Page 31 of Dirty Pucking Tease

"Yeah, I know who you are." I smiled as we glided around the curve of the rink. "I've watched you and Cassidy skate together for years. You two were amazing together."

Without letting go of my hand, he spun to skate backward in front of me.

"Petrov told me about your partner," Parker said, his eyes softening. "I'm sorry."

I shrugged, swallowing hard.I never knew what to say when someone apologized for my loss, regarding my mother or Matthias.

"She said you two were amazing on the ice. Do you think you could have that kind of chemistry with someone else?"

"Like you?" I asked.

He nodded.

I'd skated with Matthias for years to get the kind of trust you needed at our level of skating. We knew each other's every move on the ice, and it was hard to believe I'd get that level of trust for someone else in a matter of months or even weeks.

"I think there has to be a friendship."

"Okay." He smiled. "Kaia, would you like to be my friend?"

I laughed.He was incredibly charming when he wasn't being a massive dick.

"How about we hang out tomorrow night? We can decide after that if there's a chance."

"Are you asking me out?" I asked.

He was silent for several long minutes as his dark brown eyes flicked from my eyes to my lips.

"Yeah," he said. "I guess I am."

"Are you and Cassidy…" I started.

"No," he cut me off. "We were never a couple, even though everyone thought we were. Do you have a boyfriend?"

My teeth raked across my bottom lip as my gaze flicked up to Jax, still standing in the same spot, his gaze still fixed on us.

"No." I smiled. "No boyfriend here."

"So, I'll pick you up at eight," he said as he glided to a stop where he'd picked me up.

"You two move beautifully," Petrov shouted. "I'll see you tomorrow morning."

"We should probably move it up to tonight." Parker laughed. "Petrov moves quickly."

"Tonight," I repeated.

"Do you have plans?" he asked.

"No." I smiled, shaking my head.

We exchanged numbers, and I texted him my address.

"I'll pick you up at eight." I stepped off the ice, and he skated off.

I had a date tonight. Omigod, I had a date tonight.

I swapped out of my skates and headed to the parking lot, but Cam's car was gone.

"She left me.”

---