Chapter 25

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Lola

Jordan Miller.

Star Eagles wingman and all-round great guy, who looks like a supermodel, could crack chestnuts between his ass cheeks they are that taut, and is always pictured in the press for being hockey’s most loved player, brought little Miss. Nobody—that’s me—to Gold Bar Park to build a snowman because he remembers what I told him the first night we slept together.

Could this man be any more adorable?

If it wasn’t so cold outside, I would tear his clothes off and do that thing with my tongue he likes to show him how grateful I am.

Laughing and joking the entire time, we built the snowman in record time because Jordy is mega fast at making snowballs.

I can confirm he is good with his hands.

Standing back, I admire our masterpiece. “He looks very smart.”

“I like his scarf and hat.” Jordy points at the Edmonton Eagles apparel he brought to dress him in. “Those will keep him warm all winter.”

“They will.”

“We can come back to patch him up after New Year if you want,” he suggests.

“It’s fine. Let nature take its course.” I look around. “Are we taking the lights with us?”

“Leave them. It makes him look like an exhibit at an art gallery.”

“It does,” I agree.

“Are we done?” From behind, Jordy drops his arms over my shoulders and around my neck, pulling me close.

“Yeah, I think so.” I sigh, contentment filling my body. I’ve had a lovely evening.

“Great, because I can’t feel my nuts anymore, and I swear to fuck, my dick probably looks more like a turtle that’s disappeared into his shell, which does nothing for my ego.” Jordy lays his chin on top of my head, his silly words making me chuckle.

“Do you want to grab something to eat?” I suggest.

“I have food in my truck for us.”

“You brought food?” I turn in his arms.

“I have two insulated flasks full of creamy, thick chicken soup.”

He keeps on surprising me. “Did you make it?”

“I did.”

“And bread?”

“I didn’t make it myself, but I bought some from the bakery on the way here.”

“You sure know how to do romantic dates, Jordan Miller.”

His mouth twitches almost nervously around the edges. “You know we can’t officially date, don’t you?”

I step out of his arms forcing them to drop to his sides. “Sorry. We’re just sleeping together.” I nod, feeling foolish, and avoid looking at him. “Let me grab my hat.” I took it off earlier when I got hot from the exertion of rolling the snowman’s head.

Lifting it off the snow, I fold it in half and squeeze it in my hand, praying the earth below will open up and swallow me whole.

“I think you misunderstood me, Lola. It’s not that I don’t want to date you it’s that?—”

“No, I get it. It was a slip of the tongue.” I shift my weight from one foot to the other. “So, food, yeah?”

Jordy stands in place as I have an inner mini freak out.

I sounded pathetic, needy almost. God, I’m a bit of a verbal klutz.

“I can’t stay at your place tonight,” I say trying to cover up my stupidity and reinforce I’m not clingy.

“You sure?”

“Yeah.” I begin walking toward the main path, hoping Jordy will follow. “I plan on going to the police station first thing to discuss my options. If Graham’s officially charged, I’d like to keep the case out of the courts, and maybe find out the likelihood of me getting my money back.” If there is zero chance, I’m walking away.

“Why would you want to do that?” Jordy’s heavy footsteps get quicker as he appears by my side.

“I don’t want it going public.” There’s too much at stake, and I’m putting Wade’s well-being first, I don’t need the money, but I do need my brother.

“So, you’re just going to let him get away with it?” Voice raised, Jordy sounds annoyed.

“Honestly, I don’t know, all I want is for it to all go away.” I don’t need any more drama in my life.

Surely everything that’s happened to me is enough for one lifetime. It has to be.

“I spoke to my mom, and she recommended someone called Lisa Perez. She’s one of the best financial crime lawyers in the state.”

I stop dead in my tracks and turn to face him. “You told your mom about me?” What the hell?

“I never mentioned your name, Lola. I told her a friend had some money stolen out of their account.”

A friend.

That’s what we are.

Friends .

And I hate it. I would love to be so much more with him.

Tonight has been amazing.

“I got her contact details for you,” he confirms.

That was such a nice thing to do.

It’s what friends do for each other.

I need to stop pretending this thing between us is more than it is.

Stupid, Lola.

“Thank you.”

“Are you annoyed with me?” He points to his chest.

“No. I’m fine.” I start walking again.

“Usually when women say they are fine, they’re not fine.”

“Well, when I say I’m fine, I really do mean I am fine.” My voice has a steely edge to it, which I’m not proud of. I’m annoyed that we can’t be more and I’m not fine. I don’t actually know why I’m being so difficult because it’s been such a lovely evening and here I am spoiling it.

“When Sienna said she was?—”

I interject, feeling annoyed. “I am not Sienna.”

You’re not her. His words from the other night bounce around my brain.

“Okay.” He holds his hands up.

“You said that yourself,” I point out.

“I did. You’re not,” he confirms, talking quickly. “That’s not what I meant.”

Walking faster now, I’m almost to my car. “I’m not hungry. I think I’m just going to go home.”

Home.

“Wade’s house,” I correct myself.

“Okay.” He watches me open my car door and jump inside at breakneck speed. “Please, drive safe.”

“I will. Night, Jordy.” I slam my car door, buckle up, and leave the parking lot, bursting into tears for no reason.

What is wrong with me?

I feel like my life is crashing down around me. Can a girl not just meet a guy, fall in love, and be happy? I don’t want drama and complications. I want smooth sailing and simplicity. I want Wade to know who I really am and most of all, I want Jordy.

All of him.

Two minutes up the road, unable to see properly, I pull over and let the tears fall. Angrily removing my wet from the snow gloves, I throw them over my shoulder onto the back seat.

I open my glove box and fish around inside looking for a tissue when there’s a knock at my passenger window which startles me causing me to let out a yelp.

I relax when I recognize Jordy’s canary yellow winter jacket instantly and reach over to unlock the door for him and his huge frame climbs in.

“What are you doing?” I wipe my face hoping he hasn’t noticed how upset I am.

“This.” He pulls me into his arms, surrounding me with his scent and kindness. “I can’t let you leave when you’re upset. You’re fucking breaking my heart, baby. And I won’t let you push me away. When you need me, you tell me, and if I say something to upset you, you tell me. And I know you say we can’t be anything more than whatever this is, but just know that if I had it my way, we would be.” He kisses the top of my head. “Your ex cheated on you. You discovered he’s been stealing your money. You’ve had to move. You’re trying your best to run your father’s empire from afar while doing some sort of covert shit for the Eagles. You’ve been through so much trauma, you’re physically in pain. Add me into the mix, which is kind of a complication and you’re struggling, but trying your best to keep it all together.”

The way Jordy notices everything about me shows me he cares, which makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

“My life is so confusing. Everything’s a mess.”

“It won’t be like this forever.”

How can he be sure of that?

“I’m so tired,” I confess, tucking myself under his chin.

“Come back to my place and stay with me tonight.”

I must take too long to respond.

“Just to sleep, nothing else,” he adds.

“Okay.” I give in because, for some peculiar reason, I sleep better when I’m next to him. “I’m hungry.”

“I know you are. Your stomach rumbled the entire time we were making a snowman,” he says, making me chuckle.

“Your soup sounds wonderful.” The guilt from pushing him away twists in my stomach. I shouldn’t have done that.

“Well, let’s go back to my place. I’ll feed you, then tuck you into bed. Let me look after you.” His voice is full of determination.

“I might need a shower to warm up first.”

“Whatever you need, Lola.”

“I need this.” I wrap my arms around him as best as I can in the awkward space and hug him tight.

“I might not have known you for very long, but I see you spiraling, and you need me tonight. Also, for purely selfish reasons, I like having you around and need you in my bed to make sure you’re okay. I won’t sleep otherwise because I hate seeing you upset,” he admits. “And tonight might be the last night I see you for a while as I have a tight schedule from now until the new year.”

My feelings for him have become confusing, my head is swirling with disappointment because whatever is happening between us, I like. Love it.

“Next year has got to be better than this one, Jordy.”

“It will be.”

“You think so?”

“Great things are coming into your life, Lola. I feel it in my bones.”

They can’t get any worse, can they?