Breaking South (Turner Artist Rocker #3) - Alyson Santos Page 0,44
can’t imagine how terrifying it must be to face a world you don’t feel equipped to navigate with even the most basic skills. Her parents did her no favors by raising her in a bubble, and the whole thing makes me burn hot again. She’s so capable, so curious and bright, and yet she’s held back by her own fear of what she can’t do. Of being judged and ridiculed over every second of her existence.
“Well, this is the best damn egg-vegetable salad I’ve ever had,” I say with a grin.
She smiles back, chuckling lightly to herself. “It’s… interesting.” She shoves more vegetables around the bowl, making a face. “Kind of gross. I’m guessing if it’s the best, it’s because you’ve never had an egg-vegetable salad before.”
“Has anyone?” I shovel another forkful of the strange concoction in my mouth.
“You don’t have to eat it,” she says with a laugh. “We can just order something.”
“Hey, I’ve eaten way worse, trust me.”
“The pasta is so mushy too.”
“Easier for our intestines to digest.”
She scrunches her nose, and I laugh. Chewing through another bite, she softens as she watches me pretend to enjoy her gross food. “It was fun, though, Oliver. Thanks for helping me do this. I didn’t think I could.” She rolls toward me in the desk chair we brought over for her and takes my hands. Her eyes search mine as she leans close, squeezing my fingers. “You…” She blinks back emotion. “You make me want to try things. You make me brave.”
I kiss her, gently at first, then more urgently when it’s not enough. Her hands thread into my hair as I cup the back of her neck, and that strange word comes barreling back. Girlfriend. I see myself in her dressing room while she gets ready for a show. I see her up in the stands, cheering me on with the other player wives and girlfriends. I see a future of more bad homemade meals and lazy mornings in bed. Of crazy schedules and passionate reunions. Not only do I see it, I want it. Badly. It’s right there, front and center in my mind. A future, and my blood fires hot and goes cold at the same time.
It’s the first time in my life I’ve seen a future that wasn’t related to hockey.
I say goodbye to Genevieve the following morning, even making my way up the marathon staircase to see her out. She ended up staying the night when our laidback date of cuddling and talking ran late. I’ve never woken up beside a woman after not having sex in my life. It was amazing seeing her next to me in my queen bed, tucked in my arms, breathing softly like she was completely relaxed. So peaceful and uninhibited. I was angry at her alarm for waking her up this morning, but she had an interview, and I have another long day of sitting around doing nothing.
I close the door of Sandy’s house, turn to head back downstairs—and flinch.
Sandy stands in the hall, arms crossed with a stern look, Kelsie cemented beside him.
“Welcome back, man,” I say, limping toward them and my door with my crutches.
His gaze lowers to my knee, and I stop moving as if somehow that will hide the evidence.
“Thanks. Got in late last night. Jacked up your knee again?”
I shrug. “Fell on the treadmill.”
“I heard.”
I clench my fists on the crutches. “You heard?”
“Carlos called me after it happened. What were you doing training without him anyway? And on the treadmill no less?”
“I don’t need Carlos to run cardio.”
“Apparently, you do.”
I glare at him and take another step, furious that I can’t do so without limping. This stupid knee. No way I’m making it another two months until I can skate again.
“It was just a dumb accident. I’ll be working again by Saturday.”
He nods, but his mood doesn’t seem to improve any. It’s then that I notice the scowl on Kelsie’s face as well. Great. Who knows what she’s told him. “Carlos also mentioned you’ve been hung up on Genevieve Fox. I told him no way our boy would be so stupid.”
My gaze hardens into a glare as I straighten as much as my knee will allow. “Carlos needs to mind his own damn business.”
“Yeah, except now she’s sleeping over at my house? That makes it my business.”
“You never had issues with my judgement in having people over as long as we stay downstairs and out of your way.”