Talk Hockey to Me (Bears Hockey #3) - Kelly Jamieson Page 0,79
to Easton and back again. Orson’s smile is actually kind of creepy. No wonder Hunter didn’t like me. Him. Whatever.
Orson struts up to us. No, to me. He stops right in front of me.
“Uh, hi,” I say.
He reaches for my hand, lifts it to his fake mouth as if kissing it, then releases it.
What the…?
A small crowd is forming. I glance around and see that Easton, Lilly, Josh and Sara have backed off, leaving me and Orson surrounded by people. My eyes flick all over the place as my brain tries to process things.
Orson holds up one of the big cards he’s holding. It says in handwritten letters, a mascot is a good luck symbol.
I blink.
He drops that one to the ground and holds up another. This is like freakin’ Love, Actually.
This one says, i need all the luck i can get.
My forehead tightens and my confusion deepens.
you told me i was running away. you were right.
My eyes pop open wide enough that I might lose my eyeballs. “Hunter?”
The big head nods.
“Oh my God. What are you doing?” I step closer, hands outstretched. “You’re in that costume…are you…” I stop, aware of the people around us.
He holds up another card. i’m fine.
A smile tugs at my lips.
The next one says, i’m facing my fears.
I cup my hands over my mouth. “Oh, Hunter.” I glance toward Easton and Josh, who are grinning. Their girlfriends are practically bouncing up and down with glee. Otis is sniffing a bench.
this isn’t my biggest fear.
I suck on my bottom lip. “It’s not?”
The bear head shakes negative.
losing a good contract isn’t my biggest fear.
I stare at him. Another card drops to the ground.
my biggest fear is losing you.
My legs go shaky and my hands over my mouth tremble. My heart bumps unevenly.
i love you, kate.
I hear Sara and Lilly let out squeals behind me.
He drops the last card and reaches up to pull off the bear head. He tugs at it. It doesn’t move.
My eyes widen.
Hunter wrestles with the head and I hear a muffled fuck from inside.
I rush over to help. “Not again,” I say. “Oh my God. They need a better costume.” I dig my fingers into the neckline and together we both fight with it. Finally, I loosen it. “There!”
Hunter yanks it off. His face is red and sweaty, his hair damp. He’s never looked so gorgeous. I’m laughing and crying as our eyes meet.
He drops the head to the pavement. “I’m sorry, Kate.”
I’m right in front of him and I reach to cup his face in both hands. “Oh, Hunter.”
“I’m sorry I was an idiot. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you. I’m sorry I hurt you. You’re the best thing in my life.”
More tears stream down my cheeks even though I’m smiling. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” He leans in to try to kiss me. His costume bumps me but we manage to get our lips to meet. “I’m okay. I’ll tell you more…when we don’t have an audience.”
We each glance around. People are taking video of this with their phones! Jesus!
“Okay.”
“I want to take the Bears offer.”
My lips tremble and I gaze into his eyes. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to do it for me.”
He shakes his head. “No, it’s not for you. It’s for me. Because you were right.”
I turn toward Easton and Josh. “I didn’t expect them to bring you back.”
“They didn’t.” His smile lights up my insides like Times Square on New Year’s Eve. “I was coming back before they got there. I figured things out and I knew what I had to do. But…one of the things I had to do was talk to them.”
I nod mutely.
“So we talked. It was good.”
Typical male understatement. I’ll get more out of him later.
“Okay, I gotta get out of this thing.”
I grin.
Easton, Josh, Sara and Lilly surround us. Otis barks with excitement.
“Get me out of here,” Hunter says to his friends. And possibly new teammates.
“We got you,” Easton says. “This way.”
On Fifth Avenue, they hail a cab. When the driver sees headless Orson, he gives us a sour look. Easton tucks a thick wad of bills into the driver’s hand as Hunter and I try to climb in the back seat. I give his big butt a shove to get him in.
“Oooph. Thanks.”
“This costume doesn’t even fit you.”
“I know.” He grimaces and adjusts the fur garment.
“Where to?” the driver asks.
We look at each other.
“My place,” I say, then give the driver my address.