“Your relationship?” Jesse asked, taking a step closer.
God, even off the ice, he was just massive, huge broad shoulders stretching that black hoodie wide.
“Mind your business, man,” Bryan said, but I noticed he didn’t try to step in between Jesse and I, and watched the much bigger pro warily.
“It’s sex,” I said. “We meet up to fuck.”
For a moment, tensions crackled in the air, then I heard a window open behind me, and there was a loud slurping sound.
“Mm, what delicious hot chocolate,” Dad said. “It’s lovely and nice and warm inside. Come here, Watson, and look at this damn fool camping on our front sidewalk.”
Jesse was looking like he’d been punched in the gut, and Mike stuck a leaf blower out the window and sent a huge spray of wet, slushy snow all over my ex.
“Boo to you,” Dad said. “Boo to you, Mr. Wisniewski.”
Then he shut the window with such satisfaction that little paint flakes flew out in a cloud.
“Did you think I was going to take a vow of celibacy?” I demanded.
“No, no,” Jesse said, but I could tell he absolutely hadn’t expected this. “I just want things to go back to how they used to be. I want you to be mine again.”
“Not going to happen,” I warned him.
“Give me another chance,” he said, looking at me with those damn fucking baby blue eyes.
“What’s the matter?” Bryan put in. “Got tired of fucking Instagram models and now you want Josie back?”
“Just go, Bryan,” I warned him, stepping in front of Jesse.
“Fine,” Bryan said, backing away. “Text me whenever you want to cum, Josie. Let’s try to beat our previous record.”
Jesse’s breathing was so ragged and angry I didn’t know if I was going to turn around and he’d be fucking chasing Bryan’s car down the street.
“He’s right, though,” I said. “I don’t buy it. You didn’t contact me for a year. You’re just bored or nostalgic or something. You thought you could do better than me, so go find it.”
Jesse looked like I’d slapped him in the face.
“I can’t—I can’t believe I was so stupid,” he groaned, tearing at his blonde hair. “I thought I would be a fucking Big Man and sow my wild oats or something. Well, it fucking sucked. It was nothing like being with you.”
His eyes scanned my face, like he was looking for any evidence of me softening. “I tried to deny how I felt for months. Then I finally couldn’t deny any more that I’m miserable without you. I want to fix everything I broke.”
“Some things can’t be fixed,” I said, “and this is one of them.”
I turned to go but he gripped my hand, sending a wave of sensation through me.
“What are you doing?” I snapped, but he was getting down on one knee and digging in his pocket.
To my astonishment, he pulled out a little black box and held it out to me.
“I’m doing something I should have done a long time ago. Asking you to marry me. Will you, Josie?”
“Absolutely not,” I said indignantly.
“Open it, please,” he begged.
“Absolutely not,” I repeated. “You just don’t fit into my lifestyle anymore, Jesse.”
After I had gone inside, Mom looked at me with round eyes from where she and Watson were sitting in front of a cozy roaring fire.
