Page 27 of Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny

But then she took it and let me pull her to her feet. With her hand in mine that electric zip traveled up my arm and gave my heart a jolt.

We walked through the library and pushed out into the crisp night air. Lindsay sucked in a deep breath and grinned. “Finally. Spring’s been making a play to take over for a while, but that big bully winter kept beating it back. I expected that icy slap that usually comes along once the sun goes down, but I think this warmer night is proof that maybe spring is coming after all. Knock on wood.”

She glanced around and even took a few steps off the path to knock on a tree.

My eyes traced the line of her body, because they couldn’t help themselves. “I wouldn’t peg you as superstitious.”

“Only about the weather. And when it comes to sports.” Her smiled wobbled. “I mean, I used to be when it came to sports. Now I don’t… Well, I hardly watch any.”

Thebut especially not hockeywas unspoken. I wanted to push, but that would be crossing lines. More than that, I wanted to pull her into my arms and kiss her until she forgot why she wanted to avoid hockey in the first place. Holding back the desire to do so was going over about as well as a ref who was on the opposing team’s payroll.Just keep her talking.“Well, it is a nice night.”

Great. Now we were talking about weather. Like strangers. I worried it’d always be this way now, her on one side of the line, me on the other. How was I supposed to avoid talking about hockey when I practically lived and breathed it? Then again, if it meant she and I could spend more time together, I could find other subjects. I was almost sure.

“You wouldn’t happen to…?” She cut her words short and shook her head. “Never mind. Thanks so much for tonight. The truth is, math only makes sense when I’m with you. Can you, like, come sit by me while I take my quizzes and tests?”

I spread my arms. “I do blend right into my surroundings.”

She laughed again as she tipped up her head to look at my face and then her gaze traveled all the way down to my feet. “Yep. Easy to hide for sure. I’ll just keep you in my pocket.”

That sounded fine to me, but I knew it’d come across cheesy as hell if I said so. While I wanted her to learn enough from our sessions to confidently take her tests, there was something about the way she said math only made sense when she was with me that made warmth flood my chest.

“Anyway, thanks again,” she said. “Guess I’ll catch you later.”

“Wait. What were you going to ask? I wouldn’t happen to what?”

Her scrunched nose made it clear she thought I’d let it drop, but as usual, when it came to her, I didn’t hold back, even when I knew better. “Why do you have to notice everything?”

“Maybe you should try being less hot. Less interesting and fun to talk to. Then maybe I wouldn’t.”

“You lie. You do the stoic thing sometimes, but I have a feeling not much escapes your attention.”

I neither confirmed nor denied, deciding to simply do the stoic thing—as she put it.

She licked her lips. “Fine. I just feel like you keep swooping in, and tonight you…honestly, I expected you to treat me differently.” She eyed me, like I might suddenly flip the switch and be a jerk.

“Why would I do that?”

She fiddled with the zipper on her backpack, her gaze focused on the movement. “Because of the party. Because of what you found out, and because of the way I left. I heard you and Brett got into it—and while I’m sure it was about more than me, I—”

“It was about you. I’m not proud that I lost my temper, but he needs to know he can’t treat people like that.” The residual jealousy and anger made me clench my fists. Yes, I hated that she’d ever been with the guy, but more than that, I was still pissed about how crushed she’d looked after he’d run his mouth. “He can’t treatyoulike that. I won’t let him.”

She put her hand on my arm, soothing the churning going on inside of me. “I worry about you.”

I scowled. “Against Brett? I’m trying not to find that insulting, because I assure you, I could kick his ass in my sleep.”

“In your sleep even?” She raised an eyebrow, the challenge in the arch clear.

“I stand by my statement.” I covered the hand she had on my arm, wanting to hold it there all night. “You don’t need to worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

“Still. Just…be careful. I don’t want you to get in trouble with the team, either.”

The fact that she cared enough to even tell me that sparked the hope I’d tried to abandon this past week. I told myself I was over my crush, but with Lindsay standing right in front of me, there was no way to be over anything, not when everything in me reached for her.

Did I really call our connection tiny the other night?

Clearly I’d been in denial.

It was consuming, which was why it was hard not to demand she admit she felt it, too. I thought I was a patient guy, but right now, holding back took way more effort than usual.

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