Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
“I’ll start at the beginning. We will talk about what happened tonight later but you need to eat and I’m trying to salvage that.” He points. “I didn’t plan to kiss you Luci, but it certainly wasn’t a f*****g mistake nor are you. You have been driving me insane. The way you treat Cole, the way you are so sweet about pretty much everything….you got to me in a way no one has in a while. That was why I kissed you.” He pauses and takes a deep breath. “I wanted to ask if you’d give me a chance. Might be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done but I can’t stop thinking about you. You shut me down without letting me talk Monday. Decided I couldn’t possibly want you. Which is utter f*****g nonsense.” He looks at me. “Still with me?”
“Yes.” I am. My wool-gathering brain is all tuned in as my heart threatens to run out of my chest.
“Good. So I decided to prove to you all week that I do want you. That I see you.” Suddenly all the gifts make sense. My eyes widen and I gasp.
“The planner and gloves….”
He shakes his head. “My brothers were right; you had no f*****g clue what I was doing. Thought I was doing it all wrong. I’ve never had to do this before and figured maybe I sucked at it. You really don’t give much thought to yourself being wanted, do you sweetness? Too busy trying to stay on track with everything else, I imagine.”
I nod slowly and he sighs. “It’s not really on my radar. I think Syd tried to give me a hint too.
That I missed.”
“That’s why tonight, Syd let me in so I could surprise you with dinner and then maybe I can take you somewhere else. At least I was close by to get to you in time.” He grimaces.
“You were going to surprise me with a date?” I clarify to make sure my brain didn’t completely malfunction.
“Yes. Luci, would you like that? Dinner with me and than another surprise? I come with a s**t ton of baggage sweetness, like a cargo plane’s worth. But we’ll have that conversation later. I get one night with you not knowing how f*****g screwed up my life is.”
I stare at him perplexed. “It is?”
His fingers run along my jaw. “Yeah, Luci it is.”
“Trust me. I doubt you have baggage or screwiness worse than mine.” I admit to him.
“Luci, you might be surprised. Maybe we share luggage then? I’ll help carry yours and you do the same for me.” He frowns. “And that was cheesy as fuck.” He rubs the back of his neck embarrassed. “Sorry. I don’t do pretty words or poetry well, sweetness, so you need to understand that now. And run far if that’s very important to you.”
“I didn’t think it was cheesy. Sounded reasonable and nice.” I tell him honestly. “A lot like chunking that I told you about.”
“Because you are too sweet for your own good. Which is another conversation we are going to have. Right now though, you haven’t answered me.” He looks truly nervous and I marvel at that. The great Easton Reed scared of my answer to a date request.
“It sounds nice. But if you are doing this because of Cole, you don’t have to.” I’m wary no matter what I truly want to say.
“No. I don’t have to do that. He has you wrapped around his turkey wing.” He smiles. “A date for me. I’m asking for myself only.”
Nothing but hope and worry in his silver eyes and I take a deep breath thinking about all the things he’s done this week. “I would like that.”
The relief in his eyes is swift. “Thank you, Luci.” He rakes one hand through his hair. “Alright, let me finish setting it up and warm up the food. Sydney told me you like lo mein, sesame beef, sichuan shrimp and chicken pot stickers. Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll warm it up.” He lifts all the containers.
“I can help.”
He instantly glares at me. “No.”
He turns the microwave on as I make my next offer.
“I’ll go change so you can have your hoodie back.”
“Also no.”
I stare at him confused. “Is that the only answer you can give?”
He presses his lips together, clearly amused. “No.”
I hang my head and he laughs. “You look good in my hoodie. I’ve…never had a girl steal my clothes. I might like it.”
“Now I know you’re lying. And you made me take it. No stealing involved.” I retort.
“I’m not. There goes that sassy attitude of yours.” He growls.
“Can I go wash my hands and my face after all that?” I haven’t moved.
“Yes. See different answer.” I start to jump down but he’s there instantly, lifting me to the floor.
I hurry to my room to do that wondering if he really will still be here. I emerge to find him setting the plates on the table. He’s about to knock the glass over and I rush to grab it.
“I manage a four-year-old fairly well, but I can’t set up dinner tonight.” He grumbles.
“In your defense, it’s been a rough night and I bet your hands hurt.” I feel guilt over that.
“Don’t feel bad. It was satisfying. He thinks he can threaten Cole and you. He should be off the team if not expelled now.” He pushes my chair back while he pours tea. I sit and let him slide it closer. He already lit the fat vanilla candles he must have bought because those are not mine. He sits down and frowns hard. “This is…lame. I…this is not my strong suit, Luci. Romance is not…I’m sorry. This is the stupidest first date ever. I thought this would be easier to talk to you about your misconceptions when I decided to do this instead of taking you somewhere nice to eat.” He looks angry with himself.