Page 66 of When Alec Met Evie
“I believe you,” I say. “But there was something else to your look there. Something you didn’t say out loud.”
“It’s nothing,” he says.
“You sure?”
He breathes out a sigh. “I was just…thinking about you finding your purpose while I might be losing mine.”
My heart clenches at his words. “Alec. Don’t talk like that. You’re going to be okay. There’s more to life than hockey.”
He winces at my words, and I immediately wish I could take them back. It hasn’t been that long since I sat at Alec’s counter and ate a breakfast sandwich, telling him he was more than a hockey player, but the words seem to hit him differently this time. Enough that I have to wonder what’s happening on the team. No matter what it is,there’s more to life than hockeyis a stupid thing to say to someone in Alec’s position.
“That was a dumb thing to say. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel?—”
“It’s okay,” Alec says, cutting me off, his words a little too sharp around the edges. “You didn’t.”
It’s my turn to wince, and Alec immediately frowns. “Evie, I’m sorry,” he quickly says, reaching out to take my arm. His grip is gentle as he gives it a quick squeeze before sliding his fingers down to take my hand. “You didn’t say anything wrong.”
“No, I did. I didn’t mean to diminish what you’re going through with a stupid platitude.”
“It’s okay. Hockey is just hard for me to talk about right now.”
I’m not sure itisokay, but that’s a selfish thought. Just because Alec isn’t talking to me doesn’t mean he isn’t talking to anyone. And what even am I to Alec right now? We only just admitted that we’re interested in dating each other. That doesn’t mean he’s ready to reveal all his deepest, darkest thoughts.
But it does mean I’m worried about him.
His thumb brushes across my knuckles before he finally drops my hand. “I should probably go so you can get back to work.”
I don’t want him to go. I want to pull him into a hug and beg him to tell me everything he’s feeling.
But that would be weird and entirely uncalled for, so I nod and smile instead. “Yeah. Probably. Victoria should be back any minute.”
He looks over my shoulder toward the table where our empty food containers are still sitting. “Should I clean up, or…”
“I’ll totally do it,” I say. “Don’t worry about it at all.”
I walk with him to the porch, pausing at the top of the steps.
In the distance, Victoria is winding her way down the path that leads from the house to the workshop.
“Hey,” I say as Alec starts down the steps. He pauses on the second one and turns, and for once, we’re eye level. “Thank you. This was an amazing surprise.” Before I can second guess and talk myself out of it, I lean forward and wrap my arms around his shoulders, pulling him into a hug.
His arms slip around my waist as I breathe him in, cataloging every element of his hug. The feel of him pressed against me, the slight musk of his skin, the way his grip tightens just before he lets me go.
“I’ll see you tonight,” he says, his voice low and gravelly.
He waves at Victoria as he climbs into his truck, then he looks back one more time and waves at me.
I’m still standing on the porch when Victoria reaches me, watching as Alec’s truck disappears around the bend.
“Please tell me that man is someone special to you,” she says as we head back into the shop.
“My best friend’s older brother,” I say. “Does that count?”
Her eyebrows lift. “It makes it more fun, but no. That’s not enough.”
I laugh as I move back to the table and pick up the trash from our lunch. “Well, give me a little bit of time. Hopefully we’re moving in the right direction.”
“Is he an athlete?” she asks, one hand pressed to her chest. “He looks like an athlete.”
