AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah.” I ducked my head. “I actually don’t remember much.”
“Oh.” She took a small step back and quickly changed the conversation, as if she’d picked up on my unease and understood that I didn’t want to talk about it. “Did you guys want to see him? I can get him out.”
“Out?” Aurora’s eyes widened almost comically, like the idea was insane. “Yeah, no, I’m good.”
“You have a thing about birds or something?” I didn’t remember that from high school, but we spent most of our time together studying inside, so maybe it never came up.
“I wouldn’t call it ‘a thing.’” A cute little line appeared between her brows as she waved at the glass. “I just like them better in there.” Then she fought a shudder.
“You’re afraid of birds.” I laughed, shaking my head.
“I’m not afraid of birds.” The way she shifted on her feet and wrung her hands belied that statement. “They’re cute. Through the glass or, like, at a distance.” She swallowed thickly and frowned. “I don’t need to hang out with them near me.”
I laughed at the way she practically cringed at those last words. When I caught Avery watching the back-and-forth between us, wearing a very speculative expression, though, I schooled my features.
Shit.
The last thing I needed was for her to assume there was something going on between Aurora and me. If she told her dad, there would be hell to pay. Coach was a stickler for rules.
“Did you guys want to grab lunch?” Avery asked as she continued to scrutinize us.
“I think we’re going to walk around the zoo a bit.” I shot Aurora a smirk. “It’s my allowed exercise for the day.”
She rolled her eyes at me but gave Avery a sweet smile and agreed that we’d better continue on.
As we were walking away from Puff’s exhibit, I bumped her with my arm. “What do you want to see now? Stay away from the birds, huh?”
“Shut up.” She huffed out a chuckle. “And be careful with your shoulder.”
“It really feels fine, babe.”
She stiffened next to me. Babe probably crossed some of those lines she set up. I was about to apologize when she went on.
“Yeah, because of me. Clearly, I’m the only one of us who’s concerned about keeping it that way.” She shot me a glower that was hard to take seriously with the way her blond hair bounced as she walked. Now I wasn’t sure if she was mad about babe or my shoulder, but I couldn’t help but smile.
I should probably feel bad, but her exasperation with me was so damn cute I couldn’t help it.
I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her in close. “Thanks for looking out for me.”
With a whack to my stomach, she freed herself from my hold and continued on. We had just stepped up to a sea lion enclosure when one popped up, water sluicing down its head.
Rory sighed, grasping the railing in front of us. “They’re so cute.”
The animal nodded like he was agreeing with her and flapped one flipper, sending a spray of water into the air.
I chuckled at its antics, but Aurora jumped away from the shower and scooted closer. And damn if I could stop the instinct to wrap my arms around her. Not that my hold could shelter her from the splash, but having her in my arms felt right.
Her soft floral scent hit me as her soft hair brushed my cheek, tempting me to hold her just a second longer and take a breath of her into my lungs. Having her this close made my stomach tighten and my chest feel heavy. Even as she pushed away, I didn’t want to let her go.
But she smiled and grabbed my arm, as if she hadn’t felt the pull between us too, and dragged me away, leaving the guy to splash a couple who’d just appeared. “I don’t want to get soaked. Come on.”
All day, her reactions made me laugh. She squealed when the tiger came out and paced along the glass. She giggled at the swinging monkey. Joy lit her face when she hand-fed the giraffes. But she surprised the hell out of me when she suggested we stop to see the snakes and reptiles.
This woman was afraid of birds, but not snakes?
I’d been to the zoo more than a few times, considering my teammate’s obsession with both Puff and Avery. However, I’d never had so much fun. Even if this wasn’t a date. She might be here with me because she was required to be, but it sure felt like a date. Especially when I bought her a stuffed animal on our way out.
“It’s the perfect bird. The kind you don’t have to be afraid of.” I chuckled as I handed her the fluffy black and white puffin wearing a throwback Revs jersey.
