Page 255 of Don't Fall for the Goalie
Unfortunately for Daltyn, this only encourages Connor.
“Hey, Peyton,” Connor says one afternoon while we’reall leaving the arena. “Did you know our goalie smiles at his phone now?”
Daltyn flips him off.
Connor ignores him. “And last week he accidentally called you baby during an interview.”
“I did not.”
Ford snorts. “You absolutely did.”
My grin grows.
Beside me, Daltyn looks deeply betrayed. “You people are vultures.”
“Correct,” Jake says cheerfully.
Connor points at him dramatically. “YOU USED TO HISS AT HAPPINESS.”
Daltyn rolls his eyes, then slides an arm around my shoulders as we walk toward the parking lot.
And maybe the craziest part? He doesn’t even deny it anymore.
68
PEYTON
Later that night, I sit cross-legged on the barstool at the kitchen island while scrolling through graduate program information on my laptop.
Not because I’ve decided anything yet.
I’m just... looking.
Thinking.
Wondering if maybe the life I imagined isn’t the life I want anymore. That Florida is not where I belong.
It also has to do with the letter from my rental insurance company.
My mouth dropped open when I read it.
After losing everything, I was finally going to see a twenty-thousand-dollar payout. Enough for a car and to consider returning to college to pursue something I've been toying with.
Counseling.
Daltyn walks in from showering, damp hair messy, gray sweatpants hanging low on his hips.
My brain short-circuits.
His eyes flick toward my screen. “What areyou doing?”
“Just browsing.”
He walks over without hesitation, stopping behind me.
One massive hand settles on the back of my chair while the other brushes lightly across my shoulder.
“What if I want something different now?” I ask quietly.
