Page 22 of Let Me Love You
How it doesn’t get old.
His thoughtfulness.
His attention to detail.
His desire to make me feel appreciated and, above all,seen.
I was never seen with my ex, Logan. Not really. I was more of a prop. A body filling the title of girlfriend. I was replaceable to him, even if I didn’t recognize it in the beginning.
But with Colt? He’s never made me feel anything but irreplaceable. Special. Beautiful. And I love him for it.
“Thank you.” I smile and open my menu, but I don’t look at the words. Instead, I shamelessly check him out from above the edge of the menu, taking in his chiseled jaw and cocky smirk as he stares right back at me. “You don't look so bad yourself over there, mister.”
“Why thank you,” he returns dryly.
I laugh and begin scanning the menu options as I ask, “So, how does it feel? Seeing your name plastered across all the sports channels? Everyone’s discussing draft picks and who would be the best fit for the Lions, considering who their Left Wing and Center are on the roster. They’re pretty excited to see you play, Mr. Thorne.”
“Someone’s been brushing up on their research,” he notes.
I shrug one shoulder and hold his eyes as I take a sip from my water glass.
“You staying away from the gossip columns?” he prods.
I roll my eyes and set my glass on the cream-colored tablecloth. “We aren’t talking about me.”
“Mm-hmm,” he hums, looking less than convinced.
Which I understand, considering how many times I’ve shown him an article while crying. Whether it’s because they’ve called me a bitch, or because they’ve rated my outfit choices and have told me I have no sense of style. It hasn’t mattered. Reporters and paparazzi have had a hell of a time dragging me through the mud simply because they can. Because they know I’m an easy target who’d prefer to stay out of the limelight despite dating one of the most newsworthy players in the NHL.
Things have been quiet. Lately, anyway. Probably because they’re focused on the upcoming draft, but I’ve been soaking it up for as long as I can. The silence. The peace. The reprieve from the gossip columns while knowing they’ll probably start up again as the new season approaches.
I shake off the reminder. “Right now, we’re talking about you and your hockey career. With your break winding to an end, how do you feel?”
“Honestly?” He pauses and settles back into the booth a little more. “It feels surreal. I never thought I'd be here.”
He's right. He never did think he'd be here, or at least not after his father was killed. It's interesting. How much a single moment can lead us off course. And yet how another single moment can bring us right back to where we belong. I still can't believe I was dating Logan when I first saw Colt at the stoplight by my house. I still can't believe he AirDropped me his phone number and had the audacity to hit on me when he was well aware I was dating his best friend.
Then again, I think he felt the same connection I did.
From the first moment we met, I think he could see how unhappy I was in my relationship with Logan and how little Logan cared about me. I think he could see how much better he could treat me if given a chance. And he’s proven it in spades.
Here we are. Together.
We made it.
The waitress interrupts, and we give her our orders. When she walks away from the table, I prod, “So, how are you doing?”
“Fine. Why?”
“I feel like you’ve been…off lately,” I admit, rubbing the edge of the maroon napkin between my fingers as I address the elephant in the room.
“Not off, just…” He squeezes the back of his neck. “Stressed, I guess.”
“About what?”
“About a lot of stuff.”
“Such as…?” I press.