Right when I’m about to walk over and join him on the couch, I glance at my monitor in the distance and notice that my team’s profiles are coming online. Ugh.
“I should probably start working,” I say, going to my computer and shaking my mouse.
Erik stands up and carries his empty dishes to the sink. “Sure, I can leave you alone.”
“You don’t have to, you can stay.” I try my best to stay casual.
“Are you sure I won’t distract you?” he asks.
Three emails populate my inbox in quick succession, and I sigh. “I can’t promise to entertain you or anything until I get off at five. Something came up.”
“Okay. I’ll head home, then.” Erik hesitates by the door of my office, resting against the frame.
“Alright,” I start, turning to face him. “But we should hang out again soon if you’re down.”
A smile creeps across Erik’s face, warming my core. “Definitely. I have a game tomorrow night. Do you want to come?”
A professional hockey player is inviting me to watch his game? Consider me sold.
“Of course! Hanging out with you is so much fun.”
Shoot. I’m definitely coming on too strong.
“Great! I’ll get a ticket and text it to you.”
We hug again, and I contemplate kissing him. That might be a little too intimate post-hookup, so I hold back.
“Alright, see you tomorrow!” says Erik, giving me a half-wave.
Then he’s off. I close the door and sigh. This is a crush, no questions asked. I haven’t felt this way in ages, but it isn’t like I have a choice—Erik is impossible not to like.
It’s almost too good already. Am I missing something? Is there a catch?
After running through a quick analysis in my head, I come up with nothing. So far, Erik has been nothing other than an attractive, endearing guy. No red flags to be seen.
As I reluctantly head back to my desk, I smell that intoxicating, woodsy cologne everywhere, making my heart pound. I look down and realize I’m wearing Erik’s hoodie. Again.
I must have mindlessly put it on after getting out of the shower.
Well, I guess I’m the kind of guy who steals his hookup’s clothes. Never thought I’d see the day.
4
ERIK
The door to my apartment clicks shut, and I launch across the room onto my sofa, grinning so wide that my mouth almost hurts. Keeping my shit together on the metro was almost impossible, but I managed to stop myself from wearing a creepy smile. Here, though, nothing is holding me back.
This might be more than just a hookup, and holy crap, I haven’t felt like this since I was seventeen and got a stupid crush on Ollie Lindström. This isn’t the weak “I guess he’s cute and doesn’t seem entirely disinterested” crap that I’d sometimes get with a few of the nicer guys over the years. This is serious.
Maybe debilitating teenage emotions don’t stop, even when you’re twenty-one.
Luke was all I could think about ever since leaving his apartment. I mean, how could Inot? He’s hot as hellandhe made me breakfast? In addition to being super friendly and straight-up saying he likes hanging out with me?
I shove my face into a pillow as I realize what I’m doing: lying on the sofa while smiling and kicking my feet. I don’t care, though. Ilikefeeling this way, getting giddy and excited over a guy. Maybe letting myself fall for someone won’t be the worst thing in the world, even with how crazy my life can be.
And he said that his life is hectic, too. That has to mean something, right?
Who knows what might happen, but I sure as hell won’t say no to hooking up with him again. The mere thought of running my hands all over him makes my head spin, and if we go further…
