Page 77 of Absolutely Not in Love
I let out an easy chuckle, a surge of gratitude and affection for my sister-in-law filling my heart. She loves hockey a lot more than I do, but she’s never made me feel like a weirdo for howIfeel. In this family, that’s a pretty big deal.
“He’s my neighbor,” I say. “And yeah. I know he’s a hockey player. But he also listens to classical music, and he has the most insane collection of books, and he’s…”
“Insanely beautiful and sexy as hell?” she finishes.
“Yes, andyes,” I say.
She grins and sets another finished cupcake down on the platter between us. “And a really excellent kisser?”
I open and close my mouth, and a blush climbs up my cheeks.
Jadah grins. “Girl. You’ve got to tell me everything.”
I smile and shake my head. “It’s only been a few weeks, but I had to stay in his guest room while my apartment was being repaired, and…I don’t know, Jadah. I really like him. We’ve basically been together every night that he hasn’t been on the road for games.”
“How are you feeling about it? About the hockey and everything.”
“Most of the time, I forget he even plays hockey. There’s so much more to him than that,” I say. “I mean, yeah. It’s a little weird. Like I’m having to deprogram myself because I was so anti-hockey for so long. But that was just a childish hangup, and this is real life.He’sreal life.”
She smiles wide. “Have you gone to see him play?”
“Not yet. But…”
“But you might soon?” she finishes when I don’t.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I say. “I don’t have plans to turn into a puck bunny or anything. But if I end up falling in love with him, I’ll definitely start going to his games.”
Jadah’s eyes widen, and she presses her lips together as her gaze darts over my shoulder, then back to me.
I turn around slowly, knowing exactly who I’m going to see. Sure enough, Felix is standing in the kitchen doorway, and I can tell by his expression he’s been there long enough to have heard me.
Before I can say another word, he crosses the kitchen to where I’m standing and leans a hand on the counter on either side of me, trapping me in between his arms. He leans close and presses a long and lingering kiss on my lips. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I hear Jadah chuckling, but I don’t even care. Felixownsme right now. The familiar scent of his cologne, the confident way he just walked over to kiss me, the warmth of his lips as they brush against mine.
The kiss only lasts a couple of seconds, but I feel it all the way into my toes, on every inch of me.
When Felix pulls away, he holds my gaze, his eyes bright. “Challenge accepted,” he says, then Josh calls his name, and he turns and heads back into the living room.
I slowly turn around and look at Jadah, who is staring at me, her mouth wide in a disbelievingO.
“What just happened?” I say, and she starts to laugh.
“I think he just told you he plans to make you fall in love with him,” Jadah said.
I reach for another cupcake, willing my heart to slow.
I guess the joke is on him, because it suddenly occurs to me: I think I already have.
Minutes later, the pizza arrives, and a dozen ten-year-olds push in from the backyard, cheeks and noses pink from the chilly fall air. They’re all talking over each other and grabbing for plates while Jadah sets up the food, and it takes all the adults present to keep everything running smoothly.
Felix is definitely the star of the party, as I knew he would be. My parents are surprisingly tame in their adoration, though I think that’s mostly because they know the day is supposed to be about Maddox. It could also be that they’re still in shock that I’m dating Felix in the first place. It’s not like I built a giant wall and painted a “No Hockey Allowed” sign, but it only took a few months for my parents to realize that once I moved out of their house, I was never going to accept their invitations to hockey games or tailgate parties.
For me to just bring Felix to the party like it’s no big deal?
It’s not something they ever would have predicted.
Still, as the party progresses, it becomes clear just howhappythey are to have Felix here.
At one point while Maddox is opening his presents, Dad corners Felix in the living room and starts a conversation about the Appies’ defensive pairings this season. Felix listens like the gentleman he is, contributing to the conversation and complimenting Dad on his insight.
