Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
JASPER
Bode
YOU’RE DATING GENEVIEVE?!
Bode
What the fuck man?
Bode
Why didn’t you tell us?
Bode
I’m hurt
Bode
Forget the fact that she’s a pop star
Bode
You’re dating someone and didn’t tell us?!
Bode
HOW RUDE
Jasper
Who told you?
Noah
It might have slipped out
Might have?
Graham
In his defense, he said you were dating someone
Dax
And did a terrible job of covering it up
Marcus
Only because I have super dad hearing
Marcus
I can’t believe you’re dating someone
Marcus
How’d you meet her?
Marcus
Is she good to you?
Bode
Way to be a dad, Cap
Bode
I still can’t believe you didn’t tell us
Would you have believed me?
Bode
No
Bode
Only because who would fall for your grumpy ass?!
See if I let you meet Quinn
Bode
I thought her name was Genevieve
It’s her middle name
Quinn is her real name
Bode
I am learning so much
Dax
I would like to point out I did not tell anyone while we were on the road
Bode
I’m still mad at you
Bode
You’re my roomie and you didn’t tell me?!
Marcus
It’s not Dax’s news to tell
Dax
Exactly
Noah
Oh, now you’re agreeing with him, Dax?
Noah
You were mad at me because I didn’t tell you either!
Bode
I can’t believe everyone knew and didn’t tell us
Marcus
Were you already dating her when we offered to set you up?
Yes
Marcus
Damn
Marcus
You really couldn’t have told us?
Again, would you have believed me?
Dax
I only believed him because I met her
Marcus
Was she nice?
Dax
Very
Noah
I like her
Bode
That’s a rave review coming from you
Noah
Asshole
Bode
When do I get to meet her?
Maybe if you’re nice, you can come over later tonight
Bode
Seriously?
Bode
This seems too easy
Quinn suggested it
She wants to meet you guys
Bode
Obviously we’ll be her favorite people
Noah
Hey, I’ve already earned that title
Dax
Pretty sure Jasper has that title
It’s true. She’s my number one fan
Bode
My mind is still blown
Marcus
Bode
For real though
If you can unblow your mind, come over to my place at seven tonight
Bode
Do the girls get to come?
Yes
Dax
Can we tell them ahead of time?
Marcus
So they don’t freak out of course
Bode
Hell, I might freak out
Bode
But that might be more reserved for Jasper than anyone else
Yes, you can tell them
Bode
We’ll be there at seven then
See you then
Bode
I might come early and kick your ass first, Hayes
Bode
Honestly
Bode
Dating someone and not telling us?
Noah
His mind won’t be unblown for a while
“You’re on my ice now, Bella.”
Quinn snickers. “How long have you been wanting to say that?”
“Oh, since we decided to go skating together.”
I help her tie her skates so they’re secure. She told me she’s never done this, so I want to make sure she is ready to go. Even if she never wants to try it again, I want her to at least have fun today.
“You’re way too excited for this,” she says.
“Teaching the woman I love how to skate? You’re fucking right I’m excited for it.”
“You know I will probably be terrible, right?”
Quinn stands, her feet wobbling underneath her. I grasp her by the elbows and lead her onto the ice as she clutches onto my forearms.
“I won’t let you fall, Quinn.”
“I know.”
“I’m going to start you off easy.”
“How do I do this?” she asks, squeezing onto me even tighter.
“You’ll want to find your balance. Bend your knees and stick your arms straight out in front of you.”
Given that I’m still holding on to her, she only bends her knees. “Like this?”
“Yes. I’m going to let go so you can work on balancing.”
“Okay.” She nods as I step away. Her arms stick straight out. “It’s a good thing I don’t have any shows because I am going to feel this in my core.”
“Save those high notes for later, Bella.” I start humming the tune to “Wildflowers in the Weeds.”
“Jasper Hayes. Have you been listening to my music?”
“I told you I was going to.”
“You like the upbeat ones?”
I shrug a shoulder as I watch her working on her balance.
“What can I say? It hooked me.”
“Don’t let the guys hear you say that.” She laughs.
“Oh, I’ve already gotten enough shit from them, and I’ll get even more tonight.”
“At least you won’t have to deal with it alone.”
I smile back at her. “Is this why people decide to be in relationships? To get shit heaped on them together?”
“That and learning how to skate together.”
“Well, you actually need to learn. Do you feel okay?”
She nods. “Yes.”
“Good. You’re a quick study. Now, what I want you to do is march. We can do it along the boards, so if you feel unsteady, you can grab on. But it’ll help you get the feel of the ice under your skates.”
“Okay.”
A look of sheer concentration locks into place as she adjusts her position to start marching.
“You’re doing good. Keep doing that.”
“I feel dumb.”
“Everyone starts somewhere.”
Her eyes dart to mine before focusing back on the ice in front of her. “I bet you were a natural.”
“Not everyone can be me.” I wink at her.
“Yeah, yeah.”
“You look good though, Quinn.”
“You’re just saying that.”
I skate next to her. “Would I lie to you?”
“No.”
“See? Want to try going out even farther onto the ice?”
“Will you catch me?” she asks.
“I won’t need to, but yes. I won’t let you fall.”
“Just making sure.”
Grabbing her hands, I pull her out toward the center of the rink. The Knights logo is painted underneath us.
“I want you to keep doing the marching. But every few feet, glide. Just keep those knees bent and you’ve got this.”
Skating backward, I’m within arm’s reach of her.
“Shouldn’t you be paying attention to where you’re going?”
I shake my head. “I know this ice like the back of my hand.”
The rink is quiet. During practice earlier, I asked Coach Andrews if I could get a few extra hours on the ice.
Being out here with Quinn is the perfect way to spend the afternoon.
She is able to calm all the voices around me.
The fans that never seem to shut their mouths—yelling that I’m too old and washed up to play.
None of that matters when I’m with her. Breathing in the cold air, it settles in my lungs.
“Next thing you know, you’re going to be taking my job.”
“March, march, glide,” she repeats. “I don’t know if I’ll be playing hockey if I have to tell myself how to skate.”
“We can come back if you want. Let you get your legs under you. Then you can skate circles around me."
“Definitely around Noah.”
I burst out laughing, skating around her. “Fuck, that’s my girl.”
I start giving her more space on the ice, and soon Quinn is gliding more than marching. I don’t say anything because I don’t want to startle her, but she looks great out here.
I never thought it’d be such a turn-on to get to do the thing you love with the woman you love, but it is.
I fucking love it.
“Jasper! I’m doing it!”
She turns to look at me, but does it too quickly. Before she can fall, I’m catching her under her arms.
“Easy there, tiger.”
“Got a little too cocky,” she says.
“You looked great. We should come back and do this again.”
“Only if we can go to karaoke again.”
“At least you’re a better skater than I am a singer.”
“I happen to like your singing very much.”
She smiles up at me. A knit Knights hat covers her head. Pink creeps up her cheeks from the cold. She looks fucking adorable.
Leaning down, I cover her mouth with mine.
“Now I know you’re lying.” I shake my head. “Want to go longer, or are you done?”
“My legs are burning, so I say we call it.”
“Your choice.”
“Besides, we should get back so we can start dinner.”
I pull her back toward the bench. Kneeling before her, I start to untie her skates.
“Yes, I’d hate for us not to be able to make Brussels sprouts for everyone.”
She grasps my chin and pulls my gaze to hers. “One of these days, Hayes, you’ll learn to love them.”
“Only for you, Quinn. Only for you.”
Because if someone could make me love those wretched things, it’s Quinn.
She makes loving anything easy. Because it’s so easy to love her.