Page 65 of The Chemistry Coach
“I guess that’s fine.”
“What the hell do you mean, ‘that’s fine?’That’s not fine.I feel like I know everything about you!I’ve watched every single interview you’ve done!I know every goal song you’ve ever had, and more about your career than most of your teammates.Doesn’t that freak you out?”
Connor shrugged.“Not really.”
“Look, I’m an adult and perfectly okay admitting I have a crush, but I’m worried you aren’t understanding the consequences my crush has had on our lives.”
“Daisy, you’re not making sense here.You’ve followed my career, so what?There are fifty-year-old men who have followed it just as closely.”
“God, Connor.You’re making this hard.It’s not a simple crush.I’m so ridiculously attracted to you.I blew up my relationship with Patrick over it, started your career rivalry, and made Roxie break up with you.”
Connor burst out laughing.He led Daisy over to the bench, where he took off his own skates and started untying hers while she pouted.“I think you’re catastrophizing, but let’s break that down.How did your crush on me blow up your relationship with Patrick?”
“Patrick and I dated for years.When I saw you for the first time, my eyes opened to a whole new world of possibility.Teenage Daisy had a vivid imagination, but I never had those fantasies about Patrick.I tried to ignore it, but when we got to college and Patrick’s game schedule meant seeing you more, it got harder.”
“You wanted to jump my bones, and it made you realize things weren’t working out with Patrick.”Connor was still kneeling in front of her, pulling off her second skate.His thumb grazed the bridge of her foot, and she let out a gasp that encouraged him to repeat the motion.
“Yeah, that’s a good way to put it.”His light touches continued on her foot and the inside of her ankle, heat filling her belly with every stroke.She itched to touch him, reminding herself of her plan to turn him on for a change, but if she moved, he might stop.
“Okay,” he said.“We’ve covered part one.Tell me about part two.How did your crush start my rivalry?”
Her voice came out breathy and foreign.“Patrick and I were always close.We had crushes on other people while we were together, and we talked about them.It made us feel mature to have those kinds of conversations.But my infatuation with you went on too long.At first, he messed with you to make me laugh and show me you weren’t this perfect person I had on a pedestal in my head.But it kept going, and when we tried to go beyond kissing, and it never worked for either of us, he blamed you.
He admitted to being jealous, although if you ever mention it, I will swear to my death I didn’t tell you.We were trying so hard, and he did nothing for me.All you had to do was be there, and I got amped up, coming out of my skin.After each game things would be tense between me and Patrick.That started his animosity toward you.”
When she stopped talking, Connor was quiet for several endless seconds.“You guys have a weird relationship.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“He let me get that last goal.I know you don’t believe it.But he did.And he was nice at the last game.It freaked me out.”
Daisy tried to wrap her head around the idea.“He’s trying.Some stuff in his life has softened him lately.Plus, by the time we were broken up, and he had Sophia, you guys were already in deep.But for me, he’ll try to do better, if you let him.”
He pulled her to her feet.“Fans won’t be happy to lose our rivalry.We’ll have to work something out.But I’m willing to try if I can’t convince you to ditch Patrick.”
“No shot.”
“Didn’t think so.”He opened the door for her and ushered her out into the cold, leading the way to his car so they could move on to the treat portion of their evening.
When they got in the car, Daisy decided to flip the script on him, resting her hand on his thigh this time.She brushed her fingers over the tight muscle through his jeans.He placed his hand over hers, stopping her exploration.
“How does Roxie fit into all of this?It’s not like you turned her gay.”
Daisy laughed.“No, I didn’t turn Roxie gay.”
“Then how is her breaking up with me your fault?”
“I met Roxie at a hockey game in college.She sat next to me, wearing your sweater while I wore Patrick’s.”
“Wow, what a traitor!She knew you were a Patrick Mills fan and still befriended you.”
“Yeah,” Daisy smiled at the memory.“We got to talking about being hockey girlfriends and all the weird quirks you two had.You were starting to emerge as rivals.Fighting on the ice every game hadn’t started yet.We exchanged phone numbers and started talking all the time.
I let it slip about Patrick and me having issues with the physical aspect of our relationship, and she asked me if maybe I didn’t like men, which prompted me to admit my attraction toward you.I may have brought it up more than I should have after that.You’d have to ask her for the whole story, but she told me my obsession with you made her feel guilty because she didn’t feel that way about you.She knew you deserved someone who was that into you and broke up with you because of it.”
Connor didn’t respond right away, and Daisy couldn’t decide whether she should fill the silence or go find a rock to die under.She couldn’t imagine anything more mortifying than admitting you ogled someone so much their partner left them.Thankfully, she didn’t have to decide.
“You liked the idea of me so much you ruined both of our relationships over it.”
