AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Did I ever.
“Well, if it doesn’t work out, rumor has it there’s a certain tall, dark, and handsome bartender who would love to get to know you a little better.”
Her eyes almost bugged as she filled in the blanks. “Kal?”
“Don’t tell him I told you,” I chuckled. “He’ll never forgive me. But I figured it couldn’t hurt. It’s always good to have options.”
“I did pick up on some vibes from him. But I noticed he’s quite flirty with most of the staff.”
“Oh, you’re not wrong there. Kal is a real charmer.” I sipped on my tea, hardly surprised that I already felt better, being away from the arena.
Away from him.
“So why haven’t the two of you ever hooked up?” Janelle asked, and I shrugged.
“He’s like the big brother I never had. It would be weird. Besides, I tend to have a type.”
“Ooh, do tell.”
“Athletic. Emotionally unavailable. You know the type,” I said.
“Too well.”
We shared a smile, the type of smile that bonded girls over their endless experience with guys who would never commit.
“You know, in freshman year, I told myself I wouldn’t do it. That I wouldn’t spend my college experience chasing commitment. But it’s—”
“Hard?” I whispered.
“Yeah. I don’t mind the casual thing. But after a while, it gets kind of lonely.”
“We should do this more often,” I said. “It sounds like we have a lot in common.”
“I have a double-shift at the medical center later. And I’m picking up Jill’s shifts at Millers all week. But soon?”
“Sure. Just let me know when you’re free next.”
I broke off a chunk of brownie and popped it into my mouth, enjoying the sweet, chocolatey explosion on my tongue. It wasn’t as good as my favorite mail-order bakery, but it was still pretty darn good.
Until I remembered Mason had bought me these exact brownies, and the sweetness turned bitter.
“Is everything okay?” Janelle asked, and I smiled weakly over the lump in my throat.
“Yeah, fine.”
Maybe if I kept telling myself the same lie over and over, eventually, it would come true.
* * *
I hung out for the rest of the day in my dorm room, avoiding life. But unable to avoid the elephant in the room.
I, Harper Rose Dixon, had let myself fall for Mason Steele.
Despite every warning and alarm bell and gut intuition, I had fallen head over heels insomethingwith him.
It wasn’t love. I knew that. But it was more complicated than lust. Because when you peeled back the layers of the Lakers brooding left-winger, when you got a glimpse of the guy underneath that cool icy exterior, you were left with a good man. A man who only wanted to do right by his family.
By his brother.
