Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 84114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
We strip out of our thick coats and jackets, shed our shoes and socks, and then I’m pushing Zach down on his back and covering his smaller frame with mine.
I lean up on my elbow as I snake my hand under his shirt.
“Fuck, you’re cold,” he complains.
“Keep me warm.” I laugh.
“No way.” Zach tries to shove me off him, but like that’s ever gonna work.
Then he looks up at me with a pleading expression, and I know I’m going to give in.
I sigh and roll onto my back.
He straddles my waist and hovers above me. Can’t say I’m complaining.
His icy fingers go to my abs, and I try to hold in my wince. Okay, now I’ll complain.
“Payback.”
“Nope,” I grit out. “I can totally handle it.”
Fuck, how long does it take for hands to warm?
I try not to shiver as he moves his hands over my chest. “Okay, fine, you win. It’s too cold. Let’s get under the covers and warm up. Then you can touch my dick.”
“Oh, can I? You’re the nicest boyfriend ever.”
“My dick is a privilege not a right.”
Zach laughs. “You’re ridiculous.”
“But you love it.”
“I do. I love … everything about you.”
“Same,” I whisper. “I mean, I’m fucking awesome, so it makes sense we both love everything about me.”
Zach shoves me.
As we settle into the warmth and Zach curls into my side, I know without a doubt I’m in love with him.
Now I just have to find the balls to say the actual words.
32
Zach
“I can’t believe you’re doing this,” Ray says as we leave the library. Foster’s practice is just about to wrap up, and I want to get there before he leaves.
“Honestly, neither can I. But I have to. Because that’s what boyfriends do. Apparently.”
“Uh-huh.” She screws up her nose. “I didn’t realize putting yourself in actual danger was romantic.”
I huff. “I won’t be in danger. Foster will be there, and he’ll make sure I’m okay because, well, he just will.”
“I’m detecting nervousness.”
“Of course I’m nervous!”
“Funny, I thought sex was supposed to cut through all that bullshit.”
I shake my head. “I hope he always gives me butterflies.”
“And I hope we never have this conversation again. You guys are gross.”
I laugh. “Okay, well, wish me luck, I guess.”
“Good luck, baby unicorn. I hope you don’t fracture your coccyx.”
Her face stays completely blank and I tilt my head. “I still can’t tell when you’re being sincere.”
“Hopefully you never will.”
I may not understand her half the time, but my friendship with Ray has become important to me. I like her quirkiness and her droll humor, but more importantly, it’s a friendship I made where there are no expectations. She doesn’t feel the need to protect me the way Seth does.
We’re friends because we can spend time together when we want but also say “Hey, I don’t want to people today” without getting offended.
It’s actually a pretty decent arrangement.
I leave her with a wave and hurry over to the arena to wait.
When I reach the locker room, the voices from inside echo out into the hall, and I take it as a sign Foster must still be here. I’m sure the coach says something about this weekend’s game, and it’s followed by the loud, deep rumbles of cheering and the pounding of lockers.
I jump and back into the wall, preparing for the stampede of hockey players. Instead, only the coach leaves.
“Bit early,” he says. “Practice only finished five minutes ago.”
I hurry to nod. “I-I’m a little nervous.”
“The boys are showering, then they’ll be out. You remember the rules.”
“Of course.”
“Which are?”
My face couldn’t possibly get any hotter. “Please don’t make me say it.”
Foster’s coach laughs. “As long as you know. You boys have fun.”
“T-thank you again.”
He leaves, and I’m left waiting. A few vaguely familiar faces come out first, and they ignore me as they pass.
I’m seriously tempted to run away, but after our talk last week, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. Maybe I won’t fit into Foster’s world, maybe things will be hard and it won’t work out, but if Foster always has to reassure me, it’s going to get old fast.
I like who I am, and clearly he does too. Nothing else should matter.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Topher asks, patting me on the shoulder.
“I have, umm, something planned with F-Foster.”
“Oh really?” He lifts both eyebrows as he checks out what I’m holding. “Well, have fun. But no fucking in the team box.”
“Your coach said the same thing,” I mutter.
“That’s because we know Grant.” He taps my shoulder again. “See you around.”
I swallow hard and turn to find Foster watching me.
“Look, I know I’m irresistible, but I said I’d be right over.”
“Why wait half an hour when I can see you now?”
“That’s what I like about you.” He drops his bag and pulls me in for a kiss. “So smart.”