Page 20 of Net and Chill

What?

“Oh.”

“That’s cool, right? I really care about you, and I hope we can still be friends. But without the benefits. Friends with no benefits… Are we cool?”

No. No. No. Fuck this. Fuck being friends. Fuck no benefits. Fuck.

“So cool.”

“Great.” She nods once. “So we’re friends now.”

“Yup. With zero benefits.”

“Cool.” She searches my face, her hands still clasped in front of herself. Is she waiting for me to say something?

What else is there to say?

Bridget wants a serious relationship and doesn’t even consider me an option.

Thank Christ I didn’t talk first.

Thank fuck I didn’t let her in.

Not really.

I guess I knew. On some level I knew she’d never want to take this to the next level. We had our fun. I had a good streak. Now I’m free to find the woman who’ll win us a Cup. Get me a Vezina win.

She’s still studying me. Still measuring. Probably hoping I’ll beg her to reconsider, but nope. She doesn’t want all of me, then she gets none of me. Except as a friend.

Her face falls. “Okay, well I should get going, then.”

“Yeah, me too.”

She picks up her shoulder bag. “Are you going somewhere?”

“I don’t know. Are you?”

“I’m going back to the shop.”

“Right. Wednesday.”

“Yeah.”

“Cool.” I open the front door for her and hold out my hand for her to shake.

She stares down at my hand. My big, callused hand that will never stroke her silky soft skin all over her beautiful body ever again. Which I am so chill about. She shakes my hand and then walks out. “Okay. See you around, Bowman.”

“Bye. Bridget.”

She stops in her tracks. I watch her shoulders slouch a little. Because I didn’t call her by her nickname. But that’s how it goes. She’ll get used to it. And so will I.

She straightens up and keeps walking away.

And I only stare at her ass for, like, five seconds before closing the door.

No big deal.

Super chill.