I’m going to Chilly Springs.

Chapter 23—Riley

What the hell?

The extreme banging sound attracts me from my nap, making my head throb as I blink my eyes. Mother went out earlier, didn’t she? I believed she had plans together with her associates. May she be again already? Why doesn’t she have her keys?

She by no means drinks an excessive amount of, and I actually hope that’s the identical proper now as a result of I amnotin the temper to babysit a drunk lady.

With an irritated huff, I climb off the sofa and head to the entrance door, prepared to inform Mother off for not remembering her keys. If she’s misplaced them someplace, then that’s one other drama I’ll must cope with.

“Mother, what happ…”

The phrases collapse on my lips as I blink a number of instances, making an attempt to work out who I’m taking a look at. That is positively not my mom, but it surely can also’t be actual both. I have to nonetheless be dreaming, even when he appears to be like very actual proper now…

“Alex?”

I cock my head to 1 facet as I run my eyes up and down him. There’s simply no manner; certainly that is insanity. I can’t wrap my head round what’s occurred.

“What are you doing right here?”

His face breaks out into the kind of smile that makes me soften inside. He reaches out to me, providing me a hug, and whereas Imight have been ignoring his calls as a result of it’s manner too arduous to speak to him, I fall eagerly towards him.

All I wish to do is maintain him shut.

I fall towards his muscular, sturdy physique, deeply respiration him in. The all-too-familiar scent of this man floods me with a heat that I didn’t even know I used to be lacking out on.

“Oh my God, Alex it truly is you. How did you discover me?”

He lets out a low, rumbling chuckle. “It wasn’t straightforward, however I finally positioned you with the assistance of a really useful man who works on the publish workplace.” Ah, my mom’s pal. I just like the man, however he’s such a gossip. I’m positive he was so star-struck assembly Alex. He would have advised him something! “And I’msoglad that I did. I’ve missed yousofreaking a lot. My God, it feels so good to have you ever again in my arms.”

He’s missed me as a lot as I’ve him? I can’t imagine that. I actually didn’t suppose Alex can be feeling something like I’ve. I simply assumed he is likely to be getting on together with his life, which might be a lot simpler with out me. With out the press respiration down his neck and making up tales, I assumed his life can be a lot easier.

So what’s he doing right here?

For a short second, my coronary heart stops beating. I fear that one thing else may need occurred, one thing that I’ve missed out on as a result of I’ve been outright refusing to have interaction with the skin world. I pull again to stare at Alex questioningly.

However I don’t know if the query comes throughout as a result of fact be advised, I can’t consider something once I stare into his eyes. I simply get misplaced in the best way that he’s gazing me, with intense emotions dancing in his gaze. I really like the best way that Alex’s eyes make me really feel.

“Oh, come inside,” I whisper as I take a step again. “Sorry, so impolite of me. You don’t want to face on the doorstep like that.”

He follows me inside, together with his eyes mounted on me the complete time. I can inform he isn’t actually trying round my childhood dwelling, but it surely nonetheless feels bizarre to have him right here. I imply, Alex Barrett is an enormous star. He’s a hockey superhero. That is simply my mom’s small dwelling, not the kind of place I’d ever suppose to ask somebody.

If I might return in time to inform myself about this second… Effectively, I don’t know if I’d ever have believed it. That is too loopy for phrases.

“Would you like one thing to drink?” I ask, somewhat too formally for my liking. However I don’t understand how else to behave. That is all so unusual.

“I don’t need something. Simply to have a look at you.”

Warmth flushes to my cheeks. I tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear and attempt to catch my breath—not the simplest factor to do when Alex is that this near me.

“Riley, I do know that is loopy, however I believe every little thing that we’ve been via is somewhat loopy, don’t you?” All I can do is nod as a result of I don’t know the place that is going. “So, whereas I’ve been doubting my emotions and making an attempt to push them down as a result of I believed I used to be being insane, now I understand how I actually really feel and what I need.” He reaches out to take my fingers, and I let him. Having him contact me sends an intense flurry of electrical energy racing proper via my physique. A shudder tears down my backbone. “I’ve fallen in love with you, Riley. Head over heels in love. I don’t know in the event you’ve been following my profession not too long ago, but it surely’s been a shit present. The explanation issues aren’t figuring out is due to you, as a result of I would like you again in my life. Hockey isn’t my onlydream now. I can’t cease occupied with the opportunity of a life with you and what that will appear like.”

I swallow arduous.

Wow, that is every little thing that I wished to listen to from him and a lot extra. I can hardly maintain myself collectively as a result of that is simply so fantastic.

We is likely to be full opposites, and there may need been rather a lot pushing us aside, however there’s all the time one thing pulling us again collectively. This magnetic draw between us is much too arduous to disregard.

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