Liked it? I freaking loved it.
I shook my head. “Lots of annoying songs get stuck in my head.” I ticked a few off on my fingers. “The Song That Never Ends. Let it Go. Gangnam Style. Anything by Taylor Swift.”
His lips twitched. “I like Taylor Swift.”
“You would.”
Asher chuckled low under his breath and took a step away from me toward his car. “I concede. That round goes to you.” He shook his head and chuckled again. “See you at practice.”
Asher
I got into my car hoping I appeared more confident than I felt. Jordan had been listening to me sing? Every night? She lived in the house behind ours? My mind raced with the implications. The possibilities. Hell, I’d never fall asleep in my own bed again knowing she slept less than a hundred yards away.
And what about my evening jam session? Would I be able to play wondering if she listened? She had no idea the effect she had on me. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the idea of us together since the moment I laid eyes on her. Now, I knew we were neighbors, and she’d been listening to me sing and play. All I wanted was the chance to show her what could be.
But would she give me that chance?
I laughed to myself again. Jordan wanted to like me, I knew it. But she wouldn’t let herself.
Why?
Did she still hold it against me? Those first couple of days when I parked in her spot? Or did she hold a grudge because of that day at practice when I mistakenly tried to defend her from that jerk, Leo? He still bugged her at school. I wanted to pound him.
I parked at the rink and hurried inside to change. Coach Parks took practice seriously. His teams won because he made them put in the work. I’ve always worked hard at hockey. I had to or I’d have to answer to my dad. Maybe I needed to not worry about Jordan. Or girls in general. I had school, hockey, my own music, not to mention Jarom’s band. Adding a relationship seemed kind of crazy. Not that it even was an issue.
Still, should I give up on her? Call me romantic, but I believed in relationships. Love. And while I’d never lacked for female attention, no one had ever made me feel the way Jordan did.
I tried to ignore her during practice, but she didn’t make it easy. I loved watching her skate. I couldn’t get enough of how tough she played. Jarom hadn’t been kidding, Jordan was hella intimidating.
Still, neither of us needed the attention we’d draw if I gave into temptation to skate beside her during drills. I’d want to flirt with her.
I snorted to myself. Her dad and brother would appreciate that, for sure. I couldn’t risk my own position on the team by ticking them off because I had the hots for Jordan.
Didn’t keep my eyes from finding her, however. Her blonde ponytail made her easy to spot. She played with intensity, her passion for the game evident every time she stepped onto the ice. What she lacked in stature, she made up for with quickness and stealth.
Of course, Jordan had already left by the time I reached my car in the parking lot. We didn’t live far from the rink, but this time instead of turning down our street, I took the road before it, curious to see where exactly Jordan lived. Sure enough, her beat up car sat in the driveway of the house directly behind mine.
What were the odds?
Not wanting to get caught behaving like a stalker, I continued home. Shari’s mom-mobile and Dad’s sleek sports car took up the driveway, so I parked on the street.
“How was practice?” Shari asked with a bright smile when I walked into the kitchen.
“Good,” I replied with a smile at Caleb who sat in his high chair. His little feet kicked and his hands waved as he blew spit bubbles at the sight of me. What a cute kid.
“Can I get him out?” I always asked if she had him strapped into something. Sometimes picking him up when he was content just made him mad.
“Sure,” Shari said.
“Come here, bud.” Caleb’s limbs flailed furiously the closer I got and when I held out my arms, he started doing this squealing thing he did when he got excited.
“He’s glad to see you,” Shari laughed, shaking her head at him.
“I’m glad to see him, too.” I blew a raspberry on Caleb’s neck making him giggle, so I did it again. His hands slapped at my cheeks. “Ow!” I yelped. “I’m gonna get you for that.” I tucked one of his arms under mine and held the other with my hand then tickled his belly with my face. Caleb’s body writhed as he laughed.