Chapter 6 #2
My annoyance shifted to myself at the thought. Or maybe it had been there the whole time. Part of me was ecstatic I’d gotten some rest, the biological part. It was also the part that wanted to go back and haul Taryn against me again. Curl up with her in a bed this time and see what happened.
No.
The rest of me wanted to cut off any contact with her. The craving was dangerous and gave her too much power.
Reece crossed his arms, a stubborn tilt to his chin. “Then talk to me now. What’s going on? Is this about the hot neighbor?” He shivered, and guilt seeped into my irritation.
I sighed. “Get in the truck. We can talk in there.”
This time when I hit the unlock button, the door stayed unlocked. The engine rumbled to life, and I had the momentary urge to simply drive off. Just keep going until I ran out of gas. Forget the game tonight and my pro contract and the woman I couldn’t stop thinking about.
Could I forget her? Even if I drove four hundred miles west?
Fuck. Reece was right. I was a flight risk. I took my hand off the shifter and cranked the heater.
Reece couldn’t stop shivering as he huddled next to me, so I grabbed the extra blanket I kept in the back seat and tossed it at him.
“What’s going on?” he chattered, sitting cross-legged and covering himself.
“I’m only telling you this because I don’t want you to lose any toes. It’s not a big deal. I don’t want to have any more heart to hearts, and I definitely don’t want this to become a thing.”
“Maybe if you didn’t run away instead of talking to us, it wouldn’t be a thing.”
I glared at him. “Maybe if you didn’t run your mouth so much, I’d talk to you more.”
“You like it,” he muttered. “Means you don’t have to talk at all.”
I grunted. He had a point.
“But this time,” he continued. “I’m not slacking on you. I’m going to keep showing up until you trust you can talk to me.”
My chest twisted in a weird way that stole my ability to speak. I swallowed hard, forcing the unexpected burst of emotion back down where it belonged.
“Fine,” I ground out. “Thanks, I guess.”
“You’re welcome, I guess.” His teeth stopped chattering, and his face lost the blue tint. I’d bet his toes were still numb though.
I gritted my teeth and stopped procrastinating. “I spent the night at Taryn’s. Nothing happened. We fell asleep on her couch, and I didn’t get up until morning.”
“What’s the big deal then?”
“I slept. Really slept.”
Understanding dawned on his face, and his brow lifted. “And getting a good night’s sleep destroyed your goalie skills?”
I rubbed my face. “My skills are fine, asshat. I was distracted for one morning skate. I’ll be fine tonight.”
I hoped.
“Okay, so you’re ready to ninja again because your control freak tendencies didn’t plan for something unexpected, even if it was awesome.” He peered at my face. “Was it awesome?”
“Yes,” I answered without thinking.
Reece nodded. “No problem, then. We just kidnap her, tie her to your bed—”
“Stop. I’m not interested in repeating the experience,” I lied.
“Then don’t. Chalk it up to a weird night, take the win, and don’t fall asleep over there anymore…” He frowned. “Are you sure there wasn’t any—”
“Get out,” I interrupted him again.
“All I’m saying is it might do you some good to relax.” He threw air quotes around the last word.
“She’s not interested in relaxing.”
“Was she draped all over you when you woke up? Curled up next to you? Whispering sweet nothings into your manly chest?”
I’d been wrapped around her. Trapped between the cushions and her soft body. A phantom memory of her breath on my neck made my hands clench. Something held me back from giving Reece any of the details.
But she didn’t pull away when I kissed her cheek.
“She seemed comfortable.”
“Sounds like she could be convinced.”
I let out a huff of air. “I’m not into changing a girl’s mind when she’s made herself clear.”
“But did she make herself clear? Or did you assume the worst?”
I opened my mouth to respond, then hesitated. What had she said exactly? You’re harmless to her. Not so sure about me. Her hand had been on my chest, and if we hadn’t been interrupted, I’d have probably done something stupid like try to kiss her.
But we had been interrupted. She’d pulled back, locking the vulnerable part of herself behind her usual wall. I couldn’t blame her—but I also realized, she’d never actually pushed me away.
I’d backed off at the slightest sign of friction.
The usual warning flashed through my mind about giving in to cravings, but was this the same?
Reece smiled slowly, as if he could read my thoughts. “Maybe give it another shot. Make it a purposeful choice. Bet that would appease your need to be in control of all things at all times.”
Fuck. I hated when Reece made sense.
“I’m going home now. This is your only warning unless you want to tuck and roll as I drive by the doors.”
“Okay, but I’m keeping your blanket.”
Before I could object, he hopped out of the car and ran across the parking lot, blanket flapping behind him like a cape. Idiot. I’d get it back from him later.
After I made a stop at Taryn’s house.