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CHAPTER25
RORY
“Look at you go, Hartley,”I drawl as she glides toward me on her skates. “You’re kicking those toddlers’ asses.”
She snorts with laughter and I grin, skating backward in front of her. We’re back at the community skate, circling the rink while the disco ball spins and early 2000s pop music plays. After our FaceTime call, I came so hard my vision blurred, and now that she’s in front of me, I just want to touch her.
Ward glances over and I take the excuse to slip my hand into Hazel’s. She looks down at our joined hands with a small smile before her gaze goes to him.
“Has he said anything?” she asks. “About the captain thing?”
I shake my head. “Ward’s a fortress. I have no idea if I’m living up to expectations.”
A feeling I can’t name twists through me, clawing and nagging. I hate failing. Challenge motivates me, but I don’t even know what Ward wants from me. Even with this arrangement with Hartley, I feel like it’s not enough to make Ward proud.
She frowns. “I wonder if that’s why he paired you with Connor.”
“I don’t know if that was the best idea.” My grin turns wicked. “Hartley, he was in the worst mood after our call.”
She laughs but her face goes pink, like she’s embarrassed.
“Was that whole thing okay?” I ask.
The long line of her neck moves as she swallows, not looking at me. “Yep.”
My eyebrows slide together. “Hartley, if I ever push you too far, just say the word and I’ll pull back.”
She shakes her head quickly. “You didn’t.” She’s still blushing. “It was fun.” A secretive, pleased smile flashes across her face before her gaze meets mine and her expression turns innocent.
The possessive male instinct in me lifts its head, interested, and now I’m wondering what Hartley did right after the call.
“Fun,” I repeat, picturing her lying on that big bed I bought her, making the noises I’ve been hearing for days.
She clears her throat and again glances over at Ward, who’s encouraging a kid to skate toward him. “You’re a good skating teacher. That has to count for something with Ward.”
“Oh, really?” I raise my eyebrow, pulling her closer to me. “You think I’m a good teacher?”
“You’re gloating.” Her lips curve, and we’re back to familiar territory.
“Of course I’m gloating.” I puff my chest out and she rolls her eyes. “McKinnon couldn’t get you onto the ice.”
Ward glances over at us and I slip my arm around her shoulders.
“I like skating with you,” I admit before pressing a quick kiss to her temple.
Her scent teases my nose, trickling through me. Her eyes meet mine and the corners of her lips slide up into a small, guarded smile.
“I like skating with you, too.”
* * *
When the skate is over, I take photos with the kids and parents from Ward’s group before I head over to Hazel, who’s sitting on the side with a quiet smile.
“Hey, Miller.” One of the guys from last week’s pickup game, Ed, heads to the ice. Guys are already out there, warming up.
I stiffen. “Hey.” More players greet me as they head out there, and there’s that clawing, nagging feeling again that I can’t shake.
Hazel lifts her eyebrows with meaning at the ice, and my instinct to try again fights with my embarrassment at how I played last time.
