Page 72 of Bad Influence
“Do you like hockey?” I ask Killian as we make our way to our seats. They’re center ice, which is apparently a very big deal.
“I can’t think of a worse way to spend my evening than at a sports game surrounded by sports fan,” he says.
I can’t stop myself from laughing. “Then why are we here?” I turn to look at him since he’s walking behind me.
We find our seats and sit down. I turn my body to face him.
“Have you ever been to a hockey game?” Killian asks.
“Nope.” I shake my head. “You know our parents think sports are barbaric and only acceptable until college. You can’t make a career out of them.” I roll my eyes so hard I’m surprised I don’t see the back of my head. My brother played lacrosse throughout high school and college, dropped it as soon as he got to law school and never played a sport again, unless you count golf.
“Then you have your answer,” Killian says.
His answer shocks me. I put my hand on his arm, leaning in towards him. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you should be able to decide on your own whether you like sports or not,” Killian explains. “How else are you going to find yourself?”
I’m sure my eyes want to turn into hearts and pop out of my eye sockets. “Killian, we don’t have to do something you don’t enjoy just so I can find out if I like it or not.”
“I don’t mind either way,” he says. “I get to be with you.”
I want to squeal loud enough to scare the public gathered in this arena. It’s so hard for me to contain this emotion inside my chest. It makes me want to cry and laugh at the same time.
I don’t know how long a hockey game lasts but sitting here for hours and doing something he doesn’t enjoy just for me? As if I needed more proof that Killian might be my favorite person in the world.
I clear my throat before I reply. “Next time we can do something you enjoy.”
“That won’t require us to leave the apartment,” he says casually.
I almost choke on my breath. Killian gives me that almost smile.
“I meant, what I enjoy most is painting you,” he explains.
“We can do that. I have more outfits I want to try,” I say.
Killian groans quietly, and I give him a cheeky smile. Two can play at this game. If he’s going to flirt then I’m going to flirt back. I put my hand on his arm, squeezing once.
“Thank you for bringing me here.”
His eyes soften as he nods once. The lights dim and flash as the teams come onto the ice, first the New York Renegades and then the Boston Titans.
“Do you see that player?” Killian points at a dark haired man standing by the goalie post. The back of his jersey says Maddox. “He’s actually one of my clients. I’ve been doing his tattoos since I was an apprentice. He’s given me tickets before but I’ve never used them, obviously.”
“Did you tell him you were coming?” I ask. At the same time, the man turns, and wow. “I didn’t know hockey players are so attractive.”
My eyes follow him as he skates to his teammates.
“I guess we have more hockey games in our future,” Killian says dryly.
I glance at him, guilt creeping up and coloring my cheeks. “Sorry.”
He frowns lightly. “What’s there to apologize about?”
I look away because I’m too embarrassed to admit I know exactly how his brother would have reacted if he’d heard me call another man attractive. I hate the fact that I was so weak. I put up with him for so long, all so I could get a smidgen of love from my parents.
Killian shifts slightly in my peripheral vision and I feel hisbreath on my ear. “Just because you think someone is attractive doesn’t mean you belong to me any less.”
I whip my head around to look at him. I can’t believe he just said that, but can believe how much I liked it. Maybe a part of me has always belonged to him, and it’s taken me this long to confidently admit it.
