Tripping (Iced #2) - Kristine Allen Page 0,72

I argued in a pleading tone. An unrealistic part of me hoped he would tell me I’d been dreaming. That part of me wanted to beg him to tell me it was anything but what it seemed like.

He sighed, and my heart stuttered. I’d honestly rather not talk about it at all. Because it already hurt, and he hadn’t given me the whole story. If it was true, my heart might not survive. What would I do with that—if he had hooked up with someone? Would I be willing to get past it, or would I forever hold that against him and slowly poison our relationship?

“Bleu, it was my cousin Regi that answered the phone. If you hadn’t blocked me, you would’ve gotten my text message explaining that. She lives in Toronto. After that shit with the fan, I wasn’t in the mood to be in the bar. I also wasn’t in the headspace to be alone. I called her, and she let me come over. She didn’t have a clue who you were when you called—she assumed you were some random hookup and thought she was helping me. You’re still saved in my phone as ‘My Angel,’ and she had no reason to piece together that number with the girl I’d drunkenly blabbered on about all fucking night.” He raked a hand through his hair, causing it to stick straight up in places.

The truth, and I believed it was, hit me like a ton of bricks. After swallowing hard, I licked my lips and asked, “So you didn’t sleep with a puck bunny that night?”

“No.”

“Or any of the other nights we were apart?”

“No.”

“And if I asked your mom, she’d tell me you have a cousin named Regi who lives in Toronto?” I crossed my arms and raised a brow. I’d never call her and ask her that, but I wanted to see what he’d say.

“If you want me to, I’ll call her and Regi right the fuck now—on a conference call. In fact, Regi feels awful. She told me you could call her and she’d verify everything. I swear, there hasn’t been a single soul since you. You fucking ruined me for other women. I can’t even look at one, let alone think about doing anything with them.” His words hit me as I wondered if he was saying what I thought he was saying. Then I wavered on whether or not I should trust him.

“Do you believe me?” he questioned, then patiently waited for me to answer.

“Yes,” I replied—and I did. It would be easy for his teammates to lie for him if I asked them, but somehow I doubted Alex would. Sydney would kill him if he did. Dmitry might rat him out too since he seemed to be so into my sister. Then again, I could be a fool and he could be a very good liar.

Yet when I searched his eyes, all I saw was raw honesty.

“Cameron, I might’ve overreacted about you offering to buy my plane ticket and pay for lost wages, but do you understand where I was coming from? I didn’t decide to go out with you because you were loaded. Nor did I make the decision based on how famous you are. It was because of who you are, not what you have,” I said as I dropped my gaze to the counter. My fingers absently traced the granite.

He sighed. “I get it. But you have to know, I wasn’t trying to buy your affections. I wasn’t trying to look big or important. It wasn’t about being egotistical. I simply wanted do something nice for you, and I wanted you to spend time with me.”

“I know that, but at the time it didn’t seem like it. In my mind, you minimized my concerns and my feelings—it seemed like you were saying everything could be fixed with money.”

“Not at all, and I’m sorry if it came across like that. During the season, I don’t have a lot of downtime. I’m gone half the time and on the ice playing or practicing for the rest. My career is consuming, but I love what I do. Can we meet in the middle to find ways to maximize our time together?” He gripped the back of his neck and closed his eyes as he dropped his head. Then he brought his beautiful blue eyes up to meet mine. “Please?”

“I think that’s a possibility,” I replied, pursing my lips to keep from smiling.

“Thank fuck,” he said