My eyes are watery by the time he’s done. I inhale a deep breath and slowly blow it out, feeling years of pressure begin to release. I feel like I’ve been waiting a lifetime for that.
Charlotte purses her lips and then slowly smiles. Her voice is normal when she speaks, the seriousness gone. “Fine. But the offer of ending your hockey career still stands. Just saying.”
I step off the ice, joining skate-less Charlotte. My brows furrow when Alec steps off and drops to his knees in front of me.
He begins undoing my laces. His fingers graze my bare ankle when I slide my foot out, and I never knew that an ankle could be so sensitive. Shivers shoot up my leg from the small contact.
He stands back up with the skates in his arms and the biggest smile on his face. He turns toward the main desk. “See you at eight, Lu.” He winks and walks away, leaving Charlotte and me with a thousand unanswered questions.
Our poor Uber driver has to sit and listen to us the whole way home. Mostly listen to Char interrogate me and get short answers before the next question is fired away.
Jack is passed out in his bed when we get home, tuckered out from skating. Maybe hockey will be a good thing after all.
Leaning back in my office chair, I push open my laptop and check my email. “Yes!” I whisper to myself.
The email from The Crooked Spine has arrived. I’ve been waiting for their owner to send me what he is looking for with this marketing campaign. Along with the budget, target audience, et cetera.
I take notes, being as thorough as I can. My smile doesn’t fade once the entire time. The second I get done studying my notes, I start some research.
I deep-dive into finding other local bookstores in our area and look into what they’re doing for promos and advertisements. Presenting the same kind of setup to The Crooked Spine is probably not a good idea.
After extensive research on bookstores far and wide and probably two hours of deep thinking later, I’ve come up with my plan for them. Now, I just need to put it into effect.
But that’s not happening right now because I have to start getting ready for Alec’s and my date tonight. My cheeks are already flushed with anticipation.
The hangers screech on the metal bar as I rifle through my clothes. I have no idea what to wear. I don’t know anything about his plans tonight.
Are a dress and heels too much? Should I wear jeans?
“Charlotte!” I scream her name, hoping she will come to my rescue.
My door creaks open.
“I swear you’re helpless.”
Turning, I throw a shirt at her. “Just shut up and help me!”
She laughs, catching the shirt. “Okay, okay. Calm down, crazy. You have enough clothes to dress an army. We can certainly find something here.”
She walks over to the randomly stuffed racks and begins her search. I huff and sit down in the pile of clothes I’ve already deemed as noes.
She works her way all the way to the back of the racks, where clothes I haven’t seen in years live. No hope there.
I lean my head back against the wall and start humming deliriously.
Char scoffs. “Laura, for fuck’s sake, get your ass up. We’re going to my room. You normally just steal my clothes anyway.”
I hop up and follow her, getting ready to just call it a night if we don’t find something soon. Her closet and mine are decorated the same—absolutely no order.
She continues her quest of finding me clothes. “So, where’s he taking you?”
“I have no idea. That’s why I’m stumped on what to wear. I don’t want to overdo it, and I definitely don’t want to be underdressed.”
Ugh, I wish I weren’t getting so worked up over this.
This is supposed to be our first date together … again. I want to look smoking hot, show him what he’s missed out on all these years.
It’s like a lightbulb goes off in my head. I jump up with a newfound energy. “Charlotte! Where’s the dress you wore to that frat date night last year?”
