Page 9 of Pucking Rebound
“Just stating facts.” It’s the truth.
I cast my eyes around the restaurant. Much quieter now, there are only a couple of tables left dining, but I slide the hood of my jacket over my head to hide my identity as a precaution as we head out.
You just never know.
Not one for public displays of affection, something makes me pull her hand into mine again as we leave the restaurant.
It’s for Lola’s sake, obviously. She needs my kindness and comfort tonight.
You’re lying to yourself, Jordan.
“Are you going to tell me what we’re doing next?” she asks sweetly as I push the door open and usher Lola outside.
Dropping my hand, she zips her jacket up to her neck as we’re hit with a wall of icy air, making us both shiver. I copy Lola, zipping up my jacket too before lifting my shoulders to my ears to protect them from the cold as the wind blows into my hood.
We quickly walk in the direction of my truck, through the snow that’s become deeper since we arrived.
My truck makes aclunksound when I hit the unlock button on my key fob and walk ahead of Lola. I pull open the passenger door and quickly lift her into the cab which makes her squeal with surprise then laugh.
Which is a great sound. How I imagine angels singing.
Fucking hell, what is wrong with me?
Once she’s safely inside, I round the front of the truck and pull myself into the cab to join her. Chunks of compacted snow fall from the roof when I slam the door.
“It wasn’t supposed to snow this heavy tonight.” I brush the white flecks off my jacket before starting the truck, sending a blast of heat into the cab.
“I love the snow,” Lola admits, pulling her seatbelt over her shoulder, then clicking it into the latch.
“Yeah?” I put the truck into drive, pausing for a moment, much preferring to watch her admire the falling snow.
“I would make a snowman with my dad every year. It was our mission to make it last all winter. Patching him up, replacing his carrot nose if a rabbit stole it. He stayed perfect until the snow thawed. It was fun.”
“Wade told me your dad died. I’m sorry.” I reach out and place my hand on her thigh. It’s possibly a little too forward of me, but for some reason, since we hugged at Wade’s earlier, I always want to be touching her.
“It’s fine. I’m fine,” she replies, brushing me off too quickly.
I shoot her ayou can tell me the truthlook.
Crossing her arms and looking away, she lets out a dramatic sigh. “Okay, I’m not fine. But I’ve got really good at pushing all the bad feelings away lately.”
“Expert level good?”
“Yeah.”
“I was there, once.”
Looking back at me, she cocks her head to the side, then asks, “When?”
I tap the steering wheel before I finally confess, “When Sienna left. It hurt like hell and I never told a soul what I was feeling at the time. To distract me, I threw myself into healing my knee.”
Nodding her head in understanding, she says, “It hurt because you have all that history together and you have to admit she was beautiful.”
“I guess.”You’re more beautiful, I want to tell Lola but stop myself.
“You were together for a long time.”
“Since high school.” I confirm.
