Gametime: A Moo U Hockey Romance by Jami Davenport (shoe dog free ebook txt) 📗

there, too. Did I dare hope? Was it desire? Or something more lasting? Or just mere friendship my hungry mind was interpreting as something else?

“Was Patrick and me getting things straight.”

“What kinds of things?” I held my breath and waited for her answer. She clenched my hand, but I didn’t point out my circulation was being cut off. Instead, I hid my other hand under the table because it was shaking. My heart slammed against my ribs like a caged animal trying to break out of captivity. I’d held it under wraps for too long with the exception of one misplaced night, which forever lived in my dreams and a few partial encores.

“I’ve changed, too, Pax. For the longest time, I didn’t know what I wanted on several fronts. I’ve been so confused. The majority of my life, I tried to be what everyone else wanted me to be, or what I thought they wanted. If I skated, I’d be playing women’s hockey and most likely hating every minute of it. Don’t get me wrong, I love watching the sport, but I’m not a competitive person and never will be.”

I nodded, afraid to speak because my voice would crack.

“I crushed on Patrick because my dad wanted that for me. Really for him. After observing the girls Patrick dated, I imitated them with too-high heels, blonde hair, tight clothes. Only that’s not me.” She pointed to her chest. “This is me. Jeans, T-shirt, comfortable shoes, understated, no cleavage.”

“I did like the cleavage,” I joked to break some of the tension. Naomi swatted my chest with her free hand. On a whim, I grabbed her hand and held it next to our other clasped hands.

“What you saw last night wasn’t what it seemed.”

“Then what was it?”

“I told Patrick I wasn’t interested. That’s the intimate conversation you witnessed. He’d asked me out several times, and I hedged, always having an excuse, until I finally came to terms with where I am right now.”

“And where are you at right now?”

“A little confused, but not as much as I was.”

“And what does that mean?” I was wary, and who could blame me?

“It means…” She looked at our joined hands, swallowed, and met my gaze. “It means I want to explore this thing between us.”

I didn’t believe what I was hearing. Even though her words weren’t a declaration of love, they were the next best thing, and I’d take them. “Are you serious?”

“Yes. I haven’t been able to get beyond the night we spent together. In fact, that entire night, deep down I think I knew you weren’t Patrick. You two are really quite different.”

“Thank you.” I lifted one hand to my mouth and kissed her knuckles.

“Can we start over?”

“In what way?”

“Maybe we could date. See where things go.”

“Are you asking me out?”

“Yes, I guess I am.”

“Okay, sure, as long as you’re buying,” I quipped. A slow smile of pure joy crossed my face.

“I’d be glad to buy whatever you’re selling.”

Now she was talking my language. My body felt a hundred pounds lighter, as if all the burdens of the past several years floated upward and dissolved into the atmosphere. I closed my eyes for a moment, attempting to absorb and savor every joyous emotion. When I opened them, she was still there, beaming at me with a smile brighter than a spotlight on the ice.

“I’ll want a big steak.”

“You got it, Pax.” Steak wasn’t half of what I wanted, but we’d take it one day at a time.

“Our dads won’t be happy about this, and neither will Patrick. He’s used to getting who and what he wants.”

“They’ll have to get over it. Patrick doesn’t care. He never wanted me. He was doing what the dads wanted and getting one over on you, I suspect.”

“Yeah, probably.”

“So, we’re going to give us a shot?”

“Sure.” I tried to tamp down my enthusiasm. She wasn’t exactly declaring her undying love or committing to anything long-term. I played it cool, too.

“Let’s see where it goes.”

I nodded my agreement. Both of us had baggage, and we also had parents and my brother to deal with. Despite all the obstacles, seen and unseen, my heart was singing love songs, and my body was prepping for another late-night marathon session, most likely premature.

I’d built up a measure of pride and confidence over the past few months, and I would go into this with my eyes wide open. Anything could happen, and I’d roll with the punches.

For now, I’d bask in the glow of knowing Naomi was mine even if only for a little while.

23

Sensible Flats

Naomi

That went well.

And I was walking on air in my sensible flats.

Pax and I were going on an official date. Even better, he was open to exploring this thing between us. My only regret was taking so long to make a decision, especially when my heart had made it long before my head.

After hanging out in the bar for another half hour, it was curfew. Pax walked me to the door of the hotel room I shared with Kaitlyn when we were on the road. We stood outside the door, reluctant for the night to end. Paxton’s gaze was hungry and so was mine.

“I wish I could invite you in, but Kaitlyn…”

“I get it. I wish the same, but Patrick…”

We laughed together, and I briefly toyed with the idea of paying for our own room, but if Coach Keller found out, I’d be fired and Pax could be suspended.

The hallway was quiet, no one around. Pax stepped closer and put his hands on either side of my face, pinning me against the wall with his big body. My lips parted, waiting for his. He lowered his head and kissed me, brushing his lips gently across mine, then nudging my mouth open and deepening the kiss. I didn’t play coy with him. We both knew what we wanted, even if we wouldn’t get it tonight. I grasped the collar of his shirt and stood on tiptoes, pressing