Page 49 of Hot Shot
My phone dings with a text. Thinking it might be one of the guys, I pull it out of my pocket.
Elias:Hey. Was hoping we could talk when you’re in town in a couple of weeks. Maybe get lunch.
I’m so tired of him. Doesn’t he get the message?
I lock my phone and toss it on the coffee table before dropping my head into my hands. I forgot that we’re playing the Nashville Fury during this upcoming road trip.
“Hey.” Madison steps back into the room. I look up at her and frown. She’s standing at the edge of the living room, her arms wrapped around her middle, refusing to look at me.Shit.
“Madison.” I jump to my feet. “What is it?” My mind races with possibilities. Did something happen to her aunt? Was the phone call bad news about her car?
“What did we do, Hunter?” she whispers, staring at the floor.
My stomach drops.
It wasn’t the phone call. She’s regretting the kiss. Regretting me.
“We kissed.” It’s the only thing I can think of to say.
“We’re friends, Hunter.Friends.” She finally looks up at me.
“I know.” I pull on the back of my neck, trying to figure out what’s going on here.
“I’m not blaming you for crossing the line. It was all me. I got caught up in the moment and gave in to how I was feeling. You were the one trying to keep the line drawn.”
“Madison.” I start to reach for her, but then think better of it and shove my hands into my pockets. “I wanted to cross that line with you. I don’t regret that kiss. What happened?”
“Nothing.” She shakes her head. “Reality caught up to me, and I realized we can’t do this. I need us to only be friends.”
“Why?” I search her face for some sign, some explanation as to why she changed her mind. What is she not telling me?
“We need to stay friends. Trust me, it’s for the best. My car’s ready.” She stares down at her hands, picking at her nails.
“We can go get it now if you want.”
I want to ask her why she only wants to be friends when she clearly has feelings for me. I know she was enjoying our kiss.
You can’t fake the reactions she was having. I need to figure out how to get her to lower her walls and tell me what’s really going on.
What’s really holding her back. What she’s afraid of.
I’m just not sure how to do that yet.
Chapter twenty
Madison
Afterwepickedupmy car, I told Hunter I had a headache and wanted to go home and take a nap. It was a lie and I think he knew, but thankfully he didn’t call me on it.
He texted me later that night to ask how I was, and I told him I was better. When he texted me the next day I told him the bakery was really busy, another lie, but I needed time to sort out my feelings.
He didn’t question it, and while we’ve texted some, it hasn’t been nearly as much as it was before.
The kiss messed with my head. I’m so torn between what I want to do and what I know is the right thing to do, so I’m not doing anything. Maybe that makes me a coward. But what if I make the wrong decision?
Even being friends with him feels dangerous. Dangerous to his career and dangerous to my budding relationship with my father.
Why can’t things be simpler? Why can’t Hunter be some guy I met at the grocery store and not a hockey player for the team that my father coaches?
