Page 5 of Tempting the Goalie
“Ouch, that’s bad, Izzy. Like real bad. The guy couldn’t hit it home. Why did you stay with him for so long?” he asks, which is fair.
“It was comfortable. He wasn’t demanding. He has a busy schedule and I have a busy schedule. We worked and you know he was my first. I don’t know anything different from what I experienced with him.”
“Jeez.” Luc pinches the bridge of his nose. “It’s for the best. The guy is a douche and now you get to go out and experience real dick.”
“OMG, I can’t believe you just said that to me,” I chide and giggle at the same time.
“I can’t believe you’re blushing,” he counters. “You’re twenty-one years old, for crying out loud.”
“I know how old I am, Luc. I just thought I was going to finally get my family. Settle down with West and have kids.” I sniffle.
“Come here.” He motions me over to sit in his lap. I take in his fresh scent. I place my arms around his shoulders and burymy face in the crevice of his neck. I inhale everything that is Luc. My safety net. My home.
He rubs my back. “You’re going to be just fine, Mon coeur.”
“I’m broken, Luc. There’s nothing fine about what happened. West didn’t have the decency to see me and tell me to my face that we’re over,” I state, and I pull my head up and look into his stormy eyes.
“Because the guy is a coward. I warned you from day one.”
“I thought you weren’t going to say I told you so,” I remind.
He winces. “Sorry. I could clock the guy. Just wait until I make it to the NHL. I’ll get him back one day.”
His comment makes me laugh. “That’s completely unnecessary. I know it’s for the best. Imagine I married him, and he left me with kids. I’d be just like Dad.” I blow out a breath. “That scares the hell out of me.”
“There’s someone out there who’s perfect for you. Who will love you the way you deserve to be loved. Who will be there for you through thick and thin and not take off,” he assures.
“I don’t know how you can be so sure when you’re so against relationships. You’ve never even been in love. Hell, do you even know what love is?” I ask and instantly regret it.
“That’s unfair. I loved my mom, and I love Elyna and Braden. I also love you.”
“I love you too, but that’s a friendship love. Not a I want to tear your clothes off and make love to you all day and night kind of love,” I state.
Luc shifts and I stand because he seems antsy suddenly. He walks over to the kitchen sink and places his empty mug inside.
“You know my head is messed up, Izzy, but it doesn’t mean every guy out there is. I see how dedicated my friends are to the women in their lives. How hard they’ve fallen. Before Finn fell for Charlie, I didn’t think that kind of thing existed. Now I see it does.”
“It’s just not for you,” I point out, which is silly because Luc doesn’t see me in that way.
“Exactly,” he confirms. He looks at his phone, clearly checking the time. “I should go, Mon coeur. If you need me any time of the day or night, just call, text, whatever.”
“You have a bootie call to attend to?” I laugh.
“Nah, I’m heading back to the hockey house. I need to sleep early. Got an early morning practice and I want to be on my A game.”
“Okay, thanks for coming. You don’t need to worry about me. My ego is more hurt than my heart.”
“I know, but I still wanted to come and check on your ego. Tell you that you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.” His statement sends my heart soaring in the clouds. When I was younger, I crushed hard on Luc. Hell, I pictured us getting married and having kids, but with the years I learned Luc was never going to settle down. Life had been bitter to him, and he wasn’t buying into a life with a wife and white picket fence.
I burst into laughter. “When did you start lying to me?”
He palms his chest. “I’m offended, Mon coeur. It wasn’t a lie. You’ve always been the prettiest girl.”
I sigh and blush. I don’t know what to think, sometimes Luc and I share these odd affectionate moments. Moments where things feel very confusing. A fraction of a second when the lines of friendship blur. The moments like this one pass faster than two blinks of my eyes and then we are back to normal.
“Oh! I almost forgot. Elyna called, she said she was looking for you,” I say to him.
He worries his lower lip.
