Page 104 of Embrace

“You think I’mexcellent?” I pull off my visor and stare at him in wonder. “You’ll pick up when I call, right? I’m going to be lonely all the way on the other side of the world.”

“It’s three hours away.”

I narrow my eyes.

“Yes, I’ll pick up.”

I walk up to him, beaming, and he doesn’t see me coming when I hug him. Kilner is the same height as me, but with skates on I’m taller. When I finally release him, he’s not happy, but I swear the endorphins are still pumping through me because if I squint, it looks like he’s smiling.

“We should start now. I’ll start filling you in on stuff.”

“If you’re about to overshare about your love life, don’t,” he warns me.

“How did you know?” I beam. “Am I glowing?”

“The hickey on your damn neck, Ishida. I need you focused, not floating in fairy-tale land because you had your first kiss.”

“She’s so pretty, she might be a fairy. And it was so much more than a kiss.” I sigh happily. It felt like the last, the only one I want from now on. Damn, maybe I am in fairy-tale land.

“Get back in there before I swap you and Cole for laundry duty.”

“You can give up the act, Coach. I know you love me.”

He scoffs.

“You’ll be miserable when I’m gone. We should find a way for me to be in your life forever.”

“How about I bury you in my backyard?”

I salute him and speed back onto the ice, still beaming.

•••

I don’t knowif I’m supposed to show up at her apartment this close to midnight, but I do. Scarlett opens the door, glasses on and eyes squinting like she was fast asleep.

“Shit, did I wake you?”

She scratches her head, and once she realizes it’s me, she stands straighter, pulling at the baggy T-shirt she’s wearing and the sweats with one leg rolled up past her calf.

“No, I’m awake,” she mumbles, sounding sleepy. I give her a look and she sighs. “Okay, I was sleeping and in the middle of a dream about Dale Thunderman, but I don’t mind you waking me up.”

I chuckle, wanting to pull her right to me and feel the warmth of her body. “I think I’ve had the same dream about Dale.”

She steps outside, closing the door behind her, probably to not wake up Sierra. “Did something happen?”

“Do you wanna go out with me?”

“Now? Like on a date?” She looks at my clothes.

“I want to show you something.”

“You don’t have to do this, Kian. I’ve never really been on a date anyway, and I’m not even dressed. We can just go to your car or whatever you want.”

There’s a nervous stutter to her words, and I hate that she thinks she isn’t worth a date. Or that I’d want something more than just her presence.

“I know it’s late. I would’ve come earlier, but my tutor would’ve kicked my ass if I didn’t finish my assignment. So, after consulting both our schedules, tonight is your only free night. And your first class isn’t until noon.”

“You memorized my schedule?”