with anyone until I get my game settled.”
“But there’s nothing wrong with your game!” Okay, a little loud on the protest there. Anyone would think she didn’t want him to be indulging in this self-care, celibacy period where sex was off the table.
“We’ll see if Coach puts me on the ice the day after tomorrow. But in the meantime, I’m not dating.”
“So I won’t try to set you up with anyone.”
He smiled. “Did you have someone in mind?”
She thought of Tara who would jump at the chance to be with Foreman again. She hadn’t said so outright, but Mia knew it in her bones. “No. I was just going to be on the lookout. And if anyone seemed suitable, I’d mention it.” Would she, though? Or was she glad to hear Foreman had sworn off sex for a while? At least Mia wouldn’t have to see him with anyone else.
“No need. Like I said, I’m taking some time to take care of me.” He added a grin to let her know how cheesy that sounded and there went her pulse again. Up, up, and away into the stratosphere. This was what happened when you spent too much time with someone. Proximity was the worst.
She would resist the Foreman vibes. She wasn’t that stupid.
The conversation moved to Rebels game strategy—Mia had opinions and Cal suffered them patiently. He opened the cupboard and took out a couple of bowls, into which he poured creamy cheese-soaked pasta shells. Abruptly he turned to face her.
“All that stuff about finding me a date—that seemed out of left field. Why are you suddenly interested in my sex life?”
She decided to come clean. “Vad told me what happened on your wedding day.”
“What did he say?” His voice sounded strained.
“That you came into the church and said it was off. That you and um—”
“Bethany.”
“Right, Bethany. You and she weren’t a good fit. That she’d figured it out and that was why you weren’t getting married.”
High color tagged his cheekbones. “That’s about it.”
“The day of your wedding seems kind of late to figure that out.”
His eyes went cold. “Not when you find your bride-to-be getting railed by someone in the apartment you shared.”
13
Mia gasped and covered her mouth, and Cal almost felt sorry for breaking it so roughly. She looked so scandalized. “On your wedding day?”
“Yep. You know how you’re not supposed to see the bride before the ceremony? Well, that is 100% correct. Don’t do it.”
“Oh, Cal.”
He rubbed his mouth. “Yeah. I—well—shit. I haven’t actually told anyone this.” He didn’t want to now, but he and Mia were close. Closer than he felt with anyone else in his life right now, to be honest.
“You don’t have to now. It’s none of my business and I’m sorry I was so nosey.”
“No, it’s okay.” He took a sip of water. “We were living together in a condo in Montreal and I’d spent the night at Vad’s so she could have the place to herself, to get ready and all that. But then I remembered I’d left something behind. A gift for her. I checked with the bridesmaids to make sure she wasn’t there and got the all clear.”
“But she was there. With someone.”
He hauled a deep breath. “Yes, she was. She’d slipped away from her bridesmaids to have one last bang while single and that’s what she was doing when I walked into our bedroom.”
“In the dress?”
“I wasn’t wearing a dress.”
She gripped his arm. “I mean she was while … oh never mind. Who was the guy?”
Not going there. “Someone I know. Knew. Someone I thought I knew. They’d been at it for a couple of months and she swore this was to be the last time. A farewell fuck.”
“Oh jeez, that’s awful. I’m so sorry you went through that, Cal. Really. And I’m sorry I was pushy about the details.”
“No worries. Long time ago, and I’m over it. Everyone’s got some baggage, right? Like you and your hockey player asshole ex who didn’t cheat on you but turned you off an entire profession as a potential love interest.” He nudged her elbow. “While we’re spilling.”
“I’d—well, I’d rather not.”
Huh. He’d opened a vein and she was keeping it close to her chest. He felt a little foolish for sharing, but she wasn’t obliged to come clean.
“Sure, but anytime you want to talk about it, I’m listening.”
She nodded, waited a beat. “I don’t want to go into details, but so you know, I’m over it, too. I learned my lesson, but