Page 84 of Treacherous
Now, I really want to talk to her. Show her that our future is right in front of us; we could be in it together if only she took a leap of faith and trusted me with her heart.
I’d protect it with my fucking life, if I had to.
I clear my throat. “Would you like me to introduce you to Willow?”
The women share a look. “That would be great,” Logan says.
“Rogers,” I yell, remaining in the entryway onto the ice.
Willow spins on the ice, facing me. I wave her over to join our conversation. She skates toward us, head tilted with clear confusion.
I wipe my hands against my jersey, sweat building on them. I'm pathetic. Am I really nervous to talk to a girl?
“What’s up?” Willow keeps her tone neutral and eyes off me.
I hate it.
“This is Sarah and Logan from the Los Angeles Lions.”
Willow’s eyes spark to life, and her focus turns to them. Then, her jaw drops. “Wait, you’re Sarah Marsh and Logan McCoy.” The women smile, a small chuckle leaving their lips.
Should I know who they are? Fuck, now I feel like an asshole.
“Yes, that’s correct. We wanted to discuss your plans after graduation.”
Willow fidgets with her fingers, no doubt on the verge of picking her nails. I watch her swallow, and it takes every ounce of control not to reach for her, to reassure her everything will be okay.
“Um…Well, I’m in the process of finding nutrition internships with NHL teams–”
“–What about hockey?” Logan interrupts. “Would you like to play professionally?”
“What? I mean, yes, in an ideal world I would love to.”
Sarah and Logan share another smirk. “And if we could offer you a chance to play? Would you take?”
Willow gasps, and her answer is immediate. “Yes.”
The women smile, handing Willow a business card. “We are staying for the game, but here is our card. I’d expect to be getting a lot of phone calls in the coming weeks, especially if you win the Frozen Four.”
Willow accepts the card with shaking hands. “I…I don’t even know what to say,”
“Say that you’ll think about the Lions as your first choice, would be great. I’m sure Jayden here could convince you to move to LA with him.”
My eyes haven’t left Willow the entire time, and finally, after a fucking eternity, she looks at me.
“Willow is stubborn,” I begin. “But I can be persuasive when I need to be.”
A pink hue forming on her cheeks. Another thing I love: making Willow blush.
“We’ll leave you guys to it. Good luck tonight.”
The three of us wave them off, and Coach ditches Willow and I straight away.
Something about rounding up the boys but I can tell he is full of shit. He has been giving me looks at training so I’m sure he knows something went down.
A sigh escapes my throat. The silence between us is eating me up, and I don’t know how much more I can handle.
I turn to leave but Willow stops me, grabbing my wrist. She doesn’t say anything, just leans closer and wraps her arms around my neck. Willow is hugging me. My heart is racing as I feel her body in my arms for the first time in weeks.
