Page 81 of Suck My Puck

I tug at my ponytail. “Um, maybe.”

Lauren’s eyebrow quirks up. “But you swore off hockey. You said you’d never watch another hockey game again after you broke up with Matt.”

I stammer for a few seconds. “Uh, yeah. You’re right. I did say that…”

The corner of her mouth lifts in a teasing smile. “You’re watching your hot goalie, aren’t you?”

I sigh and cross my arms. “Maybe.”

“Wow.” She shakes her head like she’s in disbelief. “I thought hell would freeze over before you ever watched a hockey game again. But I was wrong.” She grins. “Is my bestie catching feelings for a hockey player?”

My cheeks flush as my best friend teases me. “No.”

The second I say it, I get a gnawing feeling in my gut. It feels so wrong to say that. And that realization catches me off guard.

Because the truth is that Lauren is right. I like Braden.

Braden and I haven’t even had full-on sex yet. I’ve only had full-on sex with guys I’ve been in a relationship with. Guys I’m committed to, emotionally and physically.

But every time Braden and I have been together has beensogood. Mind-blowingly good. Better than any other hookup I’ve ever had. Better than any of the sex I’ve had in my life.

I think about last night when we fooled around on FaceTime together. I’ve never done that with any guy I’ve ever been with. Even when I was with Matt, he’d ask me to FaceTime him so we could fool around, but I always told him no. When he’d ask me why, I’d tell him it wasn’t my thing. But that wasn’t entirely true. I always had this uneasy feeling about it because I knew he was flirting with girls while he was away from me, and I just couldn’t get in the mood to be intimate with him in that way. I never felt comfortable enough with him.

But with Braden, it’s different. He made me feel safe and wanted. He told me I could stop at any point. He told me over and over again how sexy I was, how much he wanted me, how much I was turning him on.

He made me feel like the sexiest woman on the planet—like I was the only woman for him.

Tingles spread through my chest. Braden is so different from any guy I’ve ever been with before. He prioritizes my pleasure. He makes sure every time we’re together, it goes exactly how I want it to. He makes sure I come every single time. He showers me in praise.

But the reason I like him isn’t just because of the insanely good time we have in bed.

I think about how often he texts me to ask me about how my day is going. How excited he was to hear about my new side gig roasting and delivering coffee. How he checks in with me when he’s away. How he asks me to call him so he can talk to me while I walk to my car after a shift at Spanky’s when it’s late and he’s out of town for hockey and can’t be with me.

He cares about me too.

That tingling feeling inside of me intensifies.

This is why I’ve broken my rules for him. Because he’s different from any guy I’ve ever been with.

He’s worth breaking my rules for.

My tummy flips as the thought bounces around in my head.

Lauren wags her eyebrow at me. “You sure you’re not feeling anything for him?”

I start to open my mouth to tell her yes, I’m positive. But nothing comes out. Because that would be a lie. And I would never lie to my best friend.

I sigh. “Okay, you’re right. I’m starting to feel…things for him.”

Lauren laughs. “Bella, why do you sound so sad?”

I’m quiet as I glance down at my feet. “I don’t want to get hurt again.”

Lauren grabs my hand. “Hey. I get it. I don’t want you to get hurt either. But if this thing with Braden is going well and if he’s treating you well, it’s okay to let your guard down.”

I look at my best friend and think about what she’s said.

“I guess you’re right.” I’m quiet for a moment. “He’s so sweet, Lauren.”

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