Page 34 of Slapshot Baby

That's not cowardice.

It feels like cowardice anyway.

I wonder how strange this must be for Kai. He has no idea who I am. Will he think I’m overstepping by showing up again?

Kai reaches for the water cup. His fingers miss it by an inch.

"Can you..."

I lean forward and grab it for him. When I hold it out, his hand wraps around mine instead of the cup. His thumb settles in the curve between my thumb and forefinger, stroking once.

"Thanks," he says, not taking the cup. Not letting go.

"You have to actually take the water, Kai."

"I'm getting to it."

His thumb makes another pass. My breath stutters. He tugs my hand closer, bringing me with it until I'm half out of the chair, my face level with his on the pillow.

"Your hair's different today," he murmurs. His free hand comes up and tucks a loose strand behind my ear, fingertips dragging along the curve of it. "I like it down."

His touch trails from my ear along my jaw, featherlight. My skin burns everywhere his fingers pass.

I should pull back. I should sit in my chair and maintain the distance between us. Instead I stay perfectly still while his knuckles graze down my neck and rest against my collarbone.

My eyes glance at his lips, heart pounding.

"You should drink your water," I whisper.

"Probably." He doesn't move.

I retreat to my chair and sit down a little too fast.

"I think we should be friends," I blurt out.

He reaches for his water, taking an unhurried sip while watching me over the rim of the bottle.

"Friends," he repeats.

“Yes. Exactly.” I nod a little too enthusiastically for someone who feels anything but enthusiastic about this. “I happen to be an excellent friend.”

He sets the bottle aside and leans back against the pillows, studying me with an expression that's far too sharp for someone with a concussion.

"And what if I told you I want to be more than friends?"

My lungs forget how to work.

"Then I'd tell you..." I swallow. "Tough luck. Because friends are all you're getting."

"Huh." He doesn't look the least bit discouraged. If anything, he sounds amused.

"What is huh supposed to mean?"

"It means there's a woman who has driven here twice to visit a man who forgot her name. She keeps bringing me food. She laughs at my terrible jokes." His eyes drift to my mouth before finding mine again. "And she's trying very, very hard not to look at my lips."

My gaze immediately drops to his mouth.

Damn it.