Maverick drives a shiny black SUV with leather seats and a sound system that makes my insides vibrate when the music starts.
“Sorry about that.” He turns it down. “I think I killed the zen of the moment. Pick whatever you want.”
“I’m easy to please.”
“That’s what Rhett said.” He covers his mouth with a fist. “Sorry. It was right there.”
“Hey now,” I say as I laugh.
“I’m kidding, but for real, you’re chill and I think that’s good for Rhett. He’s got a big heart.”
“Thank you.” I angle my legs toward him. “What does Rhett say about me?”
“Walked right into that, didn’t I?”
“Pretty much.”
Maverick leans back in his seat, one hand at the top of the steering wheel. “Not much, honestly, but to be fair, he’s always been pretty quiet. Come on, you can’t seriously be doubting that my boy is digging you. He was out of his mind when he saw that video of your accident.”
“You know that point when you’re spending all your time with someone and it’s going great, but you’re not sure if you’re on the same page?”
“You’re afraid you like him more than he likes you?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know. The heart thing tends to freak guys out. It isn’t a big deal when things are casual, but the second it’s more—it becomes a real thing to them.”
The more time I spend with Rhett, the harder I’m falling for him. I still worry he isn’t ready for something serious and yet that’s exactly how it’s starting to feel. Last night I had a dream that I called him to make plans and he told me he was heading out on a date with Josie. Like, no big deal, just dating your friend.
Josie forced it out of me this morning when I couldn’t look at her, then laughed in my face, hugged me, and promised she’d never do that to me, and I felt slightly better. But I don’t need a psychology degree to figure out my subconscious is worried that I’m in over my head.
“I can’t speak for Rhett, but I know that he’s never seemed happier since you two started hanging out. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.” He parks the SUV in the apartment parking lot and turns off the engine. “I have exactly zero experience with serious relationships and I get that your heart condition adds complexity, but my advice? Tell him how you feel. Worst case, you’re not on the same page. At least you’ll know.”
I hum a noncommittal response as I get out of the truck and round the front. “Maybe I don’t want to know if it isn’t the answer I want.”
He drapes an arm around my shoulders. “You hiding from reality? Nah, you’re too baller for that.”
I lean my head on his shoulder. “Why haven’t you had any serious relationships?”
“Oh no.” He steps ahead of me to open the apartment door. “That’s way more than you want to get into in an afternoon.” His grin is playful and full of mystery which just makes me more curious, but Rhett’s sitting in the living room playing Xbox when I step through the doorway.
“Hey.” He presses pause on the game.
“Hey Sienna!” Adam calls from out on the back deck. The sliding glass door is open, and he sits in a lounge chair.
I wave, then look back to Rhett.
He stands. “I thought you were going to text before you came. I haven’t showered yet.”
My gaze travels over his bare chest “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”
Maverick chuckles. “And I’ll be outside. Unless you two want to get into something freaky. I’m down for a shower. Or I could just entertain Sienna while—”
“No,” Rhett says without waiting for Maverick to finish.
“So possessive of your girl.” He winks at me and then laughs his way out to the back deck.
“Maybe I wanted to hear the rest of his offer,” I say when we’re alone.
“Well, by all means.”
I make like I’m going to get him, and Rhett hauls me to him with his arms around my waist.
“I’m kidding.” I slide my hands up his chest. “I’ve got my hands full with you.”
“Shower and then movie? We may have to watch it out in the living room though because everyone got really excited when I told them you wanted to watch Mighty Ducks.”
“Not want. Being forced.”
“You can’t not see it,” he says in the same tone he’d used when I told him I’d never seen it before.
I chuckle at him. “Actually, I need to call Elias back. He has a competition tomorrow and I don’t want to forget later. I tend to lose track of time around you.”
One side of his mouth pulls up. “Sorry. Not sorry.”
“Can I use your room?”
“Of course.”
While Rhett showers, I sit on his unmade bed surrounded by his scent, feeling giddy and happy and not trusting either of those emotions.
Elias answers, his face filling the screen. “She’s alive!”
“I’m sorry I keep missing you.”
“It’s fine.” He runs a hand through his dark hair. “I figured you were off being happy-happy with your hockey hottie.” His tone is too sarcastic and bitter for my friend.
“Uh-oh. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Elias Mason Hummer.”
He sighs. “I kissed Taylor.”
“What?! When?” Those weren’t the words I was expecting to come out of his mouth.
“Last night.”
“How?”
“We were working late. It just happened. And now she’s avoiding me. She was a no-show for practice this morning.”
“Oh my god, E. Don’t you leave for France tomorrow?”
“Yeah. The timing couldn’t be worse. She won’t even look at me and we need to skate our asses off for the judges in three days.”
“Wow. What are you going to do?”
“Do? Nothing. Doing got me into this situation.”
“You have to find her and talk this out before you leave.”
“I’d rather catch up with my best girl. How the hell are you?”
I know he’s deflecting, but lord knows I’ve done it enough times to him that I let it go for now. “I’m good. I finally fixed the footwork sequence that was giving me trouble and I think Coach is going to let me add the double lutz back in at my last competition.”
“That’s awesome. What day is it? Maybe I can come down.”
“You can’t run away from your partner.”
“What? I never ask for time off. I’m sure Taylor can manage without me for a couple of days when we get back.”
“You will do no such thing. You’re so close. Talk with Taylor and get back to work. I’m only friends with you so I have a legit excuse to go to the winter games next year. Don’t ruin this for me.”
That makes him smile and I feel better. Because of Elias’s crazy training and being away from home, he doesn’t have a lot of friends and I feel bad that I’ve been preoccupied lately.
“Do you like her?”
“No, of course not. You know that I don’t. She annoys the shit out of me on a regular basis. She does this weird thing when she kisses where she hums softly.”