Page 83 of Body Shot

“Yeah. The surgery took care of all that. We just had to get past the first time, you know?”

“Like she was a virgin again.” He squints a little. “I’m not trying to get in your business—or hers—but you know what a big responsibility this is, yes?”

I scowl. “Of course I know. What do you take me for?”

“Losing your virginity to someone at seventeen is completely different than in your mid-twenties. This meant something. For a lot of reasons.”

“I just told you I’m in love with her—what more do I need to say?” I didn’t realize I’d raised my voice until I caught a curious look from Aiden, who was at his locker.

“Actually, you never said that,” Johan says with a smile. “But it’s good to know.”

Shit.

Was I truly in love with her?

I’d known I was falling, but the words slip out so much easier than expected.

It’s a little unnerving because we’ve only known each other a few weeks, and most of that time has been long distance.

This is either going to be incredibly good or incredibly bad.

And the only thing left for me to do is figure out when—or if—I should tell her.

THIRTY

Claudia

I’ve just come backfrom a bathroom break when I notice a humongous bouquet of different colored roses on the desk I’ve been using. I can’t help but smile, knowing they have to be from Anders, and I’m just about to lean over to smell them when a familiar voice speaks from behind me.

“I didn’t know what your favorite color was, so I got a variety.”

“Anders!” I whirl and nearly bump right into his chest.

“Hey, beautiful.” He wraps his arms around me, and I tilt my face up for a kiss.

The moment our lips touch, magic filles the air and I tremble from the electricity.

It’s been a month since I’ve seen him, but now that he’s here, it feels like yesterday.

He smells good, too, making me want to stand here and bask in his warmth.

But I can’t.

“What are you doing here?” I finally whisper, suddenly remembering I’m at work.

“I called earlier, to ask if it would be okay for me to drop by and surprise you—I didn’t want to just show up—and Randy said it wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Oh!” I gaze up at him adoringly. Could he be any more perfect? “I’m so excited to see you—but aren’t you supposed to be at the arena?”

He lifts one shoulder and makes a face. “Eh. Told Coach I needed to run a quick errand. I have about an hour before I have to get going.”

“I told him you could have the afternoon off,” Randy says, coming up behind us.

“Oh, that’s okay!” I say quickly. “I’ll see him at the game later on and?—”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He waves a hand. “You’ve been putting in twelve-hour days and you’re way ahead of everyone else in the training program. Go. Have a great weekend. I’ll see you Monday.”

I open my mouth to protest but then decide against it. “Thank you!”

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