Page 79 of Between the Blue

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Yanks off her heels and jogs ahead of me to my car. Giggles the whole way there.

God, I love her.

No, I still haven’t told her.

Don’t ask me why. Don’t wanna talk about it.

Jules beats me to my car. I click the remote in my hand. Unlock it.

She throws the passenger door open. Starts to jump up inside. But she slips.

I show up behind her just in time to catch her. Steady her. She grips the assistance handle, her arm shaking a little.

“My hero,” she exhales. I can hear the smile in her voice.

Jules gets to her feet. Hops into the seat successfully this time.

I close her door. Walk around to get in the driver’s side.

Once I’m inside and Jules turns to face me, I see she’s still a little shaky. Takes me a few seconds to realize she’s shivering.

Can’t say I blame her. It might be the end of April, but she’s still only in that tiny little dress.

A smile comes to my face as I suddenly remember something.

I lean back, dropping my arm to dig around the floor of my back seat. My hand quickly finds what I’m looking for.

I’ve been trying to find the right time to tell her. And I guess there’s no time like the present.

“I think I have something that’ll help that.” I nod towards Jules’s shivering body.

She raises her brows.

I pull the soft plastic package from the backseat, setting it in her lap.

“What’s this?” she asks.

“Open it.”

Jules eyes me for a moment before lifting up the package, tearing it open. She slides out the navy blue sweatshirt. Tilts her head at me.

I urge her on.

She turns it over, running her hand over the embroidery.

“Toronto Hockey,” she mutters. When I just smile at her, she asks, “Ben, what is this?”

“Your new favorite team.”

“What?” Jules questions me. “U of T?”

I nod. “It’s official. I’m playing with them in the fall. With Sutty.”

Jules lips press together, her brows bunching. She opens her mouth. Then closes it. Looks down at the sweatshirt. Then back at me. Runs a hand through her hair. Kinda shakes her head. “Oh,” she murmurs.

It’s an interesting reaction.

Can’t say it’s what I expected.

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