Hooking - Kristine Allen Page 0,80
she was on her way to Mexico. She didn’t even wait to get any of the fucking tests back.” His lip curled in disgust as he discussed the woman he’d been foolish enough to sleep with.
“So how is he gone already?” I was confused.
“Found out this morning. The father was on my doorstep before I got the official results. He’s actually a pretty decent guy. I played with him in the junior leagues. At least Avery was able to help his attorney set shit up so she can’t come back and try to take the kid. Anyway, it’s probably all for the best.” He shrugged.
Stunned barely described my emotions. His world had taken two one-eighties in barely a week. It was like looking at a stranger. This whole situation seemed to have changed him, and not in a good way. He’d gone from a confident, sometimes bossy asshole, to almost a shell. My chest ached for him.
“So why are you here?”
“I had the gym and then the morning skate. Thought I’d stop in to see you. I’ve missed you.” He said the words, but the lack of emotion in them had me questioning the validity of his statement.
“I missed you too,” I said warily. He was acting so strange that I didn’t know how to process it. “Are you sure you’re okay with all of this?”
He scrubbed his face with his hands but didn’t answer.
“Do you want to have dinner tonight?”
“Okay?” It came out as a question because I was certain this wasn’t the man I knew. Gone was the teasing, happy, snarky guy who had stolen my heart. If he wasn’t sitting in front of me in person, I’d have sworn he was an imposter.
“Cool. I’ll pick you up at about six thirty?” He stood.
“That’s fine,” I replied. He nodded and left the office. No kiss, no sweet words, not even a see you later.
For the rest of the day, I mulled over the incident. He’d literally left me reeling.
After my day ended, I texted him to find out what I should wear. We hadn’t discussed where we’d be eating.
Me: What should I wear tonight?
Biker Boy: I’m sorry, I need to reschedule. Something came up.
Me: Okay. Sure. Is everything okay?
Biker Boy: Yeah
Except he never rescheduled.
For the game Tuesday night, I decided to use the tickets he’d gotten for me. Not once did I notice him look my way. He played aggressively, and they managed to win, despite his multiple penalties during the game. Not that he was the only one; the penalties were flying left and right on both sides.
I waited by his car for him, but then chickened out when the players started to come out. I’d decided it might not be a good idea to have witnesses. If he was blowing me off because he was done with me, then I wasn’t going to risk my job.
Besides, I wasn’t feeling great and I was convinced Katie had gotten me sick.
They had an away game on Friday night, then a home game Saturday, but I watched it from the couch because I’d been sick all week. They’d lost the away game but won the home game.
By Monday, I was still sick and I had to call in. Jake came by after he got off work and brought me soup and crackers.
“Jesus. You look like shit,” he said as he wrinkled his nose.
“Thanks,” I said as I lay on my couch. “You might not want to get too close because I think I have the flu.”
“Oh don’t worry, sis, I’m not getting in sneezing distance of you.” He set the to-go bowl of soup from my favorite restaurant on the coffee table.
“I’m feeling the love,” I grumbled. The scent of the soup wafted over, and for a second, I salivated. Then my stomach rebelled. “Ugh! Get it away!”
He quickly scooped it up and took it to the kitchen. “Don’t you dare puke!”
“I’m good now.” I groaned as I pulled my covers over my head.
“Well, no offense, but I’m gonna take off. Do you need anything before I go?” he asked from the kitchen.
“Uh-uh. I just wanna sleep,” I said as my eyes got heavy.
“Well, call or text if you do. I’m only about ten minutes away now.” He’d moved into a new apartment that was closer to me. It made me happy that we’d been closer since I’d moved home, but then he’d moved to a nicer apartment in my area, which made it better yet.
“Okay,” I murmured.
I was