off.

And here I am now, watching carefully in my rearview mirror, ready to turn around and run that fucker over if he attempts to touch her now that he’s seen me kissing her.

Unfortunately for me, I have to make a right, which means that I can’t watch them anymore without looking like a creep. More than I’m sure I already gave the impression that I am.

My phone dings with a text notification and I see it is from Alison. Perfect timing, I grin to myself and press the key to dial her number.

“Okay,” she says in greeting, “I know that the last GIF I sent you is super funny, but it did not warrant a phone call, Van.”

I start laughing, wondering if Wyatt is there. I know he hates it when I call her. That’s why I do it as often as I can.

“Har-har, missy,” I tease her. “That’s not why I’m calling.”

“Oh, I am intrigued now,” her voice changes tones, and now she is all into the conversation. I hear Wyatt in the background telling her to “Stop talking to that fucker,” and I can’t help the grin taking over my face. I miss Wyatt’s easy friendship that we used to have. I do need to have a serious talk with him at some point, and hopefully, we can bury the hatchet.

“Chloe,” I now tell Wyatt’s woman. “Talk to me about her.”

There is a little gasp coming over the line, I know what she’s thinking. “Chloe Montgomery?”

“Yup,” I nod, even though she can’t see me.

“My Chloe?” she tries again, and now she’s pushing it. I know she knows what I’m asking, and she wants to give me shit.

“Ali,” I start.

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