Page 34 of One-Time Shot

Yes, I was.

I was riveted in place. There was no way I could tear my gaze from this show. No way at all. I just hoped I wasn’t drooling.

Jett fixed his briefs as he kicked off his shoes and dropped his jeans. Once he was comfortable, he reclaimed his seat, securing the ice pack on his knee.

“So…what’s up?”

“Um…I wanted to thank you for your time.”

He frowned. “My time?”

“Yes, we’ve…uh, reached the final juncture of our partnership. It’s been most enlightening and?—”

“Whoa. Are you breaking up with me, Maloney?”

“What?” I blinked, catching the teasing note in his voice. “Well, yes…I am. We’ve had a good run, but our love affair couldn’t last forever. You’re too you, and I’m too…me. I wish you the very best and all that…malarkey.”

Jett’s lips twitched. “You’re terrible at breakups.”

“Unsurprising.” I adjusted my glasses with a sigh. “I’ve never broken up with anyone. Have you?”

“Not really. I don’t date much.” Jett scratched his nape and gave me a look I couldn’t read. “I think this is where you tell me we’ll always be friends.”

I slumped on the sofa next to him. “I hate that line. What could be more heartbreaking than settling for friendship after a torrid love affair?”

“Was ours torrid?”

“Definitely.”

“Like…smoking cigarettes in bed after sex torrid?” he pressed.

“If I smoked…yes.”

Jett grinned, shifting to face me. “I don’t smoke either. What do people in a torrid love affair do post-orgasm if they don’t smoke?”

“Gaze into each other’s eyes, of course.”

“Of course.” His thumb brushed the collar of my shirt. A whisper of a touch. “Did we do that?”

We were gazing now for sure. His eyes were so blue, his lashes so dark. How was it possible for one man to be so darn attractive?

“All the time.” My tone was light and breezy, a strange contrast to the flare of heat simmering between us.

No…that wasn’t real.

That was me conjuring a scenario I desperately wished were true. I wished he were gay or bi, and I wished Jett saw me for me…and liked me anyway. He did. But notthatway.

And it was over the top and childish to wish for the impossible. Being friends was improbable enough, but wewerefriends and I didn’t want that to change.

Jett pursed his lips and looked away. “So, you’re done with the hockey part of your thesis?”

Some of the tension whooshed out of the room. My shoulders slipped a notch as I hiked my knee onto the cushion between us.

“Yes, I have all the data I need. Professor Finkwell thinks I have too much, which might be true. It wouldn’t be wise to continue researching hockey when there are other facets of motion that need to be explored.”

“I get that.”

“Thank you,” I said softly. “I’ve learned a lot, and I think I actually like hockey now. A little.”