Page 16 of Christmas Agreement
And he told other people before he told me?
Rearing back, I punched him in the arm.
“What the hell?” he gasped, laughing as he flinched away. There wasn’t really anywhere for him to go, considering he was driving.
“You jerk!” I yelled. “You’re the worst! Do you know that?”
“Because I’m in love with you?”
“Because you told me like that! God…do you even know how to talk to women?”
“How the hell would I?” he challenged. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted to talk to. It’s not like I’ve ever had a girlfriend to practice on. Of course, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”
“Well, I haven’t had any experience with love, either, you moron! Because you been all alone in the corner apparently expecting me to know by osmosis or some shit! Argh!” I threw my hands into the air. “All this time… I can’t believe this!”
I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the door, shooting daggers at him with my gaze. “And I love you, too! A lot! Thank you!”
“Why are you still yelling at me, then?” he asked.
“Because you’re annoying! Because I’m angry. And I’m confused, and I love you even though you’re…a dumb man!”
Heavy silence fell again, and tears welled up in my eyes. Good lord, tonight had been amazing, and then it had turned into the weirdest disaster I could have ever imagined.
“Well…okay, then.” Rugar blew out a sigh as he turned onto Lake Main Street and headed toward my apartment. “I’m glad you love me, too.”
I didn’t answer, knowing I’d either start crying or start yelling at him again. I didn’t even know why I was so emotional and so angry.
“So, where does that leave us?” he ventured.
“I don’t know,” I admitted softly. I still wanted him. God, after being at his side, with him holding me close all evening, I ached for him. As much as I wanted to drag him upstairs to my place, I needed to figure this out first. “You’re taking me home. I’m going home. Alone.”
“Yeah,” he agreed, his tone clipped. “Alright.”
We rode the rest of the way to my place in silence. He pulled up to the curb, and I climbed out of the Jeep, not waiting for him to come around and open the door. I hesitated as we stared at each other across the passenger seat.
“I had a really nice time tonight,” I said. “Thank you for taking me.”
“You’re welcome,” he answered, his tone tinged with sadness and disappointment. “Can I still take you to the sorority party tomorrow?”
“Yes. And to your hockey thing,” I said. I’d agreed to that and I wasn’t going back on a promise. Beyond that? I didn’t know. Just the idea of no more time with him though was like a stab in my chest, and I couldn’t breathe.
I slammed the door shut before I sobbed, then I turned and ran into the building. But the time I let myself into my apartment, tears streamed down my cheeks. I leaned against the door, suddenly remembering how Rugar had said everyone needed luck. Ugh! That was true but damn it. That stuff about Clarence being a good luck charm was clearly bullshit.
Ten
Rugar
What the fuck had just happened?
Call me an idiot, but I had no idea how things had gone from great then into the shitter in a matter of moments. And why had Katie yelled at me for telling her I love her? I mean…yeah, the timing wasn’t optimal. I’d definitely taken my shot and missed the net, but damn it, I couldn’t hold in that truth anymore. She was probably pissed I’d taken so long to tell her, too. But as far as I felt, now was probably the best time for us. If we’d gotten together in high school…
Yeah, there would have been problems there with maturity and my hockey schedule and her brother, who was my best friend as well as my wingman on the ice. Now, we were both adults and ready to make life decisions. Foremost for me was not fucking this up.
My fingers whitened on the steering wheel as I strategized my next move. I was good at finding openings in the opposition, but right now, all I saw was a solid wall of obstacles.
A knock on my window startled me from my deep thoughts, and when I looked Katie stood there. I turned off my Jeep, glad I was in a legal-ish spot and opened the door. When I climbed out, I wasn’t sure what to expect as we stood face to face.
“We’re not ending my perfect night like this,” she grumbled.
