Page 22 of One Good Puck (Denver Bashers #5)
Abby
I go still, taken aback by just how handsome Gavin looks.
He’s wearing a charcoal gray suit, no tie. His hair is combed neatly, and that sheet of golden-gray scruff on his jaw has been trimmed short. He looks like a male model who just strutted off the runway.
He looks around and catches eyes with me. I hold my breath, wondering if he’ll awkwardly look away. But he just flashes that easy, confident, half-smile I love so much.
I manage a small smile in return and walk over to him, my nerves crackling inside of me.
“Hi,” I say.
“Hey.”
“Champagne?” I offer him the glass I grabbed off the table a minute ago, but haven’t sipped from.
His half-smile turns full. “Thanks.” He takes a sip. “You’re not having any?”
I shake my head. “I’m limiting myself to one drink. Especially after how tipsy I got the other night. ”
A light pink flush makes its way up his stubbled cheeks. He chuckles softly.
“Can we maybe talk about what happened?” I ask.
“Sure.” He holds eye contact with me, like he’s totally unfazed. I shouldn’t be all that surprised. His job is to navigate high-stress, fast-paced hockey games for a living. He’s probably not going to be rattled by one awkward conversation.
“So, um, we almost kissed.”
He nods once. “We did.”
“How are you feeling about it?” I ask.
“I felt excited about it in the moment.”
I smile at how simply he puts it. “I did too.”
“But I’m guessing you’re regretting letting things get to that point?” He doesn’t sound offended or upset. Just curious.
I let out a breath. “Honestly, Gavin, part of me wishes that we kissed. I’m attracted to you. You’re really handsome. And sweet and thoughtful and kind.”
He flashes another sexy half-smile. “Well, that works out because I’m attracted to you too.”
I let out a flustered laugh, giddy that this handsome and successful guy is attracted to me. I rein it in a second later. “But I think crossing that line would complicate things between us. And I can’t handle complicated right now.”
I hold my breath as I gauge his reaction. But he doesn’t react. He just blinks and nods, totally calm.
“Living with you has been wonderful. Emma loves it. And I’ve been able to save a lot of money because of your generosity.
” I let out a breath. “If we kiss—if we’re anything other than friends and roommates—I’m scared it might make things awkward.
So awkward that we might not be able to keep living together or be friends. And I don’t want that.”
“I understand,” he says without missing a beat. I scan his face for any trace of anger or hurt feelings, but I don’t see it. He seems totally relaxed and okay about all this.
“You’re not mad?” I ask.
“Not at all. You’re right. It’s probably not the smartest thing in the world for the two of us to be anything other than friends,” he says. “Your priority is your daughter and your living situation. I respect and support that completely. And I want to be a good friend to you.”
For a second, I just look at him, in awe of how well he’s taking this.
“So would it be okay if we pretended like the other night never happened?”
The corner of his mouth quirks up. “More than okay.”
A server walks by and I grab a glass of water from his tray. I hold up my glass. “Toast on it?”
Gavin flashes that full-on grin I can’t get enough of…the one he only seems to wear around me.
For a fleeting second, a part of me wishes that we could have kissed. No awkwardness, no consequences to our friendship. Just one hot kiss.
I shove the thought from my mind and refocus on the moment. Nope. None of that wishful thinking. Just be glad we’re still friends.
He taps his champagne glass against mine and says, “Cheers to being friends.”
I sip my water.
“Speaking of friends, the Bashers are hosting a friends and family community skate at the arena the first Saturday in October,” Gavin says. “You and Emma should come.”
“Emma doesn’t know how to ice skate.”
“I’ll teach her.”
I smile. “Okay. We’ll be there.”