Page 44 of One Pucking Destiny

“Hey, sleepyhead. I brought you some dinner.” I step into the room and close the door.

His brows furrow in confusion before he shakes his head back and forth. “You know those naps that are so deep that you forget where you are or even who you are? Fuuck.” He presses the heels of his palms against his eyes before positioning a pillow against the headboard and sitting back against it. He wiggles his finger toward me, motioning forward. “Alright, let’s see it. Whatcha got for me?”

Inching farther into the room, I hand him the plate of food and bottle of water. He sets the plate on his lap and chugs half of the bottle of water. “This looks good.”

“Yeah, it was,” I answer, though I honestly don’t remember. I was too preoccupied thinking about him.

He pats the bed next to him. “Sit down. You aren’t going to make me eat by myself, are you?”

I let out a dry laugh. “I honestly wasn’t sure if you’d want to see me at all.”

He rolls his eyes. “Stop with that. I told you, I’m not mad.”

“But you aren’t happy.”

I don’t know why I’m so fixated on this, but I can’t deny that I am, and it’s pissing me off. Two days ago, Bash was just a guy I’d hooked up with months prior and never thought I’d see again, and I was completelyfine with that. Now, I’m stressing over whether he’s mad at me. My emotions are so unstable they’re giving me a headache.

“Did you see me just now?” He grins. “I felt like I was waking up from a decade-long slumber. Look, this week has been exhausting. I’ve drunk way too much, slept too little, and dedicated energy that I didn’t have to a girl who has been very clear she doesn’t want me. I’m done with that now. It’s all good.”

“You’re all done with that now?” I keep my voice light despite the nagging pain in my chest.

He smacks his hands together in an all-finished motion. “Done. You won, which I know you’re happy about. It’s rare to meet someone who wants to win as much as I do.”

“So we’re just friends?” I question.

“Yeah. That’s what you want, right?”

I nod. “It is.”

He takes a bit of the steak. “So what have I missed the last decade I was out?”

“Well, seeing that you were MIA, Logan took your position on the team, and with his help, the Cranes won the Cup.”

Bash gasps, half choking. He hits his chest as he coughs, his eyes watering. “Please.” He laughs.

“It could happen.” I shrug.

“When hell freezes over, maybe. What has everyonebeen talking about? Don’t say the tattoo. Don’t say the tattoo,” he says the last part in a pleading whisper.

I chuckle. “Pretty much the tattoo.”

“Great.”

“Yeah, Beckett says that it will be talked about for years.”

“Well, at least I’m leaving a legacy behind, and I have you to thank for that, my friend.” He leans toward me, tapping my side with his before he continues eating.

I hate the way “friend” rolls off his tongue. “Yeah, I guess you do.”

“Well, I don’t know if you plan to come to future bye weeks, but even if you don’t, at least you know stories of your triumph will be here in spirit. The butter cookie that took down the king of cookies.”

“Yeah, about that…” I sigh. The entire ordeal has been eating me up all afternoon. I could go home with this secret hidden, but I was responsible for Bash marking his body for life. The least I can do is be honest. “I kind of cheated.”

He turns to me. “What do you mean?”

“Well, I don’t know if it was cheating exactly, but the odds were stacked in my favor.”

“Go on,” he urges.

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