Page 28 of The Import Slot
“I really don’t mind,” I reply. I want her to touch me again. At this rate, I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t feel my erection on her hip.
“I really like your shoulders,” she blurts out. I’ve received many compliments in all my years, but all involving body parts a lot further south than my shoulders.
“You can touch those too, if you want,” I tease, our eyes still locked. She makes to move again and I feel her hand brush against my shorts, encouraging my cock to harden even more.
“Oh shit, I just, I mean—ohmigod. I just accidentally touched your dick.”
She looks away, cheeks bright red. I chuckle and I’m close enough to plant a soft kiss on her neck. I shouldn’t, but it’s exposed and inviting, and like a vampire ready for a taste, I brush my lips ever so gently over the creamy skin of her throat. She lets out a soft moan just as my phone vibrates on the counter, breaking the spell and forcing me to jump up.
“Sorry, that was inappropriate of me,” I apologise, but she doesn’t say anything. Instead, she stands up and motions toward the door.
“I best get the other boxes.”
She swoops down, picks up her phone and I quickly pull a clean t-shirt out of my gym bag next to the sofa and check my own. Fucking Liam, cockblocking me from Ontario.
I follow her out and we make our way down to the car as I insist on helping her with the rest of her things. We hardly talk now, and the air is thick with tension.
Two elevator trips later and her boxes are stacked in the hall next to the cases she wheeled in earlier.
She makes her way to Danny’s bedroom door and braces herself before slipping the door open.
“Yeah, there’s no way I’m putting my stuff in there,” she says, slamming it shut again.
“Surely it’s not that bad?” I offer, moving to his door and gripping the handle. The room comes into view; there’s stuff everywhere and the distinct smell of a sweaty hockey bag.
“Fuck me. Does he not do laundry?” I slam the door shut again and retreat to the living room. “You can put your stuff in my room. I don’t have that much stuff here, anyway.”
“I can’t ask you to do that!”
“You didn’t, I’m telling.” I push open my bedroom door. The rooms are generous, so there’s no problem fitting Jen’s stuff in; I carry in her boxes.
She thanks me gratefully and hugs me. I don’t even try to pull away, I want to hug her.
“I have more stuff to move, but I can probably take that with me to my parents.” As she says this, I realise I don’t know why she brought her stuff here.
“What’s with all the boxes anyway? Are you moving?” I ask.
“Well, yes, but not because I want to. I’ve got two weeks left before my lease is up,” she says, her tone bleak. “Never thought I’d be moving back in with my parents at twenty-five, but what can you do? I know it sounds extreme, but I need to be really careful with money.”
I don’t know how to respond, so I give her a sympathetic smile before asking where her parents live. She says a place I’ve never heard of and follows up that it’s about a forty-minute drive from the city, longer on public transit because of transfers. I can’t help feeling a pang of disappointment.
“So, unless I find a new job sharp, it’ll mean an end to morning runs here in the city and I don’t even know how I’ll still come to hockey yet unless I get a car. I’ve got savings, but I had bigger plans.” I’m even more disappointed now. Money isn’t really a problem for me, but seeing how independent Jen is, I know she wouldn’t accept any help, but I offer anyway.
“No, absolutely not. Thank you so much, but I can’t accept,” she says firmly. “Oh my God, I didn’t even think about that when I accepted your tickets, Ry. Please, let someone else have them.”
“They’re your tickets,” I say, and I mean it. “See how things go? Besides, you can always stay here after games, if you want.”
“I can’t do that,” she says.
“Why not?”
“Because.”
I think of that conversation I had with Johnny as I step toward her, closing the small space and reaching out to touch her jaw, steering her head so her eyes meet mine.
“Go out with me?” I say.
I almost shock myself. I’m not a dater, but I want to date Jen.
