Page 13 of Hockey Boy

Oh shit. I blink myself ten years into the present.

A hard swallow, a step back so that I’m out ofhis grip, away from his scent, and distanced from his mouth to ensure that I won’t mount my lips against his.

“Lennox,” I remind him.

A smile splits his face, that damn dimple winking at me. “We playing that game?”

“What game?”

“The one where you and I pretend we don’t know one another. The one where we pretend I don’t have a nickname for you?”

I suck in a heavy breath, fighting the dizziness that overtakes me. The bright summer day grows hazy as my head spins. Where is the air, and why won’t it make it to my lungs?

“Was I supposed to tell your fiancée that we used to date?”

Flinching, Aiden steps back. I miss the heat of him immediately. “I told her.”

“You what?” I ask, my heart lurching painfully and my jaw dropping in surprise.

Aiden zeroes in on my lips for an instant, then forces his attention back up, holding me captive. “She could tell.”

“H-ow?” I stutter.

“I stopped talking. You stole my breath.” He stuffs his hands into his pockets, shoulders rounding, and grins. At first glance, I’d say his expression is shy, but Aiden doesn’t do shy. “And since I never stop talking, she knew something was up.”

Stomach sinking, I hold up my hands. “Is that why she’s not here? She thinks I’m going to come after you?” My heart rate picks up as I search the park for the obnoxious woman. I’ve been dreading being in her presence again, but suddenly, I’d do just about anything to make her materialize. “Aiden, I’m not interested in you. You need to tell her.” I push closer, pressing my palms against his chest, and give him a push.

Stumbling backward, he lets out a surprised laugh. “Gee, thanks.”

“I’m not joking around.” Panic floods me. “I need this job. Do you have any idea what a big deal this wedding is for me?” I spin, unable to face him anymore. “Fuck,” I whisper.

This is so bad.

So, so bad.

“This was supposed to be my fresh start,” I mutter to myself, gnawing on the side of my thumb.

Such a bad habit. We raised you better than this.My mother’s voice echoes in my head. I close my eyes, willing the criticism away.

“Lex.” Aiden is in front of me now. His voice is a calming whisper as he settles his palms on my forearms. Though calming is not how I’d describe his effect on me. Aiden’s touch has never been anything but electrifying. In this moment, it’s an explosion on my skin that risks breaking the chains I’ve bound tightly around my heart.

I push away from him and lower my focus to the ground between us. I can’t look him in the eye. “No.Don’tLexme. What did you tell her?”

He clenches his fists at his sides like he’s fighting the urge to reach for me. But that’s absurd. Why would he want to reach for me when he has her?

Hisfiancée.

“Where is she?” I hiss.

“Why are you so upset?” He swipes his hands through his messy curls, his caramel eyes warming.

Dammit.Caramel eyes? Really, Lennox?

That’s lovey-dovey shit. I don’t do lovey-dovey. Not anymore. Not since him.

God, since him.

Shit. I’m spiraling. With a shake of my head, I pull my shoulders back and lift my chin.