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Fuck.
What had I done?
“Shit, Aurora, I didn’t… I don’t know what came over me.” I stepped back, running a hand through my hair and down the back of my neck, barely meeting her gaze.
“Oh.” Disappointment flashed over her face, and I felt every bit the asshole I was.
“I shouldn’t have done that.”
“It’s a little bit late for regrets.”
“I don’t regret it,” I blurted. Because how could I? She was perfect. “But I crossed a line. I’m sorry.”
“Your mood swings are giving me whiplash.” She laughed, but it sounded hollow. “If you’re worried about me telling anyone, I won’t. Like you said, it was a mistake. I’m Austin’s sister. He’s your teammate. You have all your weird bro code rules. Besides, girls like me don’t get the guy, Noah.” Her smile turned sad. Empty.
And guilt slithered through me.
“This has nothing to do with you, shortcake. You’re beautiful and funny, and I like hanging out with you. But hockey is—”
“The end goal.” Her expression turned as cold as the air around us. “Got it.”
“It’s a big year for me. I can’t afford any distractions.”
And she was proving to be the worst kind.
“But I meant what I said earlier. I want us to be friends.”
“Friends, sure. I can do that.”
“Yeah?” My eyes lit up. I didn’t want things to be weird between us, and I didn’t want her to retreat into herself again. Not when she was finally starting to step out of her comfort zone.
“Yep. But now I really need to get my beauty sleep, friend.” Her lips quirked, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“I can take a hint.” Slowly, I backed up. “And Aurora?”
“Yeah?”
“I’d appreciate it if we never talk about this again.”
Her expression guttered, but she recovered quickly, nodding once. “Of course. I have a rep to protect.” Her expression was cold. Aloof. But I didn’t know what to say—how to fix things.
So I walked out of there.
And this time, I didn’t look back.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Austin said over his gigantic bowl of cereal. “Where’d you get to last night?”
“I… uh…” I scratched my chest, and he smirked.
“Oh, it’s like that, huh? Say no more, man.”
“Say no more about what?” Aurora said, padding into the kitchen in a baggy t-shirt with blessed be the fruit scrawled across the front and some kind of tight gym pants.
Jesus, her ass looked good enough to eat… and I was thinking about eating her ass while sitting opposite of her brother.
Fuck my life.
I ran a hand down my face, having a silent word with myself.
