Jude
The community rink was even quieter than usual when I arrived. I took what had become my usual seat in the upper section and kicked my legs up on the back of the chair in front of me, my gaze tracking Cody’s figure on the ice as he finished up his session with Marcus. I’d never get tired of watching him—the way he was so patient with the teenagers he coached, building up their confidence and self-belief. Even though he was a man of few words, they responded to his praise like his approval meant everything to them.
After Marcus and his dad left, I made my way down to the side of the rink, and Cody skated over to me, pulling off his helmet as he approached the boards.
“Enjoy the show?” he asked, his hair damp with sweat and his cheeks flushed. Fuck, he was gorgeous.
“Always. Marcus looked good tonight. I might not know all the ins and outs of hockey, but I can easily see how much he’s improved since that first session I watched.”
“Yeah. He’s getting better every week.” Cody leaned against the boards, his lips curving upwards. “How was coffee with your brother?”
“Good. I told him about the Glevum contract.”
Something flickered in Cody’s expression, gone too quickly for me to read. “I’m guessing he was pleased for you.”
“Yeah, of course. He’s my big brother.” I paused, taking a step closer to him and lowering my voice. “He also said I seemed more relaxed.”
Cody smirked. “Maybe you are.”
“Maybe. I wonder why that could be.”
“Hold that thought. I need to shower and change. Give me fifteen minutes?”
“Yeah, okay. I’ll wait in the car. I’m parked next to your truck.”
Cody nodded and skated away towards the locker rooms, leaving me to make my way out to the car park. The sun was setting over Calgary, all oranges and yellows and pink, and I took a moment to stand there, taking in the view. I missed my home, but there was something about this place that was so fucking beautiful. I never got to see sunsets like this in London, probably because of the light pollution or something. Would wherever I ended up in Gloucestershire have sunsets like this? Fuck, was I going to be reminded of Canada, and Cody, every time I saw a sunset?
When Cody appeared from the building twenty minutes later with his gym bag slung over his shoulder, his hair still damp from the shower, I straightened up, pushing my thoughts away. There was no point in depressing myself, not when I had the person I wanted right here in front of me.
He studied me, his brows pulling together, before he shook his head. “Want to go for a drive?”
“Yeah.” I’d go anywhere, as long as it was with him.
Glancing around us, he moved closer, leaning in to brush a soft kiss over my lips.
“Follow me.”
I followed his truck up into the hills overlooking the city, where he came to a stop at the side of the road. Pulling up behind him on the empty street, I climbed out of my SUV, following him over to a flat area lined with railings.
“Wow,” I breathed, taking in the panoramic view of Calgary spread out below us. I could see the Calgary Stampede, the Bobcats’ arena, the tower…even the apartment block Cody lived in. “This is amazing.”
“Yeah.” He shifted to lean his arms on the railings. “I like this spot because it’s quiet at night. Not many other people around.”
I glanced around us. There were a few houses behind us, but out here, there were no other people. Just the two of us at this lookout spot, watching the skies darken and the city lights flicker on down below. “Yeah, I can see that. It’s beautiful.”
“Yeah, it is.” But when I turned to look at him, he wasn’t looking at the city. He was looking at me with an expression of so much want, so much fucking longing, I couldn’t stand it.
“Cody.”
“I know. I know this is temporary. I know we can’t really be together.” His voice was low and rough. “I can’t stop thinking about what it would be like if things were different. If you didn’t have to leave and we could just be together, without hiding it. If you were really mine.”
His words sent a sharp pain arrowing through my chest. It was like he could read my own thoughts.
We live in different worlds. We can’t be together. But I don’t know how to stop wanting him.Wanting him to be mine.
I bit down on my lip. “I wish things were different. I wish you were mine.”
“Fuck, Jude.” He inhaled sharply. “This place is still too public. Come on. My truck. We’ll come back for your car later.”
