Dirty Toe Drag (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 6)

“Well, duh. All hockey players do something weird like that.”

“Rude,” I accuse, and she snorts. “I’ve never been to a concert.”

“Really?”

“Really. Never.”

“We’ll need to go! What kind of music do you like?”

“All kinds. I’m not picky.”

“Send me your playlist. I’ll find us a good one.”

I would love that, but then I hear Melody bitching at me, and it pisses me off. I push her out of my head because I’m not who she thinks. I’m me. Wesley McMillan. I swallow hard and say, “Sounds good to me.”

“Awesome,” she says, taking a bite of her cupcake, grinning at me, waiting patiently for me to give her what she wants to know.

“I never lived by myself before, until I got my place.”

“No way.”

“Yeah, I went from living with my parents, to foster care, to my adopted mom, to with my teammates. This is my first place.”

“Do you like it?”

“I do now. At first, it was hard.”

“I bet. I’ve only lived with my parents.”

“You never wanted to move out?”

“No. I love my parents and my siblings. Plus, remember, I’m the good kid, so my parents trust me completely. I basically do what I want.”

“That’s good.”

“I think so,” she laughs. “You didn’t live with past girlfriends?”

“Nope. I tried with Jessica, she was the one I was with a year, but my career was so up in the air. We weren’t sure if I would get traded or what, so we were waiting. But then she cheated.”

“Asshole.”

“This is true,” I agree with a grin. “With Cora, I wouldn’t allow myself to even think of it because I didn’t know what would happen.”

“That makes sense. So, you’ve never lived with a significant other?”

“I haven’t.”

“Me either.”

We share a smile, neither of us saying what we want to say. That maybe, down the road, that could be a first for both of us. Her eyes hold mine as she says, “One more.”

I pause, and without thinking, I say, “I’ve only cried twice in my life.”

Her brows shoot up. “No way.”

“Yeah.”

“When? Why?”

I should have known better than to admit that. I lick my lips, thankful for the frosting that was left behind. “When my mom was diagnosed with cancer and they told us she didn’t have much time, I cried myself to sleep.”

Her lips pucker. “I can’t imagine.”

“Yeah, it sucked.”

“The second time?”

“When she died,” I say softly, my stomach twisting in pain. Some would think, given everything that happened after, that would have caused me to be a sobbing mess, but I was numb. I was confused, and it all seemed so unreal to me. Even through therapy, I never cried. I got mad. Sometimes I wonder if crying about it would have helped, but I wouldn’t allow that to happen. I didn’t want to give them any more power than they already had over me. I watch as she sets down her cupcake, wrapping her arms around me to pull me closer. When her legs encircle me, I put my cupcake down, enveloping her in my arms.

“I’m so sorry, Wes.”

I move my nose along hers. “Thanks. I miss her.”

She pulls back a bit, her eyes urging mine. “Tell me about her.”

I smile. “She was amazing. So damn supportive and so pretty. She had really long blond hair that she always wore in two braided ponytails.”

“Aw, I love doing my hair like that.” My stomach clenches as I let out a sigh. “What was her name?”

“Gabby,” I say proudly. “I love her so much. She was always at all my games, even when she was on oxygen and dying.”

Her eyes soften. “That’s beautiful.”

“Yeah, she was the best and so funny. She was always dancing and singing, but she couldn’t carry a tune to save her life.” She laughs, and I smile. “You remind me of her. She always carried herself with such poise. She commanded a room, and you couldn’t help but stare at her. Everyone loved her.”

“She sounds incredible.”

“She is—was,” I say, and it hurts.

“She is,” she corrects before reaching up to hold my jaw. “If you talk about her like she’s here, it keeps her memory alive.”

Fuck, heart, I’m letting you know now—we’re so fucked.

I swallow, holding her gaze. “You blow me away, Stella.”

Her lips curve, her eyes hooded as she rubs her thumb along my bottom lip. “That’s my goal.”

Heat blazes through us, and our lips meet almost instantly. I swear I’m burning everywhere for her. Her tongue slides along my lips, and I open for her. Our tongues tangle as I gather her dress in my hand, pressing into her, feeling her heat and exploding everywhere for her. I tear my mouth from hers, kissing her bottom lip, her jaw, trailing my lips and teeth along her neck as her fingers thread through my hair. She arches her neck for me, and I suck, tasting her skin as my hands shake against her back. I’ve never wanted someone so much in my life. She wraps her legs tighter around me, pressing herself into me, and I groan against her neck, chills running down my spine as I cup her breast, squeezing it before my lips meet hers once more.