23. Trenton
Trenton
Aarya glares at me from under her helmet. “I blame you for this.”
I stifle a laugh. “But you’re going to have so much fun.”
“A trip to the ER does not constitute as fun.”
“Ah, come on.” Krum throws his arm around her shoulders. “You’re with me. I won’t let you end up in the hospital.”
Cassidy nods. “Trent didn’t let me fall the first time we skated together.”
“That wasn’t on ice.” Aarya gestures to her ice skates. “There weren’t sharp, flesh-cutting blades attached to the bottom of your feet ready to—”
Her leg slides out from under her and her hands flail in the air as she slips, but Krum is there to catch her. He wraps his arms around her waist, pulling her body flush against him to steady her.
“See, baby girl? I got you.”
Her nose scrunches in disgust. “Don’t call me baby girl. You sound like that creepy dude from the 365 movie.”
Cassidy throws her head back and laughs.
Krum glances at me. “Do you know what movie that is?”
I shake my head. “Not a clue.”
Cassidy pats my shoulder. “We’ll watch it tonight.”
Aarya’s eyebrows press together. “Isn’t your reunion tonight?”
“I decided not to go.” Cassidy hikes a shoulder. “I’m in such a different place now than I was when I received the invite. I have zero interest in going.”
“Not even to show off your arm candy?” Aarya waves her arm in my direction. “It’d kill Sheldon to see you two together.”
“I don’t care what Sheldon thinks, or anyone else for that matter.” Cassidy smiles up at me, and my chest expands. “I’d love nothing more than to sit home in our pajamas and watch Netflix instead of getting dressed up to hang around a bunch of people I can’t stand.”
“Good for you.” Aarya squeezes her shoulder. “Fuck ‘em all.”
Cassidy’s eyes drift to the entrance to the locker room. “Hey, who’s that talking with Celeste?”
I crane my neck to see. “Oh, that’s Stamos’ wife, Kourtney.”
Aarya grunts. “They look awful cozy.”
Krum and I whip our heads to her.
Aarya holds up her hands, feigning innocence. “What? It’s true. Look at their body language.”
Cassidy keeps her eyes on them. “Is Celeste into women?”
I hike a shoulder. “No clue. We work together. We don’t talk about her personal life.”
“You don’t think something is going on between Kourtney and Celeste, do you?” Krum asks to no one in particular.
I shake my head. “Stams mentioned they’ve been friends for a long time. They grew up together.”
Cassidy hums like she’s thinking, but she doesn’t let us in on it.
“Not a bad deal if you’re Stams.”
Aarya smacks Krum in the shoulder.
“Ow, what was that for?”
She rolls her eyes. “That’s such a man thing to say.”
“Come on. You’re thinking it too.”
While the two continue to bicker, Cassidy tugs on my sleeve. “Come on. Toby just walked in.”
We closed the rink to host Toby’s birthday party for his family and friends, and some of the guys on the Goldfinches agreed to give them some hockey lessons.
We spend the next hour with Toby and his friends, but my eyes are like magnets, following Cassidy wherever she goes. I watch her as she helps the boys skate; as she talks with Toby’s mother; as she laughs with my teammates. My heart couldn’t be fuller with the love I have for this woman.
She went from the nuisance next door to everything I never knew I needed.
Cassidy catches me staring and skates over to me beside the boards. “Whatcha lookin’ at?”
“You.” I snake my arm around her and pull her close. “You’re getting pretty good at skating.”
She winks. “I had a good teacher.”
I lean down and press my lips to hers. “I love you. You know that, right?”
“I love you, Trent.” She nips at my bottom lip. “And I can’t wait to show you just how much later.”
I hum against the crook of her neck, trailing light kisses along her skin. “I can’t wait.”
“Hey, lovebirds,” McKinley yells from across the rink. “They’re bringing out the cake. Quit sucking face and get over here.”
I smile down at Cassidy. “Wanna race?”
She grins. “Game on, Neighbor Man.”
THE END
Keep reading for book two, Odd Man Rush