Page 93 of The Breaking Pointe
“Ask away, then.”I look at his chest then his face.His thumb rubs against the top of my hand as he licks his lips.
He sits on the desk, pulling me between his legs by the hips.“There’sadinnertheweekendafterthe Queensfight
in acouple weeks.”Hepauses.
“And?”I ask, taking a hold of his biceps and giving them a squeeze.
“And it’s being held to commemorate the new pros on their contracts. I got invited, and my first endorsement is to represent a cereal brand. So I have to show my face—but I have a plus one. I don’t wanna go alone,” he finishes his proposition, slipping his bottom lip into his teeth.
I take a finger and move a few strands of hair from his face. “That would mean your contract is finally finalized, right?” Henods,keepingquiet.Myhandfallsfromhisface,
backing up slightly.
“You’reintheproleaguesnow?”
He nods again.A smirk appears this time.
“Apparently my face would look great on a children’s cereal box.”
Shrieking, I throw my arms around his neck, squeezing him.I can feel his quiet laughter humming against my chest.
“Iamsohappyforyou,Colton.Youdidit.”
He pulls me away, looking at me for a few seconds.“Noelle, I have to give credit to you. Some of the worst days of my life have been happening, and you’re responsible for teaching me how to manage commitment better than I have before. This is a big commitment for me.” He takes a deep breath, seeming relieved.
“I love a little bit of commitment,” I say, letting another wall begin to crumble, giving him access to me.“You’re barking up the right tree.” I pat his chest, resting my hand there.
I would take commitment a million times over, if I knew exactlywhathewasthinking,andthatwhathewasthinking
was at least close to what I’m feeling.
Thethumpingofhisheartjumpstoahigherspeed. “That’s…that’s a lot with someone like me, no?”he suggests. “Someone like you who’s great with people, amazing at his job, and is starting to make me fall deeper than I expected?”
I offer.
“You make my dark world sunny again. You ignite some- thinginme—butI’mworried…”Helooksdownathishands.
“Talk to me.What is it?”I encourage him, weary that he’s gonna say something I don’t want to hear.
“It’s nothing,” he says suddenly. “I was gonna bring up the fact that if you go with me to this dinner, we might run into a certain someone.” He looks at me again.
Right, I almost forgot he existed.“Daniel…” I murmur.
He sighs. “I totally understand if that makes you wanna back out. Just be honest with me, Elle.”
“No.”I shake my head quickly.“He doesn’t get to continue to control the way I live,” I affirm.
He nods with a smile.
“Plus, I won’t be alone.Now, I have you.”I shrug, swaying a little.
“Yeah, you do.”He pinches my chin gently.“He’s a bigoted little boy, sweets. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”
I don’t doubt that one bit.I’m scared for anyone who chooses to confront the man in front of me, but I’d have a ball watching him defend me, under reasonable circumstances, that is.
“He’s not going to be happy one bit when he sees ustogether,” I say blithely.
“Which sounds like a problem he’ll have to work through
