Page 35 of Unmasking Love
“Yeah, maybe I will.” She smiles. We go quiet for a minute as she eats. I just watch her profile as she looks out at the street. The apples of her cheeks sparkle in the sunshine and I want to cradle her face in my hands. She takes a drink of water and I watch her slender neck swallow, trying hard not to imagine what else she could use her throat for. My eyes bounce up to her when she turns towards me. “What’s it like being a backup goalie?”
“Boring.” I joke but she levels me with abe seriouslook. “Fine, my job is to be ready. And if I’m given the opportunity to get on the ice during the game my job is to stop the puck. It’s that simple.”
“Humph,” she breathes and her forehead wrinkles again.
“What?” I ask as I turn my body more towards her.
“Nothing, I’m not sure if I like your detachment or if I think it’s unhealthy.”
“I feel the same about your detachment to getting cheated on.”
“Hey. That’s not fair.” She reels back.
“No, I meant,” I reach out and brush my fingers along her shoulder, “that, you, umm, you just didn’t seem to care all that much about it.”
“Well, it’s better that way. There’s no point in wasting emotions on something that is bound to end.”
I stare at Harper because she has just vocalized my exact thoughts regarding bonding with my teammates. It’s the first time I’ve heard someone else feel the same way. And when I see it through her eyes, I think for the first time that it might not be a healthy approach after all. I don’t think I could have said it better myself.
Chapter 11
Harper
Delivery for Daniel Harper
Aidendropshisgazefrom mine and I miss it. I want it back. I’m almost cold without it. “Sorry, that was too melancholy of me. I’m still a little groggy I guess.”
“No, it’s fine, you don’t have to be in a good mood.” Aiden says and I watch as his fingers drum along the back of the bench. “How are you feeling about it? Is it tough to be at the office with that Fuck Wad?”
I force my mouth into a half smile half frown because this is another grin and bear it situation. One I’ve found myself in before. One I’ve learned to navigate by detaching myself from my emotions.
Robot Harper. Engage.
“It’s fine. He’s harmless. I’m not sure anyone knew we were even dating so there’s nothing to worry about from my coworkers. And it’s a pretty competitive environment so it’s not like they’re my friends anyway.”
“Okay, you sure?” Aiden asks and the attention from his piercing blue eyes sends a chill through me that I unsuccessfully suppress. “Are you cold?” He asks as he reaches for his backpack.
“I’m fine.” I smile, still forced, lips closed, but it’s less of a frown than its predecessor. “Thanks again for lunch.”
“Of course.”
“What do you have going on for the rest of the day?” I ask. Not wanting our time together to end.
“I’ll take a nap and then make some dinner before heading to the arena.”
“Fun.” I offer. Fun? Seriously Harper, learn how to talk to an attractive man; who saw you naked, twice, and made you breakfast and brought you lunch. God, I am so in debt to him.
Thankfully he smiles, “Yeah, fun.”
A beat passes and then Aiden stands and wipes his hands down the front of his sweatpants. I admire the view of his lower half that is now at eye level and feel a little ping of arousal in my core.
Aiden is hot. And nice.
Nice and hot.
If I’m not careful I could easily get wrapped up in another relationship before my last one is even cold in its grave.
“See you later, Harper,” Aiden says with a smile and I pull my gaze up his body. The sun is behind his head so I’m squinting to try and make out his face clearly. When I lean an inch to the left his head blocks the rays and I get a good look. He’s smiling and I feel a genuine smile crack across my face too.
