Chapter Thirty

Flynn

As I open the door to a Japanese Fusion restaurant, I am excited to see my best friend. After the deep conversation with Myles last night about our careers, my emotions are running high. The need to guard my heart overwhelms me. My eyes immediately zone in on Sloane sitting at a table by the window drinking some sake.

“Hey, you.” I lean in to give her a hug.

“Hi. Everything okay? You look tired.”

“I am.” The waitress comes, and I order some sake, too.

“Too much sexy times with the hot hockey player?” She raises and lowers her brows.

“We aren’t going there.” I smile.

“Fine.” She lifts her hands in surrender. “I ordered all our favorites.”

“Yeah, sorry I was late. Got held up at the office.”

She laughs because it’s common for me.

“What’s on your mind?” she asks. “You have that crease between your eyebrows you get when you are overthinking something.”

I shake my head. “Why do you have to know me so well?” The waitress places the sake in front of me.

“Spill it,” Sloane orders, leaning over the table, waiting expectantly.

“It’s nothing, really. I mean…I don’t know.” I shrug. Damn. Why is it so hard to talk about?

“This have to do with Myles?” she asks, probably trying to help.

“We had a talk last night. We tried to take it slow, but now it’s not-so much. I spent the night at his place, and it just felt so right that…”

“That it scared you.” She finishes the sentence for me.

My stomach dips. “Yes, but it’s more than that. He’s a professional hockey player. His career can take him anywhere. Mine keeps me here. On some level, we will always be doomed.” I drink my sake. It’s cold and refreshing, and I need some alcohol to take the edge off.

Sloane frowns. “Did you tell him that you feel this way?”

“Yes. He said exactly what I wanted to hear. He said I was a priority. He wants to give us time to get to know one another again.”

“That sounds good,” she says skeptically.

“I don’t know. Maybe I’m overthinking because of everything that happened in the past. I’m really happy right now. You know? It scares me a little.” She groans, and I say, “I sound negative, and I hate it. You don’t have to tell me what I already know.”

“I think it’s good you’re talking about it. For the record, I hate to bring up the jerk, but you never had these fears or reservations with Matt.”

“That’s what scares me. I can see myself completely falling for Myles, and I don’t know if we have a chance at a future. We can’t do a long-distance relationship if he gets traded.”

“I say you take things one day at a time. You’re the happiest I’ve ever seen you. Have some faith that things will work out.”

“Yeah.” I nod. “Enough about me. What’s going on with you?”

“You don’t want to know who has me up at night fantasizing…” She cocks a brow.

I grimace. “My brother, Sloane? Really?” A cold chill runs through my body. “Oli isn’t the relationship kind of guy, and if things go south with you guys, it could totally ruin our friendship,” I remind her.

“I’ve already argued that case in my head. Besides my vagina is still in hostile territory,” she says with all seriousness.

I burst into laughter. “You spoke to dear old Mom again, I assume.”

“Yes, told her about the Oli thing. She thinks I’m looking for a diversion, something that I want that’s unattainable. She doesn’t think it has anything to do with my vagina. She thinks I’m unhappy with my career choice.” Sloane rolls her eyes. “She doesn’t understand that I want to be a journalist. It takes time to climb the ladder in journalism. BTW, I think she’s wrong about my vagina.” She winks.

The waitress places our food in front of us.

We smile and thank her and begin to eat.

“She’s definitely wrong,” I confirm. “The right guy will come along. It’s all about fate. I truly believe that. Weren’t you the person who said the very same thing to me when I caught Matt cheating?”

“I guess.” She sounds resigned as she twirls a piece of her hair. “I still can’t believe you told Myles my mom is a sex guru. You know I keep that on the down low.”

“Don’t worry. He won’t say anything. Besides, my plan worked out. I coerced him into sleeping with me.” I take a bite of the California roll.

“You are aware of how strange that sounds.” Her brows dip together. “Try the tiger sushi.”

“Nah. I don’t like that one,” I say, then get back on topic. “I know, but it isn’t strange. Trust me. We have a sordid past. He was holding back. He needed a little nudge. That’s all.”

“Please make sure he doesn’t tell your brother. I’d die of embarrassment if Oli knew,” she says, pressing her palms to either side of her cheeks.

My eyes widen, “You do realize you can’t mention my brother’s name without flushing. What on earth are you going to do Christmas Eve?”

“It’ll be fine. I’ve been brainwashing my hostile vagina not to get too excited.” She says that with a straight face somehow.

I guffaw. “Jesus. That would actually be funny if we weren’t talking about my brother here.”

“You are dating his best friend, who is deep-cocking you every night. It would only be fair.” She bats her eyelashes and juts out her lower lip.

I swallow and my sake goes down the wrong pipe. “What am I going to do with you and your strange terminology?” I shake my head but can’t help the smile curving my lips.

“Nothing.” She shrugs as if she didn’t use the term “deep-cocking.” She pops a piece of sushi roll in her mouth. The waitress brings more sake, and I have a light buzz happening.

“Do you think my brother knows you want him?” I ask.

“No.” Her eyes widen. “He’s just a flirt. I’m sure he does that with everyone.”

“Yeah, maybe. I mean, I don’t know. He doesn’t bring any women to the apartment. I think I’m cramping his style.”

“Maybe. He’s a big hockey whore, isn’t he?”

I cringe. “He keeps that part of his life private.”

She shrugs. “Knowing Oli, he’s happy to have you around. I wouldn’t overthink it.” Her green eyes brighten like a light just went off in her head. She lifts a finger. “Do you see a theme here? You seem to be overthinking everything.” She laughs.

“How many of those have you had?” I ask, tilting my chin to her bottle of sake.

“This is my third.”

“You’re drunk.”

“Maybe. I’m a light weight.” Her face scrunches up. “I’m not so drunk that I don’t see a pattern here. Seriously, don’t start overanalyzing Myles. Enjoy yourself and let things happen naturally.”

“You’re right.” I sigh. I hate that I feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. I just need to get over it and focus on what I have in front of me—an honest, caring man who is crazy about me.

I tilt my bottle of sake to Sloane’s. “Cheers. To new beginnings.”