An arm drapes across my shoulder and the light floral scent that I know is Lily wafts over me. “Be nice, Sawyer. I’m making him work more than just the muscles in his leg, if you know what I mean.”
The table erupts in laughter at her innuendo, but their comments stick with me. I know I’ve always been the more serious brother. Less likely to crack a joke or goof off. But have I really become that much of a grumpy asshole?
All the times that Lily has teased me about smiling and laughing start to add up in my head, and with a sinking feeling in my gut, I realize that yeah, I have.
“Relax, Jude.” Fingers toy with the hair at the nape of my neck. I know that if I turn my head just slightly, my lips will brush against Lily’s.
That’s tempting. Very tempting.
But I resist.
“Oh, come on, what kind of shit call was that?” Lily’s hand falls away as she throws both up in the air. I follow her gaze to the big screen television that’s streaming a hockey game.
“Seriously? Icing? Jesus. This must be the ref that’s out to get them.” She shakes her head as she grumbles. It’s fucking adorable — and surprising. I had no clue she was a hockey fan.
Lily pours herself a beer, glancing over at me briefly. “Are you okay with having the game on? We could ask Dean to change it.”
Her consideration is touching but totally unnecessary. Just because I can’t play doesn’t mean I don’t love the game. The only ones I have a hard time watching are when my former team is playing.
“And deprive myself of the fascinating experience of watching you watch hockey? Never.” I respond and a grin covers Lily’s face. Amusement dances in her eyes.
“You need to realize something, Jude Donnelly. I’ve loved hockey since long before you became a big deal.”
“It’s true,” Kat pipes in. “She was the only girl trading hockey cards in elementary school.”
I turn back to Lily, studying her with this new information taking root in my head. Her love of hockey only makes her all the more appealing. And only adds to the increasing confusion brewing in my brain.
She’s Lily, Kat’s best friend. And she’s Lily, my physical therapist. And she’s Lily, the woman I’m pretending to date.Andshe’s quickly becoming Lily, the woman I’m insanely attracted to. No, more than that. The woman I’mattachedto. The woman who brings me out of the darkness just enough that I can feel her warmth.
“I would never have expected that from you.”
Lily’s smile falters. It’s slight, but I see it and it makes my eyebrows draw together in concern. But then she’s back to yelling at the television, and the moment has passed.
I let myself be drawn into conversation with my brothers, and to my surprise, the evening passes quickly. I expected a lot more harassing about me and Lily, but for some reason, we get off easy.
Max and Heidi are the first ones to leave. Max has a shift tomorrow at the hospital, and they live in Westport.
After they’re gone, Kat drags Hunter out onto the tiny corner of the bar designated as a pseudo-dance floor.
“I think I want nachos. Anyone else want nachos?” Lily announces with a smack of her hands on the table. She pushes back without waiting for anyone to answer and sashays up to the bar. My eyes follow her, unbidden. It’s as if she has a tracking beacon only I can see, drawing me to her everywhere she goes.
“Dude, I almost didn’t believe it when Kat told us you two had hooked up. But look at you.” Beckett leans over quietly. “You really like her.”
I turn to him sharply. “Yeah. I do.” The lie falls off my tongue easily.Maybe because it’s not much of a lie.
“That’s good. Lily’s awesome. And she deserves someone good. I’m just surprised, I guess. Never knew you had a thing for her.”
“Neither did I, until recently,” I reply, and yet again, it’s the goddamn truth.
“She’s basically like another sister to us. I honestly can’t see her any other way, but if you can, more power to you, bro,” Sawyer chimes in.
“Thanks?” I say, sarcasm clear in my tone.
“Whoa, hold up, who the fuck is that?” The change in Sawyer’s tone has me instantly on alert. Sweeping my gaze around the bar, I naturally land back on Lily. She’s still up at the main counter, only now there’s some asswipe leaning way too close into her space, judging by how far she’s leaningbacktrying to get away.
I stand up quickly, wincing as my knee protests. But I push the pain aside and make my way over to her as quickly as I can. And when I reach her, I don’t think, I just act.
Seems to be a pattern when it comes to my behaviour around Lily. Especially when there’s another man involved.
