Chapter Thirteen #2
Adrian’s eyes lowered momentarily. “Yeah…fun.” He smiled at me. “All for show, like we said originally. Now that we’ve been together—”
I didn’t want to hear the words I knew were coming. I’d already had my guts ripped out by Denis. Losing Adrian wasn’t a risk I was willing to take.
“You’re important to me, Adrian. It’s only been a short time since we’ve reconnected, but the reality is, we’ve known each other forever. I don’t want to screw up our friendship. We can leave it as something that happened here, and that’s it.”
When he didn’t respond, I left him lying in the bed and took a shower.
I’d hoped to spend some more time with Adrian, but now I wasn’t so sure that was his plan.
And seeing my father in person had upended me.
I still hadn’t come to grips with it. That had to be why I suddenly needed to cling to Adrian.
He’d been there with me, and he was the only person who knew my father existed.
Finished with the bathroom, I saw that Adrian had left the bed and gathered his clothes. I pulled out my clothes and dressed.
“I can shower in my room if you want,” he said with downcast eyes.
Acting like strangers after sharing such intimacy seemed foolish. “Adrian, come on. Emotions ran wild yesterday. We got carried away, but nothing’s changed between us.”
“I guess you’re right.” Relief shone in his eyes. “I’ve got this new show to concentrate on, and you’ve got the playoffs coming up. We’re both adults who can handle our business. Plenty of people remain friends after…you know…” He turned pink.
Damn, he was cute, and as much as I was hurting, I couldn’t be angry with him. “Agreed.” I put a hand on his shoulder and fought to restrain myself from encircling his nape and pulling him close. “The most important thing is our friendship.”
The air crackled between us as our eyes met, and something painful twisted in my chest. I was lying, but if Adrian was determined to keep it light and easy, I’d do what he wanted.
He chewed the inside of his cheek and gave me a sharp nod. “I agree. Pretend boyfriends but real friendship.”
“That sounds about right to me. Especially now, I think we can pull off the boyfriend gig, don’t you?”
I didn’t miss that blush I was beginning to become addicted to. “I hope so.”
**
The team plane was leaving at three, and Adrian’s an hour later. We didn’t have much time to spend together, and there were still some things I wanted to hash out between the two of us. I tossed down my coffee and called for the check. Adrian had barely touched his breakfast.
“Ready?”
Adrian’s brows rose, but he took my hand, and together we left the restaurant. I didn’t miss Seb’s smirk or Denis’s narrowed gaze. Didn’t people have their own lives to think about instead of inserting themselves into mine?
“What’s the rush?” Adrian asked as we walked outside. “You seemed like you couldn’t wait to leave.”
I shaded my eyes against the sun. “Well, I have to leave the hotel for the airport no later than one with the team, and when in Texas, we need to see the Alamo. Don’t you think?”
I heard my name called. “Rip?”
Shit. Last night I’d gotten so caught up in Adrian, I’d forgotten to text my father to leave me alone until after the season.
John Carver stood waiting in the parking lot.
He waved at me, and still holding Adrian’s hand, I walked over to him.
“What’re you doing here again?” I demanded, wondering if he was following me around town.
“I was hopin’ now you might have a minute to hear me out.”
“Well, you were wrong. I have to pack and leave. And if you don’t stop following me, I might have to get a restraining order. For the last time, leave me the hell alone.”
“Rip, please. Just lemme talk to you.”
“I don’t have time. My plane leaves in a few hours.” I refused to look at him. “Don’t call me anymore either.” I made a show of taking out my phone and blocking his number. “I should’ve done this years ago.”
Grief and pain clouded his weathered face, but I was determined not to let it sway me. I stared straight ahead.
“One day you’re gonna talk to me.” He strode off.
I couldn’t imagine that would ever come to pass.
Because he’d never been there. After school I’d sit in the diner to do my homework while my mother worked, the smell of grease from the grill embedded in my clothes and hair no matter how many times I showered or asked her to wash my shirts and jeans.
Hating the men who flirted with her or tried touching her.
Wishing I could be with her on the weekends instead of spending all my time with Neil—not because I didn’t want to be playing hockey with my best friend, but because I knew how hard she worked to give me a new stick or better skates, and we didn’t get to see each other enough.
I wasn’t one of those kids who rebelled against authority.
My mother sacrificed her needs for mine, and in the end she died trying to be the best mother she could. Alone.
Adrian peered at me.
“You okay? You’re all red in the face.”
Get your shit together.
“I’m good, I promise.” Blocking John Carver had lifted a weight from my shoulders.
We made our way to the Alamo, where we didn’t have time for a tour but took numerous pictures.
It was quick and fun, and for a brief moment I was able to banish all thoughts of hockey from my mind.
Being with Adrian freed me from the constant strain of the upcoming schedule and how many games were left to play.
It was rare I had time simply to enjoy life.
I was too busy comparing myself to younger players who might replace me or thinking about that damn Stanley Cup championship.
Back at the hotel, we separated to pack. I didn’t have much, as my equipment was already en route. I wheeled my carry-on to Adrian’s room. He opened the door, and I saw his suitcase open on the bed.
“The team bus is here, so I gotta go. I just wanted to say good-bye.”
Adrian had changed into a sweater for the cooler weather in the city. “I, uh, guess we’ll talk when we’re both home? The show’s on tonight.”
“Yeah? We could watch it together.”
“Oh, yeah. That’d be nice.” He bobbed his head and gave me a brief smile.
“Let me know when you land,” I said in a vain attempt to prolong our time together. Why was he acting so standoffish?
“Sure, okay. Uh…safe flight.” He closed and zipped up his carry-on.
“Yeah, you too.”
Without thinking, I brushed my lips to his, and before I knew it, my tongue pushed into his mouth and I was kissing him with a deep, fierce intensity. Adrian’s arms wrapped around me, and I was seconds away from walking him backward toward the bed.
“Ahh, l’amour.”
Hearing Denis’s snide remark was like a douse of ice water over me, and I braced myself. Dancing dark eyes met mine.
“Go away, Denis. Don’t you have anything better to do than watch me kiss my boyfriend?” Adrian stayed within the circle of my arms.
“Boyfriend happened very quickly, non? I recall we didn’t make our relationship public for months.”
I was about to respond, but Adrian beat me to it.
“You’re getting married. Why do you care anymore what Rip does and with whom?”