Page 103 of Slap Shot
“Yes?” I say, but now I’m unsure.
“Dammit, Hudson. You’re not helping me here.”
“She kissed me first.”
“Now we’re talking. Sounds like she has feelings for you. Those feelings probably scare her because she doesn’t think she’s allowed to have them, and that’s why she ran away.”
I sigh and drop my head against the wall. “She’s… she’s become my favorite person in the world, and I’m confused because I don’t do stuff like this.”
“Stuff like what?” he asks.
“Kiss women I’m not dating.”
“Why did you?”
“I couldn’t help it. I’ve been thinking about her for goddamnweeksnow, and it felt like the right moment to do it.”
“Wow.” Maverick chuckles. “You’re down bad, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.” I put a pillow over my face and groan. “I might be.”
“I know you’re someone who likes to fix problems and make everyone happy, but this is an instance where you need to play it cool, man. Let her decide how you all interact. If that’s topretend like it never happened, then so be it. You like her working for you, right?”
“Obviously.”
“Interrogating her about what went wrong is a surefire way to get her to leave.”
“I’d never do that. I just don’t want to mess anything up, you know?”
“You didn’t mess anything up, dude.”
“Maybe I am a bad kisser,” I mumble. “I don’t do hookups, and I get the impression she’s not looking for a relationship. I guess I need to write this off as a one-time thing that won’t happen again.”
“Sucks, Huddy. But never say never. Emmy told me the first time we hooked up it was only going to happen once. Now look at us. Happy as can be,” Maverick says proudly. “Married. In love and hopefully going to have a big family one day. That could be you all, too.”
“Yeah. Maybe,” I say, even though I don’t believe myself. “Thanks for listening to me, Mav. I appreciate you.”
“I’m always here.” Maverick yawns. “Except when I’m falling asleep standing up.”
“Go back to bed, old man. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Night, Huddy Boy. Don’t kiss anyone else.”
I couldn’t even if I wanted to.
THIRTY
MADELINE
Hudson kissedme the other night, and it was the best kiss of my life.
It was a full-body experience. Toe-curling. Heart-stopping.
Goddamnmagical.
It was like he wanted to consume me. Like he wanted topossessme.
And I haven’t stopped thinking about it.
