Page 63 of Between the Blue
I sit up straight, scooching a little closer to him on the bench. At the same time, he turns away.
“Ben?” I try again, and then immediately let out a huge gasp.
Because, in the blink of an eye, he spun around on his skates, shoving off the bench wall and elbowing the water carrier on his way out, sending it toppling over straight into my lap. Four ofthe six lids pop off the bottles, instantly soaking my pants with ice-cold water.
I grind my teeth, shoving the bottles onto the bench next to me. I immediately inspect my camera for any damage, my teeth already chattering from the combination of the cold temperature inside the rink mixed with the wet fabric sticking to my skin. Luckily, it stayed dry, but that doesn’t do much to calm my anger.
I look up, finding Ben skating with the rest of the team like nothing ever happened.
I want to say I can’t believe him, but, at this point, I can.
And I’ll give him one thing.
He knows how to send a message.
sixteen
HIM, THIRTEEN YEARS EARLIER
I send a message, letting her know that I’m here.
Just a few seconds later, the front door opens.
Jules steps out, and the porch light makes her hair come ablaze in the way I don’t think I’ll ever get over.
A smile spreads across my face.
“What’s that for?” Jules asks, raising her chin.
“You,” I tell her.
She scrunches her nose, closing the door behind her. “I don’t like it.”
“Liar.”
She walks down the steps to meet me.
It’s the week of Christmas. And just a little over a month since Jules came to her first game of mine.
She’s been to all my games since. And we’ve run into each other at Sutty’s parties. But this is the first time she’s really let me take her out.
I learned very quickly that Jules requires a slow burn.
And just because we kissed, and just because she may like me back, doesn’t mean that I own her.
I’m okay with that.
Frankly, I feel honored to take any piece of her she’ll let me have.
Most guys probably wouldn’t think much of a girl accepting an invitation to go to a silly little Christmas party.
But I’m not most guys.
And Jules certainly isn’t most girls.
Getting to pick her up from her family’s home and bring her as my date to my hockey team’s celebration is a big step.
A big piece from Jules.
