CHAPTER TWELVE: MEETING EMILY

GRACE

I searched his eyes for anything I could find, but they were blank.

“A date? What about our research work?” I looked at him, pushing him away from my body.

Hayden moved away from my body and lay beside me, his head turned towards me.

“I meant after our work,” he finally said.

I was thinking a lot of things at once. I didn’t know whether it was a real date or a casual one. I fidgeted with my clothes, thinking whether I should reject him.

“Don’t think too much, Angel.” He sat upright, and I did the same. “Can’t friends go on a date?” He said with a small smile.

“Friends,” I whispered, my heart aching. “Okay,” I nodded.

“Let’s get on with it,” Hayden said, offering a hand to assist me to get up.

****

“This is where we are having our date?” I asked Hayden, exasperated.

“Yes,” he said, chuckling. “What, you don’t like it, Angel?”

I looked around the ice rink and rolled my eyes. Why in heaven would he think I would love his idea of our first date?

“I think this would end badly,” I said to him, eyeing the skates he was holding.

“You don’t know how to skate?” He asked, looking amused.

“What do you think?”

“I got you Angel. I won’t let you get hurt,” Hayden promised. He adjusted the helmet on my head.

He knelt down and took my ankle into his hands, slipping it into the skate. That little touch sent shivers across my toe, and I wiggled it unsteadily.

I could see a smile on his lips. “You’ll be safe. You have all of this protecting you with me too.”

Something about the steadiness of his voice gave me a lot of confidence. I bit my bottom lip and pouted.

“You look so adorable and cute,” Hayden teased. A huge smile on his face.

He looked even more handsome when he smiled. It was the first time I was seeing him this happy.

He held out his hands and I eyed them, unwilling to move from the spot I was. I was scared of falling on my ass.

“Are you ready to skate for the first time?”

I took a deep breath and slapped my palm into his hands. “Let’s do this.” I wobbled as I rose from the sidewalk, but Hayden’s strong hands steadied me.

“We are going to take this nice and slow Angel,” he moved backwards.

“Please wait. Don’t move too fast,” I pleaded, my body lurching forward as I tried to regain balance.

“Don’t be scared Angel. I’m here.”

My body relaxed and I tried to follow his lead. My legs jerked as I tried to maintain balance.

“Easy,” he whispered.

“See, it isn’t working,” I cried out in frustration. My heart was beating so fast out of fear and I had sweat on my forehead.

“Trust me Angel. You trust me right?” Hayden asked, holding me by my waist.

I nodded slowly. I did trust him.

Hayden skated backwards as he pulled me along a side street.

“This isn’t bad,” he said. “I want you to alternate your legs and push off the ground.”

“Don’t let go of my hands,” I begged.

“I won’t.”

It took me a while to find my balance and I tried to figure out how to move on the skates.

“I’ll let go of your hands now.”

My body tightened at his words. I wasn’t sure I was ready.

“I’m doing it!” I said with excitement. I looked at Hayden as I moved forward even though it was slowly.

At least, I was moving. I celebrated too early because I lost momentum and fell forward.

“Help!” I screamed as I closed my eyes and accepted my fate.

Hayden caught me and we tumbled together on the rink.

I began laughing at the hot mess we were. “That was eventful,” I laughed again.

Hayden joined me, chuckling. “Being with you like this makes everything worthwhile.”

I instantly became breathless. “Do you really mean that?” I whispered, my eyes tearing up from so much emotion, yet I couldn't tear my eyes from him.

In this moment, he looked very handsome and just perfect.

I watched as his head moved forward and finally, we were head-to-head. I knew what was coming, yet I did not refuse it. Instead, I craved it.

I wanted to have that taste again. I wanted to feel how soft his lips were on mine.

So I gave in to it. I had no idea who reached in first, me or him.

The kiss was amazing. I kissed him a little harder this time, repeating his actions. I wanted him to feel everything I was currently feeling.

“You’re so beautiful.”

We were so lost in each other that we didn’t hear the incoming footsteps.

“Ahem.”

We both lifted our heads to look at the person.

“Emily?” Hayden called out in surprise.

I couldn’t forget her. It was the same girl who had followed Hayden to the locker room.

“What are you doing here?” Hayden asked, helping me up. He carefully arranged my clothes and made sure they weren’t dirty. Emily’s eyes followed his action and I could see she was unhappy.

“I came to play with friends,” she responded with a smile. “Who is this?” Emily asked.

“This is my girlfriend Grace,” Hayden introduced.

I could see her eyes get darker at his words.

“Grace meet Emily,” he introduced.

I have never been one to lick the ass of people. So, I wasn' t going to act all friendly. I gave her a respectful nod

“Ex-girlfriend,” she corrected immediately.

“More like a fling,” Hayden said, not caring about the look on her face. He looked at me like he didn’t want me to be confused.

I could see her eyes get red and I couldn’t tell if she was faking it.

“Do you want to join my friends? We are having dinner later.”

Hayden looked at me to see if I was okay with it. Although I felt hungry, I didn’t want to spend much time with her. At the same time, I didn’t want it to look as if I was avoiding her on purpose.

“Okay,” I nodded.

Dinner was at a burger restaurant, nothing too fancy but it wasn’t cheap.

“I want this,” I pointed to Hayden, who took my order. Under the table, he held one of my hands tightly like he was scared I would run.

“So Grace, tell me how you and Hayden met for the first time,” Emily asked, drinking her alcohol slowly.

I looked at Hayden, lost for words. We hadn’t really planned on what to tell people.

Hayden’s squeeze on my thighs calmed me down. “We met in school,” I answered then chuckled. “You wouldn’t believe it, but we met at the hockey locker room for the first time,” I laughed, savouring the memory.

“You were so fucking feisty.”

Emily’s face changed, and she frowned. Maybe she was looking for a loophole. Fortunately, our first meeting was epic.

“And I hated your guts. Still do,” I added.

Our dinner was served and I ate in silence. Since Emily was more familiar with Hayden, she tried everything she could to exclude me from the conversation.

“I’m heading to the restroom,” I said to Hayden, getting up.

I used one of the stalls, then came out to wash my hands when I saw Emily arranging her hair.

I ignored her and tried to leave. “Wait, Grace. You lowly third party,” she hissed, startling me.