AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No problem. You’re done with practice for today and should rest when you get home. Take it easy today. No physical or strenuous activity. If you’re not feeling better by tomorrow or your symptoms get worse later in the day, please give me a call.”
“Will do, Doc.”
“I’ll come back to grab you once the twenty minutes are up,” he says over his shoulder as the door clicks open, letting in a beam of light right before darkness swallows me whole again.
No more flashlight.
No more distractions.
Just me, myself, and I as I lie here stewing in the thoughts that have been suffocating me for days. The thoughts I was hoping would disappear when I arrived at work today. This is all Tristan’s fault. Him and his stupid fake dating proposal.
If Aaron knew how I truly feel about Zoe, he wouldn’t hesitate to throw me over his balcony. I’m headed to his apartment after work to meet his sister so we can go over my schedule for the next three months. The same sister I’m going to pretend to be in a serious, committed relationship with. The same girl I chased and fucked in a cabin as though she were my property six years ago. The same one I lied to about my identity. The girl I haven’t been able to get out of my mind for years.
The one who haunts my dreams and my future.
The last woman I kissed on the lips, and the reason I don’t want to attempt to date anyone else. Because after experiencing a night like we did, with someone I’d desired for so long…nothing else compares. Everything becomes bland and distasteful. No one could ever compare to her.
But I need to forget about all of that. I need to put the past where it belongs and focus on hockey and the playoffs. I want to bring the Cup home.
The truth is that none of this Zoe situation is actually genuine. Can I truly say that I still know her? Time has a way of transforming everyone. People age and alter their perspectives. They become individuals who wouldn’t even recognize themselves. That’s just how life works. That’s why I need to distance myself from this old version of Zoe. I must remain disinterested and concentrate solely on achieving my ultimate goal.
On my career and winning the championship.
But somewhere deep inside, a voice reminds me that no matter what I tell myself, no matter how focused I become or how much control I think I have…there isn’t a single version of Zoe Jackson that I wouldn’t love.
Not a single one.
CHAPTER 28
ZOE
He’s late.
Almost an hour late.
I glance down at my watch for the eighth time, despite knowing time hasn’t miraculously sped up since thirty seconds ago. Maybe he’s ghosting me.
I doubt he’d go that route, considering he lives in the same building and my brother would rearrange his face. We all know how excessively protective Aaron can be, so it’s quite astonishing that he thought this was a good idea in the first place.
Maybe he got hit by a yellow cab and is lying in a ditch somewhere. Or he’s fucking some girl behind a back alley.
Will you just stop?
My phone buzzes in my hand, and I expect a message from Dom, but it’s a new message from Rabbit Hole.
The twelfth one today.
Ever since I made a post on PrimalConnect, I’ve been overwhelmed with so many messages, and half of them are bots from different countries. I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t this type of response to me wanting to find a personal hunter in New York City. Maybe I was naïve for not thinking that posting in an anonymous, internet black hole would mean getting swarmed with creepy men.
Clicking on the latest message, I cringe instantly.
Hey…your post sounds rad. I’d love to chase you down and lick you like a bear. Hit me up. We can go for drinks and set up a safe word. I’ve also got a contract.
Block and good riddance to you, weirdo.
What the hell is the matter with me?
I should just delete that post. The type of things I want to do should only be done with someone I’ve known for a while and trust deeply, not some random stranger on a completely anonymous website. I’m just asking for trouble at this point, and not the good kind. I could end up seriously hurt or worse. But it could also be fun. Some nameless chasing with no strings attached. No feelings, and no trace left behind.
