Chapter 14

By the time Theo makes it to the ice hall, I have my rental skates in hand. He is already wearing his skates as he steps up to the bleachers where I'm sitting. The smile he gives me is quite literally heart-stopping. I can hear my pulse drumming in my ears now, and the closer he gets to me, the faster it beats.

I'll never get over how beautiful he is with his dark, floppy hair hanging over his eyes and those blue orbs that make me weak in the knees. But it's not just that. He's also kind, sweet, and funny. He's empathetic and considerate. He cares. And only a dumb bitch like me would pass him up.

"Here," Theo says as he kneels in front of me, making my heart flutter all over again. If I didn't know better, I'd say he's going to kill me from high blood pressure or tachycardia. His fingers are warm as they touch my leg, and I can feel them searing through the material of my wool leggings. But it's when he takes my foot and begins to lace up one of my skates that my eyes tear up.

What is wrong with me? Why am I so emotional right now?

When he finishes up the second skate, he smiles and looks into my eyes, then frowns when he realizes something is up. "What happened?"

"Oh, nothing." I peer up, willing the moisture to dry up from my eyes before looking down at him again. "You're just so…sweet. I can't remember the last time someone treated me this way."

"I'll treat you even better if you let me." Theo smiles softly.

I deflect, "Let's go meet Chey."

He looks disappointed for a second but then masks it quickly, probably not wanting to show me just how much that affected him. But honestly, it's affecting me too. Is this little crush that I have on him growing? Why am I feeling like I can't breathe around him? Or without him?

I spot Cheyenne easily since I knew exactly where she'd be. The toddlers are gathered around her and she's taking roll-call. Once they're all on the ice, another instructor appears to help Chey, and I take the opportunity to grab Theo's jacket sleeve to pull him with me. I could have grabbed his hand, I'm sure, but not only do I not want to give him the wrong impression—or myself, for that matter. Only I'm scared that if I touch him, I'm going to cave.

"Cheyenne," I call out, and she turns around, her eyes widening. Her grin stretches her face immediately. "This is Theo." I look over at him, who glances at Chey briefly then at me. "Theo, this is Chey."

Theo nods once with a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Cheyenne."

"It's about damn time you brought hot stuff with you," she chides. "I've been waiting for this moment, you know?"

"Sure," I say with a smirk, walking toward the ice.

"If she won't have you, I'll take you." Cheyenne winks at Theo and he blanches. "Just putting it out there."

It would be funnier if there wasn't a little green monster inside of me that wanted to choke her the fuck out. I narrow my eyes on her and her smile grows. "Slut," is all I say before following the toddlers.

When I look back, Theo and Cheyenne are lost in conversation. He's laughing at something she's saying, and a little—okay, huge—fire ignites in my belly. Something that closely resembles jealousy, yet if I didn't know better I'd call it rage.

Why am I so upset? It's Cheyenne. She jokes a lot, though she'd never do anything to hurt me. Right? Then again, why would it hurt? We're nothing. Just friends…but still. Girl code. I had sex with him, for fuck's sake. That has to mean something. But does it? He could be free game if I don't claim him.

Focus.

One wrong step, and I'm on my ass.

Fuck that hurts.

I groan as I get on all fours and push myself up like I've been taught. Except I'm about one hundred pounds heavier than these toddlers, so it's harder for me. Sometimes I envy how flexible and resilient the little shits are. It makes me wish I had learned how to skate all those years ago. But it's too late for me. And I forgot to bring my butt pads. Okay—I didn't bring them because I didn't want to look ridiculous in front of Theo.

Speak of the devil; he's skating up to me now, and as I get on my feet, he smiles. "You good?"

My face turns red the bigger his smile grows until his shoulders begin to shake, and he starts cackling. "Oh? I'm so glad you find this funny, you asshole. I told you I'd be on my ass every two minutes."

"That was like thirty seconds, B. Which you said wouldn't happen."

"That was before you were making eyes at my best friend." I snap, clamping my mouth shut as his smile falls and a frown replaces it. "Sorry—that's none of my business."

"I was trying to be nice, Bailey," he replies softly. "I know she means a lot to you. If I gave that impression, I'm sorry. I'm here for you."

"So you don't want to ask her out?" My voice softens.

"Ask her out?" His jaw drops, and he brushes a stray hair away from my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. "Bailey, I only want you."

Butterflies rage in my stomach at his words, and I look down, my eyes stinging again. No one has ever told me that before, chose me in such a blatant way. Yeah, Rob used to tell me how much he wanted me, but always in toxic ways. In ways that took from me. But Theo? He's giving, not taking. He's a giver.

"Look at me, B," he whispers, using his thumb to tilt my chin up so I can stare into his eyes. "Are you jealous?"

"Never," I reply quickly, shaking my head. "I just—" Just what? You are jealous, twat. "We're just friends, Theo."

He looks down at our skates, his lips pursing. But I see the way his eyes crinkle in the corners, his mouth turning down. "Yeah, friends." But then he shakes his head, "Wanna skate with me and ditch these semen demons?"

I cackle at that, the tension inside of me easing. "Semen demons? I'm going to use that from now on."

Theo holds his hand out to me, and I take it. My hands are gloved, but his aren't, and he still doesn't even feel cold. He must be used to it. I mean, of course he is. It's his job, Bailey.

He begins to glide backwards slowly, grabbing both my hands and taking me with him. It's like I'm on a ride, not putting in any effort. "This okay?"

I nod with a grin. "Perfect." I gaze down at our skates, at the way he so easily works his feet without any effort. "What about those tricks we talked about?"

"Okay, show me how you get around."

I smirk, my face heating up, and I begin to march. His lips twitch, but he can't contain his laughter, and soon it erupts from deep within his chest. "Oh, stop, Theo. You're making me self-conscious."

"Don't be," he says quickly. "Don't take me seriously." My heart pounds at that one little word. "It's all in good fun."

"So what do I do?"

"You need to learn how to glide. Push with one foot and slide." I do it, almost falling on my face. "Here, hold my hand."

Holding his hand, he glides with me, pulling me with him so that I am doing it. It's easy this way, being forced to do it and putting in minimal effort, but I think I'm getting the gist of it.

I'm gliding.

I glance back at the toddlers and grin, watching them fall, and just when I think I'm in the clear, I lose my balance. I should really focus on what I'm doing, but for some reason I can't with Theo by my side. He catches me easily by the waist and chuckles against my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

His lips brush against my ear, and I tighten my fists to avoid touching him. "Cute."

"Ridiculous."

We both laugh. "How about we do some head, shoulders, knees, and toes?" he asks, and I all but choke.

"What?"

"I used to be a toddler too." He winks, "And my teacher would make us do that for balance and learn how to squat on skates."

"I don't want to squat, Theo." I roll my eyes. "I want to skate."

"We all have to start somewhere, my little sour patch kid." He grabs my hand and pulls me into his chest. "Now humor me."

I step back, touching my head, shoulders, then knees and toes. "Ya happy?"

"No," Theo says playfully. "Let's do it together."

And we do, making a fool of ourselves for the next twenty minutes until class is over. There's something so easygoing about him that draws me in, and I can't hold back when I'm around him. I want to let myself go, just be.

Forget all about how I've sworn off relationships, because the truth is when I'm with him, I do forget, even if only momentarily. But I know it could be different with him—it already is. He's so easy to like, to love, even. And that scares me, because falling is dangerous, and no one has ever caught me. Something tells me he'd be there waiting for me, though. But will I catch him? Or will he slip through my grasp? Am I ready to give him everything? Absolutely not.

After we both take off our skates, we begin walking toward the doors of the rink to go back to the main area.

"Hey, Bailey?" he starts, and I peer up at him. "I saw this little coffee shop at the front. Wanna go?"

"Um." I've never been there before, and I"m always too broke to consider it, but I just got paid, so I nod. "Sure."

"What do you want to get?" he asks, walking next to me, shortening his strides for me.

"Hmmm." I pretend to think. "Hot chocolate."

"Oh, that sounds so good." He grins, and when we get to the shop, he turns to me. "Go find us a little table."

"Here—" I dig through my purse, pulling out some cash for my hot chocolate. "For my?—"

"Hell, no." Theo shakes his head. "Don't offend me that way, Bailey."

"I'm not," I assure him. "I'm just paying for myself."

"I invited you." He shakes his head again. "I'm paying. So put your money away and never pull that shit again."

With that, he turns his back on me, clearly irritated, so I go to find us a table in the furthest corner away from everyone. The last thing I need is to be seen out with a famous hockey player and then have my face plastered all over every magazine in this stupid town.

Theo finishes up and heads my way with a bag hanging from his arm and two cups in his hands. The smile that breaks free when he spots me is everything, and I never want to stop seeing it. Please, please, keep smiling at me.

"Hot chocolate for my Bailey." My Bailey. "And hot chocolate for me." He grins again as he sits down, and my heart thumps a little faster in my chest. I'm sweating just watching him sit across from me. "You're lucky this isn't a booth, or I'd be sitting next to you."

"We agreed that was a one-time thing, Theo." I roll my eyes playfully. "Now, what's in the bag?" I wag my eyebrows, waiting for him to pull out the contents.

"Cheese Danish, cake pops, and uh—" He digs through it. "Blueberry muffin. Take your pick."

"Blueberry muffin, duh." Not that he'd know that, but he chuckles anyway, handing it over.

"Can I have a bite?" He asks me with puppy dog eyes.

"Absolutely not," I reply, taking the biggest bite of my life. The taste of the blueberries and the sugar on top burst on my tastebuds. Ugh, fine." I pass it to him, and he takes the smallest bite possible—like a gentleman.

"Here, have some of my hot chocolate," he tells me after taking a sip.

"Why? It's the same, isn't it?"

"Nope." He pops the p. "Mine is mint hot chocolate."

"That sounds pretty good," I admit as he passes the drink over to me, and I take a sip. I savor it, loving how the taste is similar to a Peppermint mocha from Starbucks. "It is good. Wow, you have good taste, who knew?"

Theo smiles, "Yes, I do." Again, with that smile that makes my insides melt. "Does that mean we just kissed?"

My eyebrows turn down in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Our lips touched on the cup."

"Oh my God." I gasp. "You're not even a little funny, Theo. Cut it out."

"It was cute, and you know it."

I mean, it's a little corny, but he is cute. "Whatever." Only now that we're sitting here with nothing except time to talk—that is, before they close in fifteen minutes—I want to know what was making him smile so much with Cheyenne. So I don't even care how it sounds when I ask, "So what were you and Chey talking about?"

Theo looks at me for a long moment, pursing his lips. I motion with my hand to urge him on, and he smiles softly. "You."

"Oh, no way!" I reply sarcastically. "Please elaborate."

"Someone's saltier than a Ritz cracker today."

I choke on my hot chocolate. "Excuse me?"

"You're a grump sometimes, Bailey." He affirms. "Who peed in your cereal?"

I grin, remembering I asked him that exact question before. "Wow, that bad?"

Theo smiles, then grimaces. Okay, then. "She was telling me you like me." As in like him, like him? She's a fucking traitor, and we're going to have words. "Oh, and she said if you care about me even a little bit, you'd gift me a plant. Whatever that means."

I laugh, "Yeah, she makes fun of me for being a plant mom."

"A plant mom?"

"Yeah, you know. I have a lot of plants. Kinda like a cat lady but with lots of plants."

"How many are we talking?" His eyes sparkle at the question and I chuckle.

"Ummm." I pretend to think. "Fifteen, give or take?"

"Like, outside, right?"

"No," I reply, then take a sip of hot chocolate. "I don't have a yard. I live in a studio." Wow, how embarrassing. From the looks of him, he probably owns a house with ten bedrooms. He makes millions of dollars per year, and here he is dressed like a commoner. What does he do with this money? He probably buys a huge mansion.

"Wow, Bailey." He laughs, "I guess you really are a plant mom. Are they hard to take care of?"

"Nope." I admit, "I have an app that tells me when to water them."

What the fuck? What is it about this man that makes me tell him everything about myself?

"Sorry to interrupt," a girl a couple of years younger than us says. "I just wanted to let you know we close in five minutes."

I nod at her, "Thanks." And when I glance up, Theo's eyes are still on me.

Beginning to chug my hot chocolate, I feel the burn on my tongue and wince. "You don't have to do that," says Theo. "We can go to my house and hang out. You're gonna be up all night anyway, right? I can stay up too."

"I can't."

"You don't have to be alone tonight," he replies softly. "I'll keep you company."

"Oh, I'm not alone." I smile, "I have Callie and Christina."

"Are those like your roommates?" His brows furrow. "I thought you said you live in a studio?"

"You could say that." I nod, knowing damn well I don't have roommates, but I'm waiting for him to catch up. "Except they don't talk to me. It's great."

"Oh my God, please tell me I'm wrong." His eyes widen and he puts his hand against his heart, clearly playing around. "Please tell me you don't name your plants."

"If I said no, it would be a lie." We both laugh.

"So tell me. You said they don't talk to you, but since they're your roommates," he pauses. "Do you talk to them?"

"Would it be crazy if I did?"

"A little." He grins, "But I like a little crazy."

"Fine," I admit, "But only when I feel lonely."

Theo frowns, gripping his cup tighter and bringing it to his lips. Great, now I made it awkward. I'm about to backtrack and tell him I'm just playing when he sets his cup on the table and says, "You don't have to feel lonely anymore." He gazes into my eyes, the blue of his a little stormier as he looks at me. "I'm here now."

I deflect again, "You're just keeping me here, aren't you?"

His smile slips, but he recovers quickly. "Busted," he whispers. "Did it work?"

"Only a little bit," I admit.

Just then, we're interrupted again by the same girl who works here. "Alright, love birds, time to go." A little smirk tips up her thin lips, and I smile at her briefly before my cheeks heat. Love birds, my ass.

I grab my trash and put it in the bin, and he does the same. He is waiting for me by the door leading to the parking lot. My steps falter as I reach him, and I notice how his eyes stare into mine, making me bite my bottom lip.

"Let me walk you to your car." Great, now he's going to see the piece of trash I drive around every day because I couldn't afford anything better.

I don't reply. Instead, I head to my car without a glance back, not wanting him to see how affected I am by this. It's harder because I probably wouldn"t be as embarrassed if it were just a regular man. But it's Theo Anderson—star hockey player—and he probably owns five cars. I feel judged.

But when I unlock my car and turn around, his expression doesn't even change as he looks at me and the vehicle. He's unfazed, completely. "What?" I ask him. "No snarky remark about my car?" I know I'm a bitch, but this is my way of protecting myself before the blow comes.

"Why would there be a snarky remark?" He asks, clearly confused.

I frown, "Because it's a piece of shit."

"You act like I'm a spoiled brat, Bailey." Theo sighs, running a hand through his stupidly perfect hair. "I didn't come from money. Just so you know."

"But you have it now."

"And I only use it on things that matter to me."

"Like what?" I snap.

"This feels like a conversation for another time," Theo replies, "Why are you picking a fight?"

I don't answer, and he presses me against my car door and cages me in.

"Are you scared of me?" His nose brushes against mine, and my lower lip trembles. I don't speak. "Are you trying to ruin this between us? Because I won't let you."

I stay silent, contemplating my options. It doesn't feel like I have many, and this thing between us? I think I'm starting to like him more than I should. I mean, I spoke to him about naming my fucking plants. I've never even said that to anyone but Cheyenne. Cutting this off at the roots feels like the smartest thing to do.

"Cat got your tongue, baby?" Theo breathes against my cheek, then presses his lips to my skin. They're so soft and full I literally groan at the contact. "Stop pushing me away. I don't give up when I want something, Bailey."

"There's nothing to give up on." I reply coldly, "We have nothing."

"You're a liar." He smiles, entirely at odds with the conversation. "You're a puddle every time I look at you. Quit lying to yourself and see what's right in front of you."

"And what's that?"

"Me." Theo pulls away and fixes my jacket. "Anyway, I'm glad to see you're wearing a jacket this time." He tells me, changing the subject drastically. I have a feeling he wants to put me at ease, but it only serves to make me more nervous.

"Yeah," I clear my throat. "I'm warm for once."

"I bet you are," he murmurs, sending tingles all the way down my body. "Are we still on for two days from now?"

"Uh, yeah." I reply, "Sure."

"Good."

"See you soon, then?" I ask him, almost slapping my hand against my forehead. Obviously, I'm seeing him soon—in two days.

But he just grins, opening my car door and holding it in place until I get in. "See you soon, Bailey."

And then he closes the door, leaving me to contemplate my life. My choices.

My feelings.