Page 29 of Make Your Move

“Bullshit,” she scoffs. “You’re fucking sexy as hell and independent. You’re a badass single mom who is out here doing it by herself. You don’t need anyone, and he knows that.”

I raise an eyebrow at her. “Am I really doing it by myself when I live with my brother?”

She waves her hand dismissively. “You don’t live with him because you can’t do it alone. You’re living with him because you’re smart.” Her face lights up again. “Hello. Just another reason for Lincoln to be intimidated by you.”

I mull over her words, pursing my lips before taking another sip of my coffee. “I don’t want him to feel that way, though.”

“Why don’t you make the first move then?”

My eyes widen. “I don’t even know what I would say to him. I swear, it feels like I don’t know how to act around him. Every word I speak sounds so stupid.”

Riley laughs quietly. “I can’t believe this is actually happening.”

“Shut up,” I mutter, feeling slightly embarrassed and a little defeated. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me. I’ve known Lincoln my entire life, so I don’t know why I feel like I can’t function around him. Things with him come easily and are always comfortable, but lately, I just feel so off balance.

“I think you need to get everything out there with him. Just lay it all out and see what happens.”

I give her an incredulous look. “What the hell is wrong with you? I thought there was something about being cool and calm, not impulsive and irrational.”

Riley shrugs with indifference. “You’re actually asking the wrong person. I’ve realized I make the wrong decisions every time when it comes to men. I don’t think there’s a right or a wrong way to go about this. If you were just getting to know Linc, I’d say not to do that because you don’t want to run him off. You have known him long enough. I think it’s safe to at least give him a few breadcrumbs.”

“Breadcrumbs,” I say, my voice trailing off. “I like the idea of that instead of just laying it all out there.”

Riley smiles at me. “Yes. Just enough to keep him engaged and let him know how you might feel, but you don’t have to spell it all out for him.”

“Even though you just told me to lay it all out?”

“I think you should just do whatever feels right to you,” she tells me with another shrug and an apologetic smile. “You were right. My first suggestion was impulsive. I think you should go with your gut, but don’t chicken out. You need to say something.”

The thought alone freaks me out. I’ve never been one to be forward about my feelings for someone, especially Lincoln. He was always my secret crush. Even after we kissed that one night, I never planned on telling him how I truly felt…but after the other night, everything between us has shifted.

Lincoln told me his truths—the ones he’s kept to himself for all these years.

The truths that involve his feelings for me.

He was honest when he said he isn’t the type of person built for a relationship. I respect his honesty, yet there is a part of me that wishes he felt differently. I know things can always change, but I can’t hold on to the hope that one day he’ll want more.

And if he never does, I still owe him the same courtesy.

I owe him my truth, even if it ends up hurting me in the end.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

LINCOLN

Istare down at my phone, my finger hovering above her name on the screen. It’s been four days since I’ve seen or talked to Nova. I’ve resisted reaching out to her this long, but it’s beginning to feel like I’m going insane. Even though I’ve been trying not to think about her, it’s like my mind has different ideas. If I’m not on the ice or distracted with hockey, that’s exactly where my thoughts go.

Back to the woman who’s been slowly driving me mad.

We finished our game a few hours ago, and we’ve all been sitting around at the hotel bar since we got back. We fly out tomorrow morning to our next city and then have a game in two days, and then we’ll be heading back to Aston. I’m beyond ready to be back. I hate when we have long stints on the road like this. I prefer the normalcy of being home.

“Did you want another drink?” Ford asks me from where he’s sitting next to me.

Rowan peers over my shoulder from my other side. “What are you doing?”

Quickly locking my phone screen, I flip it upside down and set it on the bar. “Nothing,” I mutter, quickly looking at himbefore I look at Ford. “I think I’m good. I might head up to my room soon.”

Nash looks over from down the bar and stifles a yawn. “I’m about ready to call it a night too. I’m beyond exhausted.”

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