Page 122 of Tiny Fractures
“I don’t know; I’m sure some guys would be weirded out by that, I guess.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not some guy,” he says. “I’m your guy.”
A mushy grin spreads across my face. “Yes, you are,” I say, my voice an octave higher with giddiness. “How was practice?”
“Pretty good, actually,” he chuckles, and then adds, “Guess who made team captain!”
“Seriously? Ran, that’s so awesome!” I shout into the phone, making him laugh. “Do you get to have the letter C on your jersey?”
“Yea,” he says. I can tell he’s pleased, as he should be. I’ve seen him move about the ice, his sheer speed, the ease and quickness with which he moves the puck, and the force behind his slaps as he drives the black disk into the goal.
“I can’t wait to see you play this season,” I say.
“I can’t wait for you to come watch,” he says. “What are you up to?”
I tell him that I’m out and about with Vada, Tori, and Summer.
“Do you want to just meet me at Shane’s, then?” he asks. I can tell he’s driving because it sounds like I’m on speaker.
“That would probably make sense. We should be there probably around four,” I say, looking at my watch. “Best part is, I don’t have a curfew tonight since my mom’s gone,” I add. “I can stay out and with you all night if I want to.”
“Oh, okay, Miss Gonna-Pull-An-All-Nighter,” he laughs, and I love the freaking sound of it. “I’ll see you at Shane’s then.”
“I can’t wait,” I sigh, meaning every single one of the three words. “I’ll see you in a little bit.”
“Hey Cat,” he says quickly before I hang up.
“Yeah?”
“My heart gets all fluttery, too, when you call me,” he says, and I swear I could melt into a puddle right then and there.
“Really?”
“Uh-huh,” he admits. “And it’s even worse when I lay eyes on you. It’s like my body can’t wait to be near you.”
“Okay, Romeo, I’m going to let you go before I dissolve into mush and Vada has to scrape me off the sidewalk,” I giggle, but my insides are all knotty and tingly.
“I’ll see you soon, baby,” he says, his voice like velvet before we hang up.
I rejoin Vada, Tori, and Summer. Apparently my face gives me away, because all three immediately begin teasing me about my conversation with Ronan.
“You look like either Ran talked dirty to you or he just said something that made you fall deeply in love with him,” Tori observes.
“So which one is it, Kitty Cat?” Vada asks, batting her eyelashes at me.
“It’s definitely the second one,” Summer chimes in, “otherwise Cat’s cheeks would be all flushed with heat,” she sniggers, and Tori and Vada join in.
“I’m just glad I provide you with so much amusement,” I huff in mock offense.
Vada hooks her arm under mine as we begin our way back to her car. “Aw, Kitty Cat, you know we love you. And we know that Ran loves you, too.” She winks, and now I blush for real.
“Yep, and you him,” Tori says, and I shake my head.
“Wait, you doubt our words?” Vada asks, her eyes wide. “Have you seen Ran when he’s around you?” She pulls me to a stop with a hand on my arm.
“Well, obviously,” I say, giggling. “But, okay, we’re coming up on three months and he hasn’t said anything about loving me yet,” I say with a tinge of disappointment. Ronan is more than amazing to me in every aspect of our relationship, and if he uttered those three words to me I would reciprocate without hesitation.
“Yeah, guys are dumb like that,” Summer says, puckering her mouth and rolling her eyes. “Zack didn’t tell me he loved me until we had been dating for like five months.”