Page 24

24

auburn

I hated flying so much that not even my emotional support UNO could make me feel any better when we hit turbulence.

The moment Ledger’s hand touched mine, everything steadied. The turbulence faded, and I relaxed in my seat. He leaned over, his height creating a protective cocoon around us, his hand still holding mine.

My breath quickened again, but it wasn’t out of fear this time. It was because of the emotions I’d been trying desperately to suppress for the past month. The ones I’d convinced myself weren’t real were suddenly bubbling to the surface.

It took me an entire month to convince myself I was not enamored with my son’s captain. Emma had tried to tell me I needed to throw myself at him and give him a chance, but instead, I threw myself into work. It was easier for me to learn how to master the espresso machine than figure out my emotions surrounding Ledger Cole.

“Are you excited?” His deep voice lulled me out of my thoughts.

“For?” I asked, pulling away from him. I didn’t want someone to see him holding my hands. Drama was not on my BINGO card for today.

He leaned back into his chair, but our knees stayed touching, and even that smallest bit of comfort made me feel safe.

“The game?” he asked, giving me a smile, insinuating there’d be something else to be happy about.

I leaned closer to him, making sure no one but him could hear me. “You know what we talked about last time we saw each other.”

“It seems like fate has placed us in each other’s paths yet again, Sunshine.”

I snapped. “Do not call me that.”

At this point, our foreheads were touching, and I could breathe him in.

“We are nothing.”

He scoffed a laugh and pulled back. “You said that last time, but here we are.”

I leaned back in my chair. “So what do we do?”

Ledger let out a deep exhale. “I don’t know, Sunshine, but it seems like we’ve found ourselves in this little predicament where I’m going to see you every fucking few weeks for the next few months.”

I looked out the window, then back into the deep-amber eyes fixated on me. “You’re making me uncomfortable staring too much.”

He shook his head. “Okay, then, Sunshine. Where should I look?”

My hands flew up in the air. “I said we can’t do this.”

“I know you did, but the truth of the matter is that it seems we’re going to be together whether we want to or not.”

I nodded, letting the words sink in. He was right. We would be traveling together for the time being, and even though it was in short spurts, it meant I had to see him.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“I have a proposal.” My lips twisted as I settled with the gentle hum of the plane.

“What’s that?”

“I say we approach this as friends,” he suggested, his voice low and tinged with an undercurrent of tension. The atmosphere in the plane seemed to thicken as his gaze locked with mine.

“Just friends?” I echoed, my voice barely above a whisper, the words carrying a weight of anticipation as I waited for his response.

He nodded, his eyes never wavering from mine. “Exactly,” he confirmed, his tone laced with an intensity that made my heart race. “No expectations, no complications. Just two people enjoying each other’s company.”

My mind raced with a whirlwind of conflicting emotions as I considered his proposal. Given the magnetic pull that always seemed to draw us together, could we maintain a purely platonic relationship?

“Not even as a joke?” I challenged, my voice betraying the desire that simmered beneath the surface.

He leaned in closer, our knees pushed against each other, and the force of physical touch sent a jolt of…somethingto my core.

“No jokes,” he murmured, his face so close to mine. “But I can’t promise what might happen if you come to the ice after the game. When the adrenaline is pumping, all bets are off.”

I swallowed hard, his proximity igniting a fire within me that I struggled to contain. “Okay,” I said, though my voice wavered with unspoken desire. Deep down, agreeing to his proposal would fuel the flames of our forbidden attraction, but at that moment, I couldn’t bring myself to resist. I was addicted to Ledger Cole and wanted him in my life.

“Good.” He shifted back into his seat, then adjusted his pants and cracked his neck.

“Friends,” I said, shaking my head as if that’d convince me further.

“Just friends,” he repeated.