Page 61 of Heat It Up (Off the Ice)
I nod, not getting where he’s going with this. “He thought he was being my friend and protecting me. I guess he thought he was saving me from a broken heart.”
“Right,” Kyle says, except he doesn’t sound too convinced. “Has it occurred to you he wants more from you than friendship?”
“Except he already knows I’m not interested. So you’re wrong. He’s just being a good friend.”
Kyle tilts his head to the side. “Did you tell him we’re involved?”
I laugh but it sounds a little off. “But we’re not involved. We’re just messing around. Having fun while we can.” Moving on with our lives—even if they don’t ultimately involve each other in the end.
“You know what I mean.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re reading way too much into what he did. Tell me, if places were reversed and you saw him kissing another girl, would you say nothing to me? Would you let him hurt me?”
Kyle’s expression shifts, but I can’t tell if he buys my argument. “No, I wouldn’t do that.”
Needing to redirect where this is headed, I say, “You never answered my previous question. So you weren’t all over her?”
He shakes his head. “I promise you, other than when she kissed me and I told her I wasn’t interested, nothing happened between us. She was only talking to me ’cause her friend and my roommate were going at it at the table.”
I don’t doubt for a second she wanted the same from Kyle, but I also believe he’s telling me the truth. I see it in his eyes.
“C’mon,” Kyle says. “I’ll give you a ride home.”
“You don’t need to do that. It’s still light out. I’ll be fine.”
“Well, I won’t be. I’ve missed you, Sofia. So consider my giving you a ride home your way of saying thank you for the practicum.”
I laugh. “Okay, if you put it that way.” A warmth fills me that he hadn’t wanted me to have sex with him to show my appreciation. I mean it’s a given we’ll have sex again, but it won’t have anything to do with what he did for me when it comes to the Bears.
Kyle parks in front of Muumu’s building. “I’ll forward you the email about the position. Brian wants to get things rolling on this ASAP.”
I kiss him. It’s supposed to be a quick kiss to show my appreciation, but let’s face it, it’s easy to lose track of time while kissing Kyle. I’m breathless by the time we pull apart.
“You’re still mine on Saturday, right?” His breath is heated against my lips.
“Yes,” I whisper.
“Good, because I’ve got something planned.”
“What?”
“It’s a surprise.” He winks.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Kyle
Sofia is already outside waiting for me when I pull up to her apartment building. She’s wearing my favorite shorts—the ones that show off her long legs—and her light pink tank top.
She climbs into the car and places her backpack on the floor. Before I can say anything, she kisses me. It’s a light kiss, but it’s filled with promises of more heated ones to come.
“Toivo called to tell me he and Maija will meet us at the ferry,” I say as I drive away from the building.
After deciding to take Sofia to Suomenlinna, an island known for it’s old sea fortress, I mentioned it to Toivo and asked if he and Maija would like to join us. I guess I should have also mentioned to him the trip to the island was a surprise.
“Is Nik coming?” Sofia asks with a degree of trepidation.
“No, he’s got plans.” At her relieved breath, I say, “You know, he’s not as bad as he seems. He’s actually a good guy.” Most of the time.
