“Trouble? No way. I mean, Erie’s on my way home.” I fumble my keys like I’ve never held keys before.
Scully gives Forest some kind of meaningful look before heading to his truck. Like, super meaningful. The kind of look that should come with subtitles.
I show Forest to my Jeep. “It’s kinda rough. Sorry.” The inside probably smells like hockey gear and desperation.
“My truck is a POS, Beck. I don’t think you need to apologize.” He tosses his bag in the backseat and climbs into the passenger side, looking relaxed.
As soon as I start the engine, my playlist starts up again. This time the song is “Obsession” by Animotion and I quickly shut it off.
Oops. “Your address?” I ask, as if that didn’t happen.
He tells me, and I tap it into my phone before easing out of my parking spot. “So that was fun, right? I mean, watching those guys lose their minds when we scored that last goal? That winger looked like he might spontaneously combust. Which would have been interesting to watch, actually. Like a hockey-themed superhero origin story. The Human Torch, but make it winter sports.”
His chuckle is low. “Yeah, it was a blast. You were amazing tonight.”
“Yeah?” I glance at him quickly, then back at the road because a car accident would really ruin this moment. “I mean, it wasn’t anything special. Just some basic positioning and…”
“Beck. Take the compliment.”
“Yessir.”
He takes a slow breath.
I drum my fingers on the steering wheel. “So... your place? I mean…”
The question feels huge. Like, planet-sized huge. The kind of huge that makes you wonder if Pluto got demoted from being a planet just to make room for this moment.
Forest is quiet for so long that I start composing my own rejection in my head. Thanks for the ride, kid, but dream on. See you at the bar, if you’re even brave enough to show up again.
But then he speaks, his voice low and a little rough. “I want you to know that if I hadn’t sworn off hookups, you’re exactly my type.”
My heart actually stops. I’m technically dead for like two seconds. “Really?” I blurt eventually. “That’s just mean. I finally met a guy who likes awkward blonds with a lot of dental work, and you’re like, nah. I decided blowjobs are overrated.”
He laughs.
I clamp my mouth shut and think about what he said, though, and realize I’m probably missing something important. “Why did you swear off hookups? Because I really doubt blowjobs are overrated.”
He sighs. “It’s complicated.”
“Try me.”
Eight
Like the 4th of July in My Body
Forest
I’d been attempting to reassure Beck that all my fear and bullshit doesn’t have a thing to do with him, but it’s not working.
“Look, I don’t talk about it. But I had a bad experience last year, and I don’t bring guys home anymore.”
He glances over at me. “So it’s like a trust thing?”
“Well, yeah. But it’s bigger than that. It was the kind of thing that made me realign my priorities. I’ve got an ex-wife, and a kid…”
“No shit?” He shoots me a glance that’s full of curiosity. “How old?”
“Thirteen. He’s with his mom most of the time. But when I invite someone into my life, it affects more people than me, you know what I’m saying?”
