Page 81 of Four Letter Feelings

Their chemistry was undeniable, they fit so well together, so much so, that had he believed in the phrase ‘made for each other’, Chelsea Davis was absolutely made for him. He loved everything about her, her sass, her spunk, her quick tongue and every single one of her curves. But he also loved her vulnerability, her laugh and the fierce determination with which she faced everything head on.

As she slept on his chest, her hair a tangled mess across his skin and her breathing quiet, he wondered if she felt any of what he felt, or if she still only saw his Hockey DB profile every time she looked at him.

He kissed her forehead and squeezed her against him, running his hand along the bare skin of her arm and hoping that somehow, somewhere in her heart she felt a flicker of something more than casual. He hoped he’d done enough to convince her of the simple truth that not all hockey players were asshats, and, given the chance, he would do his very best not to hurt her like her ex clearly had.

Closing his eyes, he felt relaxed and at ease for the first time in a long time. While he knew getting laid played a big part in this change in mood, he also knew that Chelsea, specifically, played a part in that too. As he fell asleep, he resolved to talk to her in the morning about seeing her again and perhaps making whatever had sparked between them a little more permanent. Before he drifted off to sleep, he smiled and wished his parents were around to see this. In the silence, he realized that AJ was right, he was starting to develop four-letter-feelings for the beautiful woman in his arms and he’d do whatever it took to keep her there.

***

For a split second, when he woke up, he thought the previous night had all been a dream. The bed next to him was empty and he lay for a moment straining to hear if he could hear her in the bathroom or downstairs.

Propping himself up on his elbow, he rubbed his chin in confusion.

She was here, right? I didn’t dream it all.

He knew she’d been there, while sleeping naked wasn’t a tell-tale sign that he’d had company the night before, the unmistakable scent of vanilla beans and clementines lingered in the linens.

“Chels?” he called out. “Are you here?”

As he threw back the blankets, he found a folded piece of paper sitting on top of the book he’d bought her on his pillow. For a moment he wondered where she’d even found a notebook and pen in his house. Then he wondered how she’d made her way back upstairs with the book he’d left out for her on the counter in the kitchen without waking him, but his stomach sank at the prospect of what lay inside the note.

Jeremy,

I’m sorry. Last night was amazing, but I really can’t date another hockey player.

Chelsea.

***

“Wanna talk about it?”

“Nope.”

“Wanna drink about it?”

“Yes, but I’m not gonna.”

“Wanna eat your feelings?”

“All. Of. Them.”

AJ offered the pizza box to Jeremy as they sprawled out in the living room.

“Have at.”

It had been a week since Chelsea had skipped out on Jeremy. She still wasn’t answering his messages and he was still pissed about it. He felt wounded, confused, and angry, yet part of him wasn’t completely surprised. He should have known if he moved too fast with her, he would spook her. As he folded the slice of pizza into his mouth, savoring the cheesy bliss, he picked up his phone and decided to send a message to Jess. He was feeling better about himself. He’d managed to pull his life back on track and he was ready to get back to having fun.

Jeremy: Butt stuff?