Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
BLAKELY
“Thank you for covering the suites for me,” I say as I hand Penny a box of cookies from Pie Cookies. I stopped by briefly before coming into work. I helped Halsey to the trainer and came straight to her office.
“What are these?” she asks.
“The best cookies ever. Halsey and I got some delivered the other night. They’re so freaking good.”
“You and Halsey?” she asks with a lifted brow.
I roll my eyes. “Nothing like that. Since he’s home and not on the ice, we’ve been spending our nights together eating meals and watching the games. It’s been nice.”
“Nice? And nothing’s going on?” she asks.
I shake my head. “No. Nothing.”
“Not even . . . at night?” Her brows lift to her hairline now. “Because you’re sharing a bed, right?”
“Oh my God, Penny. We are two mature adults who don’t immediately become horndogs the moment we have to share a bed. I promise you, nothing romantic is happening between us.”
“Nothing?” she asks, looking disappointed.
“Nothing. If anything, he’s more like a brother to me.”
“A brother?” she shouts.
“Yeah. I feel like I can talk to him about anything without judgment and he feels the same way. He even said he has a self-made family and I think I’m a part of that. It’s a good relationship.”
“Wow, that’s . . . that’s great,” she says before picking up a cookie without even looking at it and shoving it in her mouth.
“Uh, that’s the apple pie.” I point at the half-eaten cookie in her hand.
“Yeah, fine.” She sets it down. “So you don’t have even the slightest bit of interest in Halsey?”
“No . . . why . . . why do you keep pushing this?”
Her eyes go wide. “I’m not pushing anything. I’m just...curious, because you know, I kind of went through the same thing.”
I take a seat in front of her desk and cross one leg over the other. “What do you mean you went through the same thing?”
“With Eli. We were forced to live with each other and slowly, over time, we started to fall for one another.”
“Yeah, but you also had a wild night of fucking prior to that, had a baby on the way, and were both very attracted to each other. Halsey and I have never had a wild night, probably the wildest night being the death of the air mattress, there is absolutely no baby on the way, and as much as I like to convince myself I’m in that man’s league, I’m not even close to it.
He doesn’t see me that way. I’m pretty sure he sees me as a friend and that’s cool. Different circumstance.”
“I guess so,” she says softly.
“Why the push for more?” I ask her.
“I don’t know, I just...you know, don’t want you to be alone. I know losing Perry was hard, and I think Halsey could be a good guy for you.”
Losing Perry has been hard. I miss him. It’s the longest we’ve gone without talking to each other.
Yet, I haven’t felt as devastated as I thought I would.
Maybe that’s because I’ve found a new friend to spend time with.
Maybe if I was still living in our apartment, his loss would be so evident.
I’d feel his absence daily. Yet, new place, new roommate.
. .and it hasn’t been that bad. Especially now I’m sharing a bed with Halsey.
That has definitely helped with the end-of-the-day sadness.
Yet, I’m still not in any dire need to find someone else.
Or mourn Perry. Things are just...smooth.
Easy. And Halsey? He’s still quiet. But I couldn’t imagine dating someone so high-profile.
And hot. And built...and with a smile that’s far too dangerous.
“Like I said, he’s way out of my league and, even though I’ve gotten to know him better, I still don’t think he’s the kind of guy for me. That’s it.”
She slowly nods. “Well, I guess that’s it.”
“Why do you look so upset? It’s my love life, not yours.”
“Correct, but it’s hard being a partner to a professional hockey player. It would have been nice if you joined the club.”
“Well, there’s always Posey.”
Penny’s nose turns up. “No, you are not the girl who will fit into Posey’s bologna-loving life. Not a match, putting that out there now. Don’t even consider it.”
I chuckle. “What about OC?”
“Ehh . . . isn’t he more like a brother to you than Halsey?”
“Yeah, he is, just testing to make sure you’re looking out for my best interests and not just trying to hook me up with anyone.”
“If that were the case, I would have thrown a party over the suggestion of Posey. That man is desperate for love.”
“You seem desperate to find me love.”
She shrugs. “Isn’t that always the case with people who are in love, they want everyone around them to be in love as well?”
“I guess so.” I stand from my chair. “But I’m good for now. Thank you.”
“Are you leaving?”
“Yeah, I need to take care of a few things while I have the time here.”
“Okay. Thank you for the cookies.”
“Thank you for all of the help.”
“You know I’m here for you, always. Remember that as you start . . . making decisions.”
I roll my eyes. “Subtle much?”
“I thought it was. I could have said something like if you moved to a new job you wouldn’t have the same unconditional support that you get from me.” She gives me a cheeky grin. “See, I was subtle.”
“Very.” She lifts up from her chair and I give her a hug. “I adore you.”
“Just remember how much.”
HALSEY
Penny: SHE CONSIDERS YOU HER brOTHER!!
I stare down at the text, my mind barely processing the words in front of me as my foot soaks in the ice bath.
What?
Why the hell would she say that?
I quickly type Penny back.
Halsey: What?
Posey: Wait . . . hold on . . . do not fucking tell me we’ve been friend-zoned. I will chuck my bologna sandwich across the room right now!
Pacey: Please chuck it into the trash, it smells disgusting.
Posey: Your face smells disgusting!
Silas: How is that productive?
OC: I would say it’s not, but you know, just stepping in here. Anything Penny says is correct because she is queen.
Posey: Seriously, dude, pull your head out of her ass before I tell Hornsby you’re hitting on her.
Penny: He would not be happy.
OC: Jesus, I’m not! I swear. I’m just trying to be liked here and not chewed apart by a mama bear with scary fangs.
Halsey: For the love of God, can we bring it back to the brother thing? Did she say that to you?
Penny: Yes! I was talking about you, you know suggesting how great and hot you are, and she went and said that you’re like a brother to her.
Silas: Not going to lie, that’s a fucking blow.
Pacey: Can’t see us bouncing back from that.
OC: Not that my opinion matters, but fuck, man, that’s harsh.
Posey: I am dead now.
Halsey: Why would she say that? We’ve been getting along great. I haven’t been giving off brotherly vibes.
Penny: Have you been giving off boyfriend vibes?
Halsey: Yeah, I got us cookies the other night.
Posey: That’s it? Have you been doing the no shirt thing? Have you accidentally let her walk in on you naked? You’re sharing a goddamn bed, have you scooted in close and aroused her with your morning erection?
Silas: The erection thing is a bit much.
Pacey: And the naked thing isn’t?
OC: You know, in my experience, girls like guys that listen.
Posey: For the LOVE OF GOD exit the chat, OC.
Halsey: I’m not letting her see me naked or poking her with my erection. What is wrong with you?
Silas: If I were you, I’d use the girth-o-nater to my advantage. I did it with my piercings with Ollie.
Penny: Umm . . . piercings, let’s talk about that some more. Halsey, what are your thoughts on piercing your penis?
Halsey: Not good.
Posey: I think this is a drastic move we might have to make.
OC: Oh, I have an idea. Why don’t you ask her about piercings and see if she likes them? Maybe see if she’ll accompany you to get one.
Posey: Okay, that’s a great idea. You’re back in the convo.
OC: Yes! *Fist pump*
Halsey: I’m not talking to her about dick piercings.
Silas: Might get you out of the friend zone. You need to bring attention to the sexual part of the relationship. So talk about your dick.
Pacey: I’m really here for the entertainment, but I can’t see how this could go wrong.
Penny: Do it, Halsey, or I’ll take this into my own hands and I don’t think you want that to happen. Talk to her about the dick piercings!
BLAKELY
“You seem a little stiff. Is everything okay?” I ask Halsey as we drive back to the apartment. He took longer with his treatment today, which was good for me because I got some things accomplished that I’ve put on hold.
And good news, he doesn’t have to use his crutches anymore, but Grace asked if I’d still drive him, just to be safe.
I didn’t have a problem with that at all.
“Yeah, everything is good,” he answers while rubbing his palms over his thighs.
“Are you sure? Because you’re not acting like your normal self. You seem nervous.”
“Nervous, heh . . . no, not nervous,” he says, looking out the window now. “What uh, what would my normal self be?”
“Well, you just finished training, therefore you’d normally tell me about how it went and talk about the boys and maybe something stupid Posey did or said.
Of course, this is because I ask you, not because you initiate it.
Even though you can hold a proper conversation, you’re more subdued and quieter than others. ”
Jeez, I hope that didn’t sound too creepy. Two weeks with this guy and I already know him like the back of my hand.
“Just thinking about something,” he says.
“Care to share?”
From the corner of my eye I notice the tight set of his jaw, which only makes me more curious. What is going on in that head of his? It has to be good, whatever it is.
“Eh, you don’t want to hear about it.”
Little does he know.
“Actually, you have me incredibly intrigued. Tell me what’s on your mind.”