Chapter 23 Zero Chill Luna
Zero Chill
Luna
There’s something soothing about the neutral tones and lack of clutter in the vacant office.
Which is why I snuck in here two hours before practice, attempting to keep the delicious memories from the weekend at bay.
Apparently, there’s not enough beige in the world to make me forget the way Beau’s touch made me feel.
Who knew he’d turn out to be the least selfish guy I’ve ever had in bed?
Coach is fine with me using the space. Usually, I only come here to review tapes or check out stats.
But since this particular social media is for the benefit of the department, I didn’t feel guilty coming extra early to do some editing.
My roommates are all about the fame and glory, but sometimes they don’t understand quite how much time and energy the editing process takes.
There’s so much footage from the photo shoot, making it a more time-intensive task than my usual videos. That’s it. Not because I’ve been fixated on this one particular scene.
A soft knock on the door pulls me out of the zone. The door flies open before I’ve responded, and my heartbeat revs into high gear.
“Maisie.” My shoulders relax, and I lean back in my seat. “You’re going to give me a heart attack one of these days.”
“Excellent. My plan is working. After you’re out of the picture, I’ll take over as captain. Insert evil laugh here.”
I shake my head at her. “You’d be the worst villain. You have zero chill, and you’re way too loud.”
Her lip pushes out into a pout. “No mention of how sweet and caring I am? My endless self-sacrifices.”
“Really? Didn’t you just tell me you’re planning a coup? Nice try.”
“Fair. What are you working on? Did you see my backhand toe drag in the third period? Fucking perfection. She had no chance. Bow down before your queen.”
Maisie dips in a dramatic bow, then steps over beside me.
“Uh.” I go to click away from the screen, but she steals the mouse.
“Wilder. Have you been working on this the entire time?”
Her long hair slides over her shoulder to block my view as she leans in closer to the screen, clicking away on my mouse.
“Yes, there’s a lot of footage to go through.”
“Mm hm, and how much of it features your new lover?” She drags out the word lover.
“He’s not my...”
“Wilder, don’t bullshit me. I’m your best friend.” She swipes her hair behind her ear, and I finally get a view of the image she’s staring at, frozen on the screen.
“Yes, we slept together. But that’s all it was. One night. One fucking fantastic night, but I don’t think it’ll happen again. We haven’t even talked since then.”
She turns to me with a raised eyebrow. “I’ve seen you smiling at your phone. You’ve been texting him.”
“Yeah. We’re working together.”
“Sure you are. Did you go over the tapes from our last game?”
“No, but I’ve still got time. I needed to get these videos done so I could send them to Sin.”
“Sorry to tell you, my friend, you don’t. It’s almost time to dress for practice. Come on, Captain. I was just joking about taking over the job. I enjoy being an alternate. All the glory, but less of the responsibility.”
She spins my laptop toward me, tucking her hair behind an ear, and giving a flourish to emphasize her grand reveal.
He’s way too pretty for his own good. But in the softer moments, he loses his guard.
The cracks in his polished facade that have kept me locked on the screen.
There’s a lot more behind those eyes than he shows the public.
And seeing him go from uncomfortable to laughing by the end of the photo shoot is mesmerizing.
“Now be honest with yourself, and even more important, be honest with your bestie. Is this more than a fling? Do you want more from him?”
I blow out a long breath, stalling for time. Do I want more? Do I want to date Beau Whitaker?
“That would be a terrible idea.”
She shakes her head. “Not what I asked.”
Right. She’s not going to let me go without a genuine answer. “I think I do.”
“Then go for it. Tell him. Life’s too short, and you rarely take the time to do something for yourself. I’d put the chance of a no at minus one percent.”
As if to prove her point, she pauses the video. The screen is frozen on a still of him staring at me. There’s a smile on his face that reaches all the way to his eyes, crinkling them at the corners. Kind of like the ones I’ve seen on his sister.
Most of his smiles don’t go past the corners of his lips.
They’re perfect and calculated. Designed not to reveal a single hint of his inner self.
But this one is different. More authentic.
And it’s aimed at me. At least that’s the way the paused shot makes it appear.
In reality, it was probably the cats. Even the frostiest soul would melt under those faces.
“It’s you, Wilder. He’s looking at you. Don’t lie to yourself.”
I shake my head at her. Why does she have to read me so well?
“What is it that changed your mind about him? You’re usually more set in your opinions than my grandfather complaining about kids these days with their dirty music and tight pants.”
I’m not sure whether she intends it as an insult or a compliment.
But it makes me think. What is it that changed my opinion of him?
His first impression left such a stain on my brain I never thought I’d forgive him.
But there’s something behind that polished facade of his.
Something that makes me want to take out an ice pick to chip away at it.
I pull my lower lip out from between my teeth.
“There’s a lot more to him than most people see. ”
“Like a big dick?” Her lips are pressed together to keep the laugh in, but I let mine out as my shoulders ease up.
“My lips are sealed.”
“I’ve heard things.” Now her eyes are gleaming with curiosity.
“They’re probably true.” I wink at her.
Her low whistle echoes in the small room. “Nice. I’m going to tell Beth she owes me five bucks.”
“No betting on his dick size, Maisie.” But I’m talking to her retreating back, and the warning vanishes into the ether.
At least I think it does.
“What’s that you were saying about me, Wild Thing?” Beau’s tall frame replaces Maisie’s in the doorway. He’s wearing grey pants that can only be described as slacks. They’ve got freaking creases in them. His navy polo shirt looks like it belongs at a country club.
“I wasn’t talking about you.” Of course, that’s the one sentence he happened to overhear.
A blond eyebrow arches straight up to his hairline, taunting me.
“Forget it.”
He pushes off the doorway, stepping closer.
My heart rate picks up at the thought of following through on my conversation with Maisie.
It’s not like we didn’t already talk about this the other night.
I was the one who vehemently claimed I’d never be interested in anything more with him. And he agreed.
“I can’t. It was incredible. I think we should try it again sometime. Make sure it wasn’t a fluke.” He’s got a look in his eyes. The one that says I’m the only one for him. But maybe that’s one more thing he’s good at pretending.
“I don’t want to.”
With another crack in his veneer, his mouth pops open. The shock on his face is satisfying but also irritating. He’s so damn sure of himself. Sometimes I wish I had that kind of confidence.
“Okay then. I guess I’ll head out. I was going to ask you...”
“That’s not what I meant.” I have to get this out before he goes any further, and now I’m wondering if he was thinking the same thing I was.
Now I want to be the brave one. The one that puts myself out there.
If only to one-up him. That can’t be healthy.
“I’m not interested in a fling, but I’ve been thinking maybe we should see if we’re compatible in other areas. ”
He swallows hard. “Other areas? Why, Wild Thing, I didn’t know you were into the kinky shit.”
Maybe this was a terrible idea. Monumentally bad.
“No.” I shake my head, shut my eyes and imagine I’m standing in the face-off circle.
“What I meant was, would you be interested in going on a date with me? See how it goes. We’ve got so much in common anyway, plus the sex was pretty good.
Maybe we should try it out.” I keep my tone as casual as I can, proud that there’s no warble in my voice to give away the rising anxiety.
My hands are locked in my lap because they’d be a dead giveaway.
“Pretty good? You wound me. I thought it was fucking incredible.”
He and his over-inflated ego went straight there. Why did I let Maisie talk me into this? “Never...”
“I’d love to.” My eyes fly open as he cuts me off before I can take back the request.
“Really?” I squint hard at him, trying to spot the lie. “I thought you said you weren’t interested in dating?”
“I never said that.”
“Yes, you said...” I search my mind for his words, but I think they wandered off into the bliss.
“I said I wasn’t planning on giving you a ring. You were the one who said it was just a fling. I’d love to take you out. In fact. There’s this black-tie fundraiser thing I have to go to next weekend. You should come with.”
I still can’t quite register that he said yes, so it takes a minute for the request to sink in. “A black-tie event? For a first date? I don’t know what kind of world you come from, but in my world, pizza and a movie are a more logical place to start.”
He ducks his head, running a hand through his hair in the way he does when he’s agitated. Why do I know that about him? “Right. There is a movie marathon this Saturday at the little cinema above Top Shelf. They’re showing some witchy movies, if that’s your thing. Cece was talking about it.”
“Oh, that sounds... no wait, I can’t Saturday. I’ve already got plans.” Now that I think about it, why did I think this was feasible? Between our hockey schedules, school, and volunteering, we might find a day in the next five years or so that’ll work for both of us.
“That’s too bad. What have you got going on?”
I’m about to snap at him. Tell him it’s none of his business, but then I remember that’s not a normal reaction to someone you just asked out.
It’s going to be tough transitioning him in my mind from foe to more than a friend.
“My sister’s got a dance competition. It’s a local one, and my dad is going to take over after lunch so I can go to practice, but I promised I’d be there for her. ”
“Dance competition. Sounds fun. Can I come?” He crosses his arms over his chest, studying me like it’s a challenge. Like he’s testing me out to see if I really meant my invitation.
“It’s not fun. For anyone. Picture this. Getting up at the ass crack of dawn, cranky seventeen-year-old drama queen, probable wardrobe emergency, and a lot of waiting around. Oh, and dance moms. They’ll devour you in one bite.”
“You think I can’t handle it?”
I shake my head, amazed he’s even considering it. Obviously, he has no idea what this day is going to entail. “I think you don’t want to. Hell, I don’t want to, and she’s my own sister.”
“I’ll be there. Want me to pick the two of you up? Just give me a time and place.” He’s casually leaning against the wall, one foot crossed in front of the other.
A ride? Honestly, that would be amazing. A chance to avoid wrestling my sister’s beast of a dance bag into the tiny trunk of a rideshare? Yes, please. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure. Text me the details.”
“I will.”
I’m still staring at him, head tilted to the side, when he closes the distance between us. He takes his time, as if he’s testing this out. The relationship factor. He reaches out, and a shiver runs through me as he brushes an escaped tendril of hair behind my ear.
He folds at the waist, planting a soft kiss on my lips. It feels different. Now that we’ve taken a step toward something more.
I shut my eyes, breathing him in. His soft scent surrounds me, hands curled around my cheeks. All the anxieties disappear when we’re like this. It’s just the two of us.
“You coming, bestie?” Maisie’s voice cuts through the moment, and I jerk away from him.
“Oops, sorry for the interruption. But we have to get to practice. I’ll leave you to say your goodbyes in privacy.
” She turns tail, ponytail whipping in her haste to get out of there, but she throws a parting shot over her shoulder. “You’re welcome, Whitaker.”
I ignore the question on Beau’s curious face, gathering up my laptop and viciously zipping my bag shut. “I gotta go.” Isn’t he the one obsessed with punctuality? Now he’s going to make me late.
He stands there frozen like the image on my laptop. I rush out of the room, ducking by him before he can snag my arm. It takes all of my self-restraint not to look back, but it’s like he’s still with me. His kiss lingers on my lips, and my pulse races as his unexpected agreement blooms in my chest.