Page 17 of Your Love

“What do you want to know?” he asks, his hands resting on the steering wheel.

“What do you like to do for fun?”

He chuckles again, his amber eyes crinkling at the corners. “Taz always teases me for being a homebody,” he says with a grin. “But I like it that way. Video games, hitting the gym, playing hockey, and spending time with my family—that’s my idea of a good time.” He shrugs sheepishly. “I guess I’m pretty predictable.”

I twist in my seat to face him, my head tilting with genuine curiosity. “I don’t know about predictable, but you do guard your words. Why is that?” I ask.

He meets my gaze, his eyes studying mine for a moment before he answers. “Does it bother you?”

I shake my head quickly. “Not at all. I’m just being nosy.”

He turns his head to look out the windshield. His eyes drift upward to the sky for a moment before returning to me. “I guess I don’t see the point in filling every silence with meaningless chatter. If there’s something worth saying, then I’ll say it.”

A small smile tugs at the corners of my lips. “You know, I think you have an old soul.”

He furrows his brow in confusion. “An old soul? What does that mean?”

“It means that you’re a deep thinker and you’re sensitive. You see things differently than most. I’ve seen it sometimes in animals, too. That probably sounds crazy, but it’s true.”

“It doesn’t sound crazy at all,” he says with a shake of his head. “The guys always tease me for being too ‘in touch with my feelings.’”

“Well, they clearly don’t understand the importance of emotional intelligence. A man who can’t be vulnerable and sensitive is lacking a crucial aspect of true masculinity. Not that you asked me.”

His eyebrows lift in surprise, likely expecting the same teasing he gets from his friends, but he won’t get it from me.

“So, Kerri from outside of Austin, Texas, what do you like to do?”

I sigh heavily before answering. “I used to be a cheerleader, and I spent twelve years in gymnastics.”

His eyes widen with interest. “Do you still do gymnastics?”

“Not competitively,” I reply. My muscles ache at the thought of trying a punch front series right now.

A mischievous glint sparks in his eyes, and he grins. “I bet my center split is better.”

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “You can do a center split?”

He nods. “I can. Goalies have to be extremely flexible in order to stop the puck in any position.”

“We’ll have to put it to the test,” I joke.

Landry’s gaze locks onto mine, and the air in the truck is suddenly charged. His voice drops to a low whisper as he asks, “What other secrets lie beneath that mysterious exterior of yours?”

I inhale deeply, filling my lungs with fresh air before exhaling slowly. “I don’t date—at least not right now. It’s non-negotiable.”

His face falls with disappointment. “Why?”

My eyes dart away, shielding any hint of emotion. “It’s a personal decision. Let’s just say past experiences have taught me to be cautious when it comes to my heart.”

His voice is low and regretful. “Well, that’s a serious bummer,” he admits, running his hand through his hair. “Did I manage to mess this up already?”

I place my hand over his, feeling its warmth against my palm. “No, no,” I reassure him. “Landry, this is all me. I’ve been through some things, and I made the decision a while back that I need to focus on myself and healing.”

He nods, his eyebrows knitting together in concern. “Are you okay? I mean, are you hurt?” he asks.

My heart aches at the genuine care in his voice. I know at this moment that if I were to give my heart to anyone, it would be him. “I’m okay now,” I say, offering him a grateful smile.

His lips curl up into a charming smile, and his dimple appears, causing my heart to flutter for a brief moment. “Can we at least stay friends?” he asks, his voice laced with hope.