Chapter 13 #2
“Nah, even in cold weather I’m able to trace the tan lines on your body. Surprisingly, it’s not my tongue but my fingers that I enjoy sketching those lines with. I think it’s more sensitive against your skin. Not that it matters, you’re always drenched around me.”
I swat him gently. “Anyhow, I’m happy we are taking a break to get some fresh air.”
Before we can continue our stroll, I grin to myself when I notice Flo pretending to go on an evening jog, heading straight for us. I texted her that Stone and I would be going for a walk, as I wanted to know the name of the new restaurant on the pier.
“Oh, hey there,” she waves to us then slows her pace to stop.
I shake my head, amused. “Stone, this is my friend Flo. Clearly, she’s taken up jogging as a hobby.”
“Now, now, Harlow. We all need to try something out of our comfort zone. Plus, you forgot that you have me on that tracker app because we believe in safety first.” Flo raises her brows at me, and I sigh because I forgot about that.
Stone looks between us with a goofy grin. “Hi, Flo, nice to meet you.”
“The feeling is mutual.” Flo turns to me and mutters, “He’s way hotter in the flesh. Those online photos don’t do him justice.”
In the corner of my eye, Stone dips his head and rubs his thumb across his jaw with a wry smile on his mouth. He seems to be preening from Flo’s statement.
“A romantic sunset walk, points for effort,” Flo tells Stone. “No bonus points since you didn’t bring a picnic.”
“I assure you that I’ll make it up to Harlow later.” Stone is now a little smug.
Flo flashes her eyes at me. “I bet you will.”
“You’ve now seen him in the flesh. Anything else, Flo?” I try to move this along.
“I mean, I have about a thousand questions, but I don’t want to ruin this moment between you two, and I need to head to the grocery store.”
“Well, be on your way then. I’ll see you at Tuesday’s Zumba class,” I encourage her to scoot away, with my words nearly gritted out.
“Hint taken. Nice to meet you, Stone. Harlow talks about you a lot.”
He glances at me with swagger. “Wonderful to hear.”
“Go,” I say, giving my friend a curt tone. Flo only giggles and walks away. “What happened to your run?” I call out.
Flo quickly throws me a look. “Fuck that. I hate running.”
Stone attempts to hide his chuckle, and I just smile awkwardly.
When we’re out of earshot, Stone’s eyes meet mine. “Well, cross meeting the crazy friend off the list,” I inform him.
“It’s good. It seems we have a list.” He drapes his arm around my shoulder to direct me to continue our walk.
Stone searches for a shell with his toe as we slow our walk. “I’ll be handing in the last round of edits next week.” His tone maybe has a hint of soberness.
“That’s great, no?”
He glances at me with a soft smile. “Actually, yes, I’m just struggling with the ending.”
“Well, what is the ending for a hockey player? Do you mean the next steps in your character’s career or life in general?”
“Both. You have to take the competitive aspect out of your life,” he notes.
I glance off to the calm waves as the sunset’s hues reflect off the horizon.
“I know we’ve talked about it before but I think it plays a big role in your life.
Do you miss playing hockey on a team? I mean, even though it was only a few years, I’m sure it left an imprint in your life.
” My head turns back to him to notice his face remains stoic.
“It’s a bitter pill to swallow sometimes.
For years, you’re building up and hoping for a career as a professional, then you get a taste and…
” He snaps his fingers. “It’s gone, just like that.
I’m grateful for the few years that I had out in Colorado, but half of me didn’t want to give it up and the other half knew better. I’m lucky that I have another hobby.”
“Lucky indeed.” The corner of his mouth lifts from my statement. We wouldn’t have met unless we crossed paths; I sure as hell wouldn’t have met him at a hockey game.
Stone loops his arm around my body as we continue to walk, the sand feeling cool between our toes. “You know, my favorite play in hockey is actually a pinch.”
I sputter a laugh. “I would like to think that you’re making innuendo, but you’re not. Maybe that makes it more endearing.”
“Trust me, I’m not a commendable guy. Someone is probably writing a book about my antics on and off the ice. If only they knew that a plot twist just entered my life.”
My heart patters in an unusual beat. It’s Stone. He’s seeping inside of me. I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to let a shade of crimson spread. I do agree with his assessment, though.
We take a few steps before sitting down to watch the sun go down. The wind breezes through my hair, and I take a deep relaxing breath. “You know, I normally don’t come here, unless I’m with a friend. There is no way I would come here alone when the sun sets and the night descends.”
Stone pulls me closer to his side. “But you’re here now.”
“Because there are strong arms around me… Speaking of which, how many pushups do you do a day?” I try to bring lightheartedness to this conversation, even though another traumatic past event seems to be breaking away, and that’s profound.
“Do you think it will ever go away, the feeling?” he wonders.
I shrug. “It’s getting better slowly. But probably not.
I remember fewer details, if that’s any consolation.
” Every time we talk about it, I notice Stone tense, his jaw tightening as if he would kill someone.
I touch his knee to assure him. “New topic. The dinosaur animal crackers at the store were on sale, so that made my week.”
“I thought it was me,” he retorts.
“But they have pink frosting with sprinkles.” I pretend to pout.
“Well, in that case,” he rebuffs.
My head falls onto his shoulder. “We can hit the bar after this if you want. I think there’s a hockey game on the TV there. Take it easy and don’t make it too late. If we don’t wear ourselves out, then maybe we can try writing in the morning.”
“As much as a joint writing session sounds like a delight, with my iced latte that everyone here seems to drink while rollerblading or pretending to have run five miles, I’m confident you would just be a distraction.”
“Hmm. Would it be better if we were at my house and just take it easy, with you writing shirtless and me in your shirt, knowing full well once we get 500 words in then we can rip everything off and end up on the living room floor?” I suggest while throwing on my sultry look.
He kisses the top of my head. “Yes. Now come here.”
Stone indicates for me to sit between his legs as we both look out across the ocean.
“You’re tearing down the boundaries I thought I had, and I’m not complaining. I want you to break more.”
He scrapes his lips near my earlobe. “Harlow, you’re making me create boundaries I didn’t even realize I’m capable of.”
“Perfect opposites then.”
We take in the sunset, but the sun might as well run away. It’s the feeling of Stone’s body wrapped around me like a blanket and his lips skimming my cheek to whisper sweet nothings in my ear that has me mesmerized in this moment.
It turns out that I might be lucky.
But nobody is that lucky.
I know.