Page 9 of Switching Skates
I recognize the other two voices with him, none other than the two guys from earlier. Great.
“Daphne!” Chet calls out, rounding the bend firs. “The love of my life.”
My mouth is dry, and my heart is palpitating the second Mason comes into view beside him. I forget how to form words or breathe. I’m so caught off guard.
I knew I’d be seeing him again, and maybe I should have better prepared myself. I just didn’t think this moment would be happeningnow.
He freezes in place, the smile falling off his full lips. His golden eyes blink rapidly, as if he’s trying to blink the image of me away like I’m a hallucination.
God, he somehow got even hotter … that jackass. Like, it already wasn’t fair that he looked so goddamn good. But now he’s even more buff, more toned, and his skin is flawless. It’s like every inch of him has become more attractive. I mean that jaw line...those eyes...
Chet clears his throat, and I pinch myself at getting lost staring at Mason.
Dammit. I was supposed to pretend I couldn’t even see him, ignoring him completely.
So much for that plan.
Ripping my gaze from Mason, I tighten my grip on my duffel bag. “Excuse me.”
Fingers wrap around my wrist, unfolding my arm. I continue to pull away, but the grip is firm but soft. It’s like lightning snaps through the room, and the air electrifies at his touch.
“Daphne.” Mason’s smooth and deep voice shreds my heart into pieces all over again with a single utterance of my name.
My eyes begin to burn, and I curse him for making me ever feel this way, again and again.
Glaring up at his darkened hazel eyes, I rip my arm from his grip. “No.”
His eyes well up with tears as he lets me walk away without protest, and I hold my head high as I walk out of the building, not breathing until I hop into my Jeep and pull out of the parking lot.
“Ahhhh!” I let out a pent-up, frustrated scream, gripping my steering wheel so tight that my knuckles turn white.
Turning my music on, I try to get him out of my mind. But it’s impossible.
That damn man has been stuck in my head since I first met him when I was twelve. And I don’t know how I’m ever truly going to get over him. Not when I always believed with every fiber of my being that we’d end up together.
When I get home, Maeve is awake and moseying around the house in her pajamas, making popcorn in the kitchen.
She notices my face instantly as I walk into the room. I’ve never been able to hide what I was thinking. My face is basically a screen to my thoughts. Especially to her.
“Oh God.” She turns to me, eyes wide, setting the bowl of popcorn on the counter. “What happened?”
Dropping my bag on the ground, I walk into the kitchen and slouch over the counter. “I ran into your brother.”
“Oh …” She trails off and scratches the side of her head. “Andhow was that?”
Her smart-ass question tips my lips up, and I glare at her for breaking through my wall and making me smile. “I hate him.”
I turn and start dragging my feet to the living room, and she follows me with her popcorn bowl in hand.
She sits down next to me on the couch and takes my hand in hers. “Well, he was an asshole to you, so that’s only fair.”
“And I’m annoyed because it brought up all the old feelings I thought I had buried.” I roll my head back onto the couch, staring up at the giant ceiling fan swirling above.
She takes a split second to think of what to say. “Do you think talking to him would help resolve anything?”
I groan and sink deeper into the couch. “Eww, Maeve, don’t be logical right now. That’s not helpful.”
She laughs, and I can’t help but chuckle along with her.
