Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Bright blue eyes meet mine. Despite the dull glow of the streetlights, his gaze still has that piercing shine.
“You can take me to dinner,” I say.
He looks confused. “But you said—”
“I know what I said, and I still think it’s a bad idea, but this—” I hold up the articles. “I can’t pretend this wasn’t the best gift I got this birthday.”
A small smile breaks out on his usually stoic face. “Where do you want to eat?”
“The same place you rescued me from my horrible date?”
“Sure. You can drive. I walked here.”
“You really need to get your own car,” I say on our way to the parking lot where I left my truck.
“Sure. I will buy it with Monopoly money. Car dealers accept that, I’m sure.”
“You work two jobs.”
“I do, and with the extra hours in the bar, I’m putting some money away, but unless I’m going to buy another clunker that breaks down every few weeks, it will be a while before I can get something decent.”
“Fair enough.” Though, something about his words doesn’t ring completely true.
I’ve known Rainn a while now, and it seems any big decisions or anything that involves big plans are always future things to deal with.
He puts off making decisions—like going back to college.
I’ve asked him why he hasn’t gone back, and all he says is there’s no point when his future isn’t in sports, so finishing a sports management degree would be useless, but I don’t know why he can’t go back and study something else instead.
The drive to Church Street is short, and the whole way I coach myself that I can do this. I can have dinner with Rainn and pretend I’m not sulkily pining after him, but when we enter the restaurant, I know I’m well and truly fucked and this was a horrible idea.
We’re led to a table and take our seats opposite each other, and in this kind of atmosphere, and Rainn being … well, Rainn, I have to remind myself this is a nice dinner for my birthday. It’s not a date, and it never will be a date.
I’m flooded with that painful ache in my chest reminding me that this is all I can have with him.
The server takes our orders and fills our water glasses, and I watch as Rainn takes a sip. No, I stare at the way his throat moves as he swallows, and I hate how sexy he looks. Always.
I sigh, but it must be louder than I intend it to come out.
“What?” Rainn asks.
“Nothing.”
He arches an eyebrow at me.
My neck sweats, and I adjust the collar of my shirt. “It’s just …since the kiss, you look good doing every-fucking-thing.” And long before that, but let’s pretend it was the kiss.
“All I did was take a sip of water.”
I shrug. “Apparently, I like that. As well as watching you on the ice tonight. You’re still amazing, and seeing you skate up close was something else.”
Rainn chews on his bottom lip. “Want me to try to make myself as unappealing as possible so you can forget the kiss that never should have happened?”
My heart twinges.
“I’d like you to at least try.” I try to keep my tone light even though I’m dying on the inside.
He looks contemplative. “Okay. Shaved head it is. I’ll go to the barber tomorrow.”
I gasp. “Don’t you dare. You can’t shave your head. Your hair is all shiny.”
“What about inner ugliness? Will that help? Truth bomb: I have spoken to my mom only a handful of times since my injury because she always wants to talk about it, and it drives me crazy.”
“Wow. Hitting where it really hurts, right off the bat. I can’t even fathom not seeing my mother all the time.”
“Mama’s boy,” Rainn sneers.
“Actually, I’m close with my dad too.”
“Family … boy.” Rainn screws up his face. “That doesn’t have the same negative connotation.”
I laugh. “Sure doesn’t. Also, even being called a mama’s boy isn’t offensive to me.”
“Of course it’s not.” Rainn taps his chin. “Hmm, I never give to charity.”
“You have no money. That makes sense.”
“I hate people.”
“People can suck.”
“Whit,” he complains. “You’re supposed to be judging me, not taking my side.”
“Oh, sorry. Right. Uh, you … suck?”
Rainn leans back in his seat. “Okay. Here’s the real deal. Coach Keller told me tonight to call this guy he recently met. He’s planning to create a hockey camp for underprivileged kids. They’d learn skills that might give them a chance at a collegiate-level hockey scholarship and a degree, and maybe even the chance to get drafted.”
“Really? That’s amazing. Why would that make me dislike you?”
“Because my first thought when he told me that was ‘Why would I want to help other kids steal my dream?’”
I wince.
“See. I’m selfish.” He hangs his head, knowing his reaction is wrong which immediately cancels his point. He’s not a bad person at all.