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“Haven’t gotten around to it yet,” I say lightly, but he doesn’t laugh like I want him to.
He’s giving me that look again, the same one from the day we argued at the skating rink and he came after me, and the same one from earlier tonight. Like he needs me to be okay, like he’ll do anything to fix this hurt in my heart.
“Why are you doing this?” I breathe.
“Because you did it for me.” He searches my eyes. “So let’s shake it off together.” He brushes a soft, sweet kiss on my mouth, and my heart lodges in my throat. There’s such careful attention, such protectiveness in that little touch.
My eyes sting, but not for the same reasons as before.
“Okay?” he whispers.
I nod. “Okay.”
He smiles. “That’s my girl.”
Ten minutes later, we hit the pavement. It’s cool out and quiet as the city winds down. We stick to side streets until we reach the seawall. While we run, I replay what my mom said, and what I said.
“Alright, Hartley,” he says after ten minutes of silence. “I’ll make you a bet.”
We’re running along the sidewalk that overlooks English Bay, and the golden streetlights cast shadows on his features.
“A friendlycompetition,” he adds, and the corners of my mouth kick up.
“I’ve heard that before.”
“I know, and you lost. Badly.”
“Shut up.” I’m smiling, forgetting all the stuff at dinner. Forgetting how I cried in front of him.
“This is your opportunity to even the score.”
The stubborn part of me saysdon’t take the bait,but my competitive side wants more. “What’s your offer?”
He points at a sign at the end of this stretch of seawall, bordering the beach. “Let’s race to that sign.”
Normally, he’s faster than me. He’s tired from training today, though. I might be able to beat him. “And if I win?”
His smile is smug but his eyes are hot. “I’ll text you something sexy.”
Awareness shoots through me, but I keep the cool mask on my face. “Oh?”
“Yep. Something to keep you warm when I’m away.”
The team is traveling for away games for the next two weeks. A thousand images play through my head, and my pulse beats between my thighs. “And ifyouwin?”
There’s a beat of silence, and I feel like I can’t get enough air as I look up at him.
“I’ll leave that up to you,” he says with a lazy smile. “Whatever you think is fair.”
My heart pounds harder. He basically offered me nudes, so it would only be fair if I sent one back. My stomach flutters at the idea.
“You ever send McKinnon anything?” he asks quietly.
I shake my head, letting out a heavy exhale. “He asked but, um. I never wanted to.”
I never trusted him, I realize. Deep down, I knew something was wrong. Maybe not that he was seeing girls behind my back, but I knew I was an afterthought.
His eyes sharpen, pinning me. “Interesting.”
