Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
I can’t help but smile too.
The whistle blows, and after a few seconds with a quick nod in my direction, he’s back on the ice. It’s obvious to me that he’s fueled up because he bolts toward a loose puck and takes control of it, skating with fury. There’s only one member of the other team between him and the goal. The crowd roars with excitement as he approaches the goal. It’s exhilarating to watch. I jump to my feet, cheering him on.
He pulls back his stick and fires a shot into the net. The entire arena erupts as the horns blare, music plays, and Dane just scored.
A couple of hours later, I continue to watch from the stands the rest of the game as the Saints kick ass. Dane is on fire. It’s so exciting. I feel like I’m part of the game. My voice is hoarse when the Saints finally win.
Molly and I head down to the lockers, but before we get there, Molly stops in her tracks when she sees Dane talking to some man. Her eyes narrow, and she crosses her arms over her chest. Whoever it is, it pisses her off.
“I have to go,” she says, storming off in the opposite direction before I can even stop her.
A second later, the man who was talking to Dane walks by. He has a smug look on his dirty face. The man looks like a creep. Once he’s gone, I head in the direction he came from. When I get to Dane, his tight jaw reminds me of the day I fell. A shiver runs up my spine. I don’t like seeing him like this. I hate it. Something is bothering him, and something tells me it was that man.
“Hey,” I say.
He looks up at me and gives me a small smile. He’s trying. I can tell. But it’s like he’s haunted by whatever they talked about.
“Let’s get out of here.”
We start to walk to the exit. I haven’t been here since the accident, and when I step outside, I’m transported back to that night. To the desperate feeling I had when he wouldn’t talk to me, when he wouldn’t let me in. As we step out into the crisp air, I take a deep breath in. It smells like burning leaves. I love it.
“Why are you smiling?” Dane asks.
“Just thinking about winter.”
“It’s almost here.”
“It is, and I love it.” I smile brightly.
Together, we walk toward his car. Neither of us has talked about if I’m going home with him. My car isn’t parked here. I got a ride with Sherry, but I told her I would get a ride home with Molly. Of course, that was a lie. I always planned on asking Dane, but now I’m not sure it’s a great idea. It’s not that he’s being mean, but he’s being short and preoccupied.
When we are standing beside his car, I walk toward the ledge. The same ledge I fell from.
“Dane.”
“Hellfire. Don’t you dare.”
I take a step up. My heart hammers in my chest. I shouldn’t be doing this again, but I need him to know I trust him. I need him to be the man I know he can be. I need him to let me in.
“Help me walk the tightrope.”
His eyes go wide. He looks at me like he’s never seen me before, like he’s having an epiphany. He crosses the space. No questions asked. No hesitation. He reaches out, his arms wrapping around me so there is no chance of me slipping.
“Why do you do it?” he mutters.
“Walk the tightrope?”
“Yeah, why?”
“For you. To show you how easy it all can be. All you have to do is put one foot in front of the other.”
“And after everything, you still trust me?”
“I do. And do you know why?” I stop walking and pivot my body to face him. The ledge isn’t that high on the side he’s standing on, so he still towers over me.
“Why?”
I reach my hand up to cup his cheek. “Because I love you, Dane Sinclair.”
He pulls me toward him, picking me up until my legs are no longer on the ledge or ground. Then he walks us back toward the car and places me on the hood.
“Say it again.”
“I love you, Dane Sinclair.”
“I love you too, Hellfire. But can you make me a promise?”
“Depends what it is?” I challenge because I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t.
“No more walking the tightrope, okay? I’ll be your gravity if need be.” He leans in and places a kiss on my lips. I wrap my arms around his neck, and he deepens it.
“Take me home,” I say against his mouth.
“Whatever you want, Hellfire. Whatever you want.”
“I want you.”
“Good, ’cause you’re stuck with me now.”
“And you’re stuck with me.”
76
DANE
I don’t hesitate to bring her back to my house. My head is still spinning when we get there. I want to make this work with her, and in order to do that, I need to be honest.