Page 25 of Not A Chance

“Look, it’s okay. You don’t need to feel bad. No hard feelings, eh?” He smiled kindly.

Why, just why, did he have to be such a sweetheart? Sonice. SoCanadianabout everything. I didn’t feel bad that nothing had developed between us after one date—especially a date that he had invited himself along on—but I was struck with more of a regretful wistfulness, wishing that Icouldfeel something for him. Connor seemed like an easy person to be in a relationship with. He wouldn’t be afraid to do the work to be a good boyfriend. His heart was on his sleeve.

“I’m sorry, Connor. I thought I could jump into something thatI just can’t give you. It’s not that I don’t like you. You’re wonderful. It’s just…”

“You’re not attracted to me either. You feel like you’re dating your brother?” He chuckled.

“I don’t have a brother, so I don’t know about that. It’s more like dating my high school best friend. But now we’ve gone out on a date and potentially ruined the friendship. Everything is just soeasybetween us, like we’ve known each other for years.” I covered my face with my hands dramatically.

“The rom-coms were all lieees!” I added dramatic horror to my tone. I was keen to get away from any feelings talk.

As much as I liked Connor, I kept my secrets close to my chest. The more potential a feeling had to hurt me, the deeper I tucked it away.

Even if I was tempted to talk about Theo because this maple-syrup-flavored blip in my life would be over in mere months, I couldn’t imagine admitting pining after him for more than a decade. I’d sound insane.

“Wait… What do you meaneither?”

“You just caught on to that, eh?” He gave me another sweet smile before continuing. “Sorry, you’re beautiful, of course. I had to shoot my shot. Butitjust isn’t there, you know?”

As he spoke, I waved away his beautiful comment. So much emphasis had been put on me to make sure to maintain the Layne image I put little stock in someone who was just focused on my looks.

“Indie, what I mean is we just don’t have that kind of chemistry. We’re in the friend zone, not the ‘I can’t keep my eyes off you and you’re on my mind all the time’ thing.”

He reached across and patted my hand in reassurance. He was right, of course. All I felt from his hand touching mine was a warm, comfortable feeling. It could be Emery’s or Abbie’s hand, with theexception of its size and callouses from his job.

I didn’t feel any electricity or fireworks. I couldn’t stop myself from looking over to the other side of the bar, where Theo sat with the rest of the team. I was shocked to find his eyes already focused on our table.

I shifted my gaze back to Connor, who gave me a knowing smile.

“What I am pretty sure of is that you feel that kind of obsessive feeling for someone else on the team.”

He inclined his head in Theo’s direction. I could deny it, but I’d been caught out. I tried to brush it off as best I could.

“It’s nothing, and it’s impossible anyway. He doesn’t feel that way about me. We have a long history. His sister is my best friend. That’s all.”

“Trust me, Indie. He may not have felt the same in the past, but he’s sure as shit not happy about me sitting here with me touching you if that cavern of frown lines in his forehead is any indication.”

“I just can’t go there, Connor.” More than couldn’t. I refused to allow Theo any power to hurt me again. Once had been enough.

“You may not have to.Itmight be coming for you sooner than you think,” Connor’s tone was cheeky.

Before I could continue, he went on, now a smaller, sadder smile on his face. “Definitely not impossible. From the way I’ve seen you handle Campbell like no one else has been able to, I doubt there are very many things in the world that are impossible for Indie Layne.”

“Let’s start over and figure out how to be friends. You’d be the first friend I have in Toronto. And I could sure use one,” I offered.

I missed Abbie and Emery terribly. I hadn’t realized how much I had grown to count on their presence as a comfort in my everyday life.

“Good plan. Friends it is.” His shoulders relaxed as he said the words. He really was too sweet. It was clear that he’d been worriedabout hurting my feelings.

“I have to tell you, I’m not very good at making friends. I only have two back home. I might need some help.” I dropped the volume of my voice, slightly embarrassed to admit that I didn’t open myself up very often to new people.

“Years of practice over here. Gotta be good with new people when you get a whole new locker room full of them almost every hockey season.” He pointed at himself. “I’ve got you covered.”

“Okay, good. I know you grew up in Ontario. But I have literally seen nothing of Toronto other than the subway platforms and the grocery store near my apartment. And now the CN Tower. Do you think we could do the tourist thing again sometime? It’d be nice to see it with a friend.”

“Remind me to show you Ste. Saint Marie on a map, babe. Then you won’t feel bad for asking. I’ve only spent weekends here and there in Toronto before now. Let’s do it.”

I hoped that Connor was just one of those unusually perceptive people-watchers, like Abbie. I’d thought that I’d been good at treating Theo in a strictly professional way, not focusing on him more than any of the other guys on the team. I didn’t want my inconvenient feelings broadcasted to my coworkers or, worse, Theo himself.

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