AllFreeNovel
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“Hey.” I break the distance between us and place my hands in hers at her side. “I’m not judging you.”
“Yeah, but hockey blogs sound bad. But I’m not?—”
I press my lips to hers to get her to stop talking. “Okay, so what are they saying about me? That I’m a waste of talent?”
She laughs and shoves me in the chest. “Honestly, I haven’t been reading them since we got together. I’ve been…” She lets whatever she was going to say go, and I want to pry, but I have to get going. From what I’ve witnessed, she’s going through something but hasn’t shared anything with me, and I’ve forced myself not to ask. “Everyone in Chicago can’t wait to see you play again this season.” She gets up on her tiptoes and kisses me back. “Including me.”
“Good. If you ever want seats…” Shit, there I go again. Another covert way of asking her to move this arrangement into something more. Or at least gives the impression that I want something more.
“I’ll let you know.”
I nod. We still have preseason training to get through. Why am I pushing the limits?
“Have fun with your friend,” she says, wrapping her arms around my waist, tightening her hold on me.
I rest my chin on her head and hold her. We’ve never really hugged before, and I don’t love the way this feels. It feels like a goodbye. She pulls back and stares at me. There’s something in her eyes. They’re void of her usual free-spirited demeanor.
“What’s going on?” I frown.
A soft smile creases her lips. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Okay…”
“I’m not—” My phone rings from where it’s charging in the kitchen.
I ignore it and continue to hold Leigh close. “Go ahead.”
My phone stops and rings again right away. What the hell?
“They can wait. What is it?” I don’t take my eyes off her.
Then the buzzer rings by the door. Conor must be here already.
She looks at the door to the bedroom. “Conor Nilsen?”
I chuckle. “You don’t have to refer to us all by our first and last names.”
She laughs, but it’s strained and anxious. “You go ahead. Do you mind if I shower quickly? I just remembered that I’m going to meet Alara, so I should probably get the sex smell off me.”
I try to find something in her body language to give me any clue as to what’s going on with her. “Of course. The door will lock automatically behind you. Are you sure you’re okay?”
She nods and rises up the balls of her feet, pressing her mouth to mine again. I run my hand around her head to keep her lips on mine and slide my tongue through her parted lips.
I pour every emotion I can into the kiss with the hopes she knows she can trust me and say whatever’s on her mind. I know we’ve only been with one another a short time, but I feel closer to her than to most people in Chicago.
She closes the kiss when the buzzer goes off again. “Go,” she says, pushing me in the chest.
“How long will you be out with Alara?” I ask, wanting her to come back over tonight.
“I don’t know. Probably well past your time with your friend.”
Point made. She’s not interested in getting to know my friends or doing anything outside of what we do here. I hate the feeling of disappointment that fills my chest.
“Okay, text me the next time you get horny.” My joke falls flat.
I kiss her forehead and walk toward the door, pressing the button and telling Conor I’ll be right down. I don’t look at her when I head back into my bedroom.
“Why do I feel like you’re upset?” she asks.
