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I nod. “I hope you can, too.”
We reach the parking garage, and Hollis waits for me to exit the elevator before following. His fingers brush the back of my hand, and I slip mine into his, even though my palms are clammy. He squeezes. “Want to tell me why you’re nervous?”
“So many reasons, but mostly because this is our first real date out in public, and people might recognize you.”
“Are you afraid of what people will think?” he asks.
“No. I’m afraid that you’re afraid of what people will think.”
His car beeps as he unlocks the door, and he turns to me. “You think I have a problem with your age?”
“You’ve said as much.”
“You mean every time I’ve said you have so much growing to do, and that you could change your mind about us,” he says.
I guess we’re continuing with the hard stuff. “You could change your mind, too. You did.”
He takes my hands in his. “I never changed my mind about you, Aurora. I got in my own way, just like you said. I can’t take back the hurt I’ve caused, but you’re it for me. My heart is yours.”
I can feel his regret and see his sincerity. I pull my hands from his, and his face falls—until I wrap my arms around his waist. His come around me, and I feel his lips against my crown. “I love you so much, Aurora. And I will keep telling you until you accept it as truth.”
The words bubble up in me, but I’m not ready. Not yet.
Eventually I step back, and he opens the passenger door and helps me into the car. He takes his place behind the wheel, and we leave the parking garage, heading toward the harbor front.
“How have exams been?” he asks.
“They’ve been good. I hand in my final project for my social relations management class on Monday, and then there’s one more exam at the end of the week. Of course it’s on the last day, but I know the material. I’m ready to be done.”
“You have been for a while.”
“I’m ready to do what I love.” I stare unabashedly at his profile. I’ve missed this easy conversation. We know each other. “You’ll be on the ice next game?”
“Yeah. Now that I have my shit together, I can be an asset to the team. I was too distracted to be useful during that Buffalo game.”
“Because of what’s going on between us?”
“Because I didn’t fight for what I want, which is you.” He stops at the red light and looks at me. “It wasn’t because I didn’t want to, Aurora. I did. More than anything. Not fighting was…so fucking hard. But I knew how scared you were, and I wanted to protect your relationship with Roman. It was the wrong choice, but it felt like the right one at the time.”
“I understand that. My fear stopped me from being honest, too.” And it stops me from telling him how I feel about him now. One step and one revelation at a time.
“You are the missing piece, Aurora. Breaking it off with you was a stupid, reactive decision. One I won’t make again.”
I smile to myself as he pulls into a restaurant parking lot. I know this place, I realize. It’s the nicest restaurant in the city, very exclusive, with gorgeous views of the harbor. And Hollis is taking me here for our first date. He’s making every effort to show me he’s serious. That he wants this. That he wants me.
“Just wait a moment,” Hollis says to the valet attendant as he opens the driver’s side door. Hollis hops out and rounds the hood, stepping in to help me out of the passenger seat. My stomach, heart, and lady business are all aflutter as he links his arm with mine and leads me up the steps.
The host addresses him as Mr. Hendrix, and we’re led to a private table with an incredible view of the water. More than one couple seems to recognize Hollis, but no one approaches or makes it awkward. We order drinks and an appetizer and settle into easy conversation.
We talk about the teams in the playoffs and who we think the top picks for the draft will be. “Tristan’s youngest brother is eligible this year,” I tell him. “Tristan and Rix always go to his games.”
Hollis nods. “Tristan mentioned that he’s attending university on a full scholarship. It should give him the time he needs to grow into his skill set.”
“I still think you’d be a great coach.” I hide a smile behind my hand.
Hollis groans. “You’re killing me over here.”
“I didn’t say anything wrong.”
