Page 165 of Hat Trick
We get to the ice cream shop, and she lights up. She orders a large cup of cookies and cream and I get a chocolate cone, making sure to grab a stack of napkins for us. We shuffle back outside and sit next to each other on a bench, taking a few bites before we talk again.
“This is the best date I’ve ever been on,” she says.
“Isn’t it the only date you’ve been on?”
“Technically? Yes. But it’s still the best one. I don’t remember the last time I had such a good time out with a guy.”
“What do you mean?”
“All the socialization was to make sure they weren’t a serial killer before going back to their place.” She swallows down a bite of her ice cream and pauses. “No one’s ever asked me questions about myself. No one has ever wanted to know.”
“Do you mean how you’re allergic to bees and you like cookies and cream ice cream the most, but only if it has lots of Oreo pieces in it?” I nudge her knee with mine. “I want to know these things.”
“Even the boring stuff? Like that my favorite color is orange?”
“You’re my best friend, Lexi. Of course I want to know all of that.”
“I’m not glad you lost your leg and went through a world of pain, but I’m so glad our paths crossed in the way they did.” She puts her head on my shoulder and sighs. “The girls might be the loves of my life, but you’re my best friend too, Riley.”
I’ve been broken for months. Half of who I used to be physically and mentally, but when I’m with her, it feels like I’m on my way to being whole again. Every laugh of hers is a stitch that sews the busted-up, ugly parts of me back together. Every smile is a balm to the aches that linger around, and little by little, I’m on my way to being who I used to be.
For a long time, I thought I wouldn’t know what to do without hockey in my life, and now I have it figured out. I have a new purpose besides the sport I love. Something bigger and more important than hitting a puck and lacing up my skates. I can have two favorite things, because it involves proving to Lexi every goddamn day she’s worthy of being treated right, worthy of being told she’s special and brilliant and beautiful, and I won’t stop until there’s not an ounce of doubt in her mind that she’s one in eight billion. One of a kind, my favorite person, and the woman I’m falling in love with.
So many things have been almost impossible for me since the night my life changed, but Lexi? Lexi is the easiest part of every day.
I turn to kiss the top of her head, everything in me calm and settled. “You want to come back to my place?”
“Yeah.” Her nod is vigorous, certain, and I’m grinning like a goddamn fool. “I do.”
“Today was a good day,” I murmur.
“They’re all good days with you, Riley,” she whispers, and I hold that as close to chest as tight as I can.
FORTY-FOUR
LEXI
GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN(DAMENTAL RIGHTS) AND GOOD SEX
Me
Do you like my new tattoo?
Piper
Oooh, that’s cute!
Madeline
It’s so tiny! I love it!
Maven
Was this a drunk decision, or is there meaning behind it?
Me
I lost a bet with Riley and had to get a tattoo that he picked out. He decided on five hearts which represent our group of friends. Because you all are the loves of my life.
