I remember what Jack said earlier. “It’s only as complicated as we make it.”
The wind blows her hair into her face again and I capture it, lingering with my fingers caressing her face. Her breath catches.
“I should go inside and find Everly and Grace. Let them know we found blankets,” she says but doesn’t move. Her stare bounces between my lips and eyes like she’s deciding on something.
Everything inside of me screams to close the space between us, but I don’t move until she does.
Bridget leans forward the tiniest amount and then wets her lips. “Can I have more of the lemon drop?”
Without tearing my gaze from hers, I lift the cup to my mouth and take a sip.
“I thought you made that for me.” She smirks, then tracks the movement, her gaze darting to my lips and then to my throat as I swallow. Instead of handing over the cup, I press my mouth to hers.
Adrenaline zaps through me at the small contact. Her soft lips gently mold to mine. I let some of the liquid trickle from my mouth.
She giggles, clearly not expecting it.
“That isn’t what I had in mind,” she says, not pulling away as the sticky, sweet liquid drips down her chin.
“No?”
“No.” She still doesn’t move. We’re breathing each other in and it’s fucking intoxicating.
“Something more like this then?” I bring a hand to the back of her head as I crash my lips back down on hers. I don’t waste any time before deepening the kiss. I’m usually patient, but the weeks I’ve thought about this moment has me rushing. My tongue sweeps in, tasting her with the sugary liquid. A soft moan escapes her lips and goes straight to my dick.
I don’t want to stop, but scaring her off would be worse, so I pull back with a strangled groan.
“Better?”
19
AM I GOING TO HAVE TO KICK YOUR ASS?
BRIDGET
“Good morning!” Everly pokes her head into my room.
When I groan and throw an arm over my eyes to block out the light, she laughs and comes to sit on the end of the bed. The three of us insisted on coming home last night to sleep in our own beds, which I’m thankful for now. My head pounds and my stomach is queasy.
I peek out at her. “How are you not hungover?”
“Oh, I was, but Grace made muffins and I ate like five of them. Soaked the alcohol right up.” She holds up a large muffin on a napkin. “I saved you some and I made fresh coffee.”
“I don’t want food or caffeine. I want sleep.”
“Nooo,” she whines. “You promised to tell me everything that happened with you and Ash this morning. I’m dying. I let you sleep until noon.”
“It’s noon?”
“Yes.”
I groan and sit up. “I don’t think I promised that I’d tell you everything.”
“You did. I’m almost certain.”
“Like you remember anything. You almost fell in the hot tub.”
“Yeah. That last shot was not a great idea.”
My eyes feel like sandpaper and my head aches. “I can’t believe I have to drive home today.”
She hands over the muffin. “Then don’t. Stay an extra night with me. Grace is staying with Lane tonight. We can go out or stay in. I’m sure Ash won’t mind.”
“I knew I was going to regret telling you we kissed.” I tear off a hunk of blueberry muffin and stuff it into my mouth. “I was tipsy, he was tipsy. It wasn’t a big thing.”
I’m not sure I believe the words even as I say them.
“Uh-huh. That’s not what it looked like to me.”
Everly and Grace walked outside right after the kiss that will forever live rent-free in my head. Damn can he kiss. If they hadn’t interrupted us, I’m not sure I could have stopped.
The night as I remember it after that was filled with a lot more dancing and fun with Grace and Everly. Ash and I didn’t have any more moments alone, and I’m trying to decide if I’m thankful or sad about that.
Thankful. Definitely thankful. That kiss was incredible, but it would be dumb to get involved.
It was a one-time thing that I will replay for eternity.
“I have to go back today, anyway. I promised my mom I’d go shopping with her this afternoon.”
“What time do you have to leave?”
“Soon. I probably should be on the road already.”
“Well you have to eat, so that’s enough time to tell me everything.”
I flop back onto my mattress. “I don’t know what happened. We were outside talking and then…he kissed me.”
She lets out a little squeal.
“Are you really excited about this?” Her reaction surprises me. Ash is like a brother to her and she knows my relationship with Gabe was messy. Even if my ex weren’t working with the Wildcats, there are a lot of reasons she might not be on board with me getting involved with someone she cares about.
“Of course. I love you and I love Ash.”
“Yeah, but isn’t it weird or something?”
“No.” She laughs. “Why would it be weird?”
“He’s your brother’s teammate.”
She doesn’t blink, totally unfazed.
“Grace liked him.”
“Months ago. And, I don’t really think he’s even her type. We were just spending so much time with him that it was easy and convenient. Plus, Ash is so damn charming it’s hard not to crush on him.”
“I thought you said he was like a brother.”
“To me, yeah, but I see how girls are around him.” She pulls on my arm to make me sit up. “Tell me what’s really worrying you. Do you not like him? Are you going to break his heart? Am I going to have to kick your ass?”
“Me break his heart? You’re not serious. He’s…Ash Kelly.”
“He’s just a stinky boy who happens to play hockey really well.”
“And kiss really well,” I mutter under my breath.
She catches it and smiles. “So you do like him?”
“Yes. Maybe. I don’t know. I liked kissing him.”
“So your lips like him. That seems promising.”
“Every part of me likes him,” I say honestly. “But it was one kiss. He knows it’s as bad of an idea as I do.”
“You’re not a bad idea. He likes you too.”
I don’t know what to think. But I’m going to be gone for a couple of weeks, so I don’t have to figure anything out today.
I put the rest of the muffin on my nightstand. “I should shower and pack. What are you going to do all break?”
“Sleep in, hang with Grace until she goes to Hawaii, go to some hockey games. My mom is coming up on Christmas Day and then I might go with Ty and Piper to visit her family the day after. When will you be back?”
“I’m not sure. I’m scheduled to work on the third, so I’ll be back by then.”
Everly scrambles to her feet. “Be right back.”
While she’s gone, I swing my feet over the side of the bed and get up. Ugh. I need a shower.