Page 70 of Friendzone Hockey
Dammit. Just when I was starting to like Hunter.
“Yeah, and things aren’t going too well with her,” Dirk adds from the fridge where he’s fishing around for something.
I frown. “He’s into men?” I still can’t believe it.
“Yeah, he’s like Dad,” Dash says. “Into more than one gender.”
There’s a loud crash in the fridge, bottles clang and topple. “Trav’s into dudes?” Dirk says.
Dash lies back on the kitchen island like he’s a cat, bending his knees, placing his grimy feet on the counter too. Dash rarely wears shoes in the summer—despite my protests—they’re usually brown on the bottoms. “Yep.”
“I’ve never seen him with one,” he mutters.
I circle Dash’s ankle and tug. “Feet off the counter.”
“Yeah,” Dirk agrees. “No one needs your skanky-ass feet on the counter. Also, we need groceries, Stace. There’s nothing to eat.” He slams the fridge shut, empty-handed.
I’m in charge of that. Maybe I’ll make Dash come with me as punishment. Dash has his scowl turned on me long after Dirk’s gone. “Nothing? Hunter being here did nothing to you?”
We can’t go here again. We can’t. We never did talk about what he should replace journaling with. He needs something, an outlet.
“You’ve never even dated anyone else.”
“Is that the real problem? Okay, what if I date someone, then would you consider it?”
“No. I’m never considering it, Dash. End of fucking discussion.”
At least, for now, he’s got anger on his side, protecting him. It’s something I can’t protect him from.
His glower could wilt flowers. “Tell me you don’t feel the same. C’mon, lie to my face some more.”
The problem is, he’s in my face and just like always, being with Dash is like careening down the ice at full speed—I’m definitely about to hit the boards.
It’d be so easy to press my lips to his, pull him against my body, make him what he should be.
Mine.
I let myself slide a hand against his hot cheek. Hot tears drizzle down his face—crying plus fierce Dash is my absolute kryptonite. I run a thumb over his tears and then over his bottom lip.
“I love you so much, it kills me that I can’t be with you.”
“But you can!”
I shake my head, stepping away. “I told you, it’s inappropriate. Your dad?—”
He grabs my wrist, tugging me back. “Don’t you fuckingdarewith my dad. What was all that ‘you’re your own man’ bullshit, hmm?”
“I am, but I agree with him. I’m too much of a safety net for you. Don’t make me be a monster like Robin was.Please.” The agony of the many moments of wanting him strains my voice. Can’t he see how hard this is for me? Can’t he see that I’d only do this if I had a good reason?
Whatever Dash was gonna say next is trapped in his throat. “I can’t believe you’d ever think you could be him, Stace,” he whispers.
“If I took advantage of our situation, I would be.”
“You’re not—ugh! It’s infuriating that you won’t budge on this. That you won’t even consider?—”
“It’sneverhappening, Dash.” I tighten my jaw, letting those words cut through the air. And cut they do, right into him.
He breaks.
