Page 21 of Forecasting the Forward

“What answers did you receive?”

“Hyacinth, and a resounding no.”

“I have no idea how he found out about my love of hyacinths, but me disliking hockey is absolutely correct,” Becca says with a laugh.

“How can you not like hockey? It’s the greatest sport out there!” I exclaim.

She grimaces. “It’s violent, some of the rules make no sense, and you guys celebrate losing your teeth. The puck moves so fast I can’t keep track of it, and hockey stuff smells awful.”

“I wouldn’t say wecelebratelosing teeth — wait. How do you know whether or not hockey equipment smells?”

She tilts her head to the side, a smile tugging at her lips. “I don’t live under a rock, Jacob. I’ve been to hockey games. Being with the station means I’ve gotten some behind-the-scenes sights for most of the sports teams here. The locker room after a hockey game smells the worst out of all of them.”

“You’ve been in our locker room? Right after a game?”

“Not immediately after, but yes. Typically most of you were gone. I didn’t want to see anything I wasn’t supposed to see,” she murmurs.

“When was this?” I ask.

Becca looks lost in thought as she wracks her brain. “Within my first couple of months on the job here. The station likes to take newcomers out and show them the sights, and since it was winter, we hit up a hockey game for our introduction into Denver sports. Danica dragged me again once last season, but we stayed outside the actual locker room.”

“Did you ever see me?” I ask quietly, and she nods. “What was I doing?”

“You were walking to the shower, I think. In a towel. I left because …” she trails off.

“Because why?” I pry.

She sighs. “The towel loosened and I saw your butt.”

I can’t help the loud laughter that booms from my mouth. “Well, I’ll be damned. I tried to moon you tonight, and it turns out, I already did.”

Becca giggles as she rolls her eyes. “Like I said, I didn’t want to see anything like that. I hightailed it right on outta there.”

I lean in closer, lowering my voice. “Well, what did you think, darlin’? Did you like what you saw?”

Her cheeks heat with a lovely pink blush. “I barely saw anything.”

A wide grin breaks across my face. “Liar.”

Becca snorts as she turns away, walking into her building. I don’t move, watching her beautiful form. If she turns to look at me, I’ll know that she’s interested.

Turn, Spitfire. Turn around.

As she opens the door, Becca turns. A small smile touches her lips as she waves awkwardly at me, before going into her building. I watch until she’s out of sight.

Game fucking on, Becca Stephens.

One way or another, you’re going to be mine.

As I walk away whistling, I pull out my phone. After a quick search of local florists, I’m ready to order a bouquet of hyacinths, when a thought occurs to me.

Why do I think I know someone else who loves the same flower? I’ve seen it recently, but where?

Stopping dead in my tracks, I almost drop my phone when I remember.

NerdGirl has a hyacinth as her profile picture.

It’ssafe to say that I’m in trouble, because I like Jacob.

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