Chapter 31
“First class? Are you crazy?”
“That’s the good news,” Kane says on Tuesday morning as he walks me to class. “The bad news is that we were bumped to a Friday flight. Probably because the flight wasn’t full enough. Either that or a staffing issue.”
I shrug. “That’s not bad news. It’s better news.”
He glares at me. “You are not spending Thanksgiving Day alone in your dorm room—no matter how much you were looking forward to it.”
“I was looking forward to seeing what the room looks like without a cloud of smoke lingering in the air.”
“I need to get you the fuck out of there,” he mutters.
“I told you, it’s so much better now that I have my own room.”
He’s still scowling as he looks ahead. “You are spending Thanksgiving at The Castle. Pretty much the whole team will be there, save for a few guys who go back home for the long weekend. But it’ll be great.
And the best part? We pre-order the biggest turkey from Frank’s Deli.
Greyson dresses it, sticks it in the oven on two hundred degrees before everyone arrives, and takes the credit. ”
I laugh. “That sounds like fun. But—”
“Isla.” He stops in the middle of the hallway, and I stiffen, looking around us to see how much attention we’re catching over our innocent confrontation.
“It’s no one you haven’t met yet. And if there is, I’ll introduce you.
” He steps close, lowering his voice. “Now that I know what happened, I know how to handle it.”
“Really, Dr. Hotshot? Can I see your PhD?”
He leans in and I’m afraid he’s about to kiss me, which we agreed not to do around campus. “I’ve got you, Sunshine.”
If I say no, he’ll feel obligated to stay with me alone in my dorm. If I say yes, then…I risk getting all weird and embarrassing him. Or worse—he’d warn everyone not to be weird around me.
Kane has been patient when we’re in public, knowing how nervous I am about people figuring out I’m Shadow if they see us together.
But I know he hates keeping me a secret. So as much as it scares me, I need to budge on this one a little.
Besides, what kind of girlfriend would I be if I gave him any indication that I’m ashamed of us? I’m supposed to be his biggest fan.
Because apparently…he’s mine.
“Alright. Thanksgiving at The Castle.”
He grins wide. “God, I want to kiss you right now.”
I glance around nervously. “I’ve got to get to class. Save it for later?”
He steps back, his eyes soft. “Later.”
I turn and catch two girls watching us. They don’t even try to look away. Instead, they watch me walk to my next class.
“Hey, you’re Kane Andrew’s tutor, right?”
“Um…” I glance back but he’s already gone. “I did tutor him, yes.”
She backhands her friend’s arm. “Told you.” She turns back to me. “It’s just not the first time we’ve seen you with him.”
My eyes shift between the two of them, my stomach twisting. “And it won’t be the last. Excuse me.” I turn and walk toward my class.
Okay, I don’t know where that came from, but we’ll just go with it.
The Locker Room
Kane’s Shadow
Kane19: Game canceled tonight. You’re off the hook.
Shadow: Oh no. What will I do now?
Kane19: You’re tellin’ me. Got all this adrenaline pumping through me. Need to burn it off with a good time.
Shadow: Enjoy. Don’t go pulling any muscles.
Kane19: Oh I won’t. What I have in mind, I happen to be an expert at.
Shadow: Is that so?
Kane19: And I’m even better at teaching it.
Heat flushes my cheeks and I love this little pregame, postgame ritual we have privately on the app.
It’s become a tease into our night together.
And I know exactly why he messaged me here instead of a regular text.
Here, I let Shadow do the talking. The sexy, daring, fearless side of me I wish I was every day.
Kane knows it.
And he’s patient with me. He understands and works through it with me.
And if this is going where I think it’s going, I’m going to show him that appreciation tonight.
Shadow: I’ll be the judge of that.
Kane19: Actually, we all will. If you suck at this, the guys will never let you live it down.
kane19 has left the locker room.
What on earth?
I spend the rest of the afternoon wondering what the hell Kane meant when he said the guys would judge me if I sucked at this.
Especially after the thoughts I had running through my mind. But I have a feeling I am way off when Kane texts me later, telling me he left my outfit for tonight at the library. And to be at the rink by seven.
I pick up the pair of warm leggings and a new Northwind Knights hoodie. He also dropped a pair of thick socks into the bag.
I follow Kane’s ominous directions back to the arena, give some code word to security, and walk through the steel door.
“There she is,” I hear Hunter call from the rink.
From the far left, Kane’s head turns, and he flashes me a huge grin. The kind that makes a girl want to say Whatever it is, the answer is yes.
I make my way down and Kane meets me by the bleachers. “Welcome.”
“Are you guys allowed to be here?”
“Yeees and no,” he stretches.
I cock my head at him. “What does that mean?”
“It means we’re not but if we get caught, no one will say anything. Benny, the security guard, will play dumb.” He nods to the bench. “Sit.”
While he removes my boots and pulls on a pair of skates next to his bag, I look out at the scene in front of me.
Other than Hunter and Grey, about half the team is on the ice.
Some playing hockey, others simply gliding gracefully across the ice with their friends in what appears to be an evening of unadulterated fun.
Kane ties the laces tight around my ankles. “About once or twice a year, when a game gets canceled and we are all too pumped for it, we use the empty arena as an opportunity to sneak in and free skate. Let loose a little bit.”
I hear a girl shriek in the background.
He glances back. “And sometimes, we bring dates.”
I shake my head. “Oh you know, I could just watch. From here. In my boots.”
“I won’t leave your side.” He stands and holds out his hand.
I grip it and follow him onto the slippery surface.
“Love the hoodie,” I say, mostly to distract myself.
“Yeah, I thought you might. It doesn’t have a number. So you don’t have to be paranoid about it.”
“I’m not paranoid. I’d wear your number.”
“Yeah?” He glances down at me. “Prove it. Titans game this Sunday, after we get back from New York.”
“Wear your jersey and sit up front? How will you focus?”
He grins, tugging me closer as he glides us across the ice.
How I’m managing to stay upright and make crazy promises right now is beyond me. But it’s important to him. And I need to take this leap. For him. And for myself.
After a few minutes, he picks up speed and I screech, pulling myself to his side.
“Kane. You’re a great teacher…otherwise, but I don’t know about this.” I wobble, feeling my legs lose balance.
“Nonsense, you’re doing great.”
Ronan and his date wave at us. Their smiles wide and infectious. His date seems to also be a beginner, wobbling with every stride.
“Who’s keeping who on their toes?” Greyson calls, engaged in a spirited game of one-on-one hockey with Cole, giving him a run for his money as he swivels around, maneuvering the puck and slamming it into an unguarded net.
Roars and laughter fill the air and Kane keeps me tethered to his strong hand as he makes his rounds to his friends, teasing them as we pass by.
“Ready? Hold on tight.”
“For what?”
“For this.” He extends his hand, parting us until our arms are stretched.
I yelp, calling his name and shutting my eyes when he circles and pulls me fiercely against his chest. I put up my hand and he catches me seamlessly.
He laughs and stops us by the boards, embracing me in his arms. “There’s hope for you yet, baby.” It’s a low whisper that sends shivers down my spine.
I’m speechless against his warm body. The urge to rest my head against him and breathe in the moment is strong. I want to savor it.
I expect Kane to release me and look away, but instead, his grip is tight and he grins at me. We don’t kiss but I can see it in his eyes, I feel it in the way he’s holding me.
He wants to.
Probably almost as bad as I do.
But he’s playing it safe, for my sake.
I don’t know when it happened—and I can’t bring myself to worry about the implications of what it means—but I love how Kane makes me feel. I love how gentle and rough he is. How soft yet demanding he is.
Most of all, I love the way he’s looking at me right now.