Stay by Jennifer Sucevic

fifty-five.  “That’s my roommate over there. I came here with her tonight.”  Then I reiterate one more time. “I really didn’t come to see you.”
    Brows raised, he laughs.  “Wow, okay, I got it.  You definitely did not come here to see me play hockey tonight.  Alright then.  Ego completely crushed.”
    Even though that last part is doubtful, I close my eyes and imagine my face turning a very unpleasant shade of red.  Because the heat of it is actually starting to burn a little.  “You know what I mean,” I mutter in embarrassment.
    Almost gently he knocks his broad shoulder into my narrow one before saying softly, “I’m just giving you crap, Cassidy.  Calm down.”
    Sheesh… If only I could.
    Opening my eyes, I glare.  “You’re such a jerk.”  But he really isn’t…
    Cole grins before shaking his head.  “No, I’m not.”
    “Yes, you are.”  Unable to help myself, I chuckle before eyeing him.  My mind tumbles back to the game as I assess him carefully.  “You’re number five.  Defense, two goals, two penalties.  But the last one was a crap call.  It was hardly roughing.  And your last goal was really sweet.  Right in the five hole.”
    For a solid minute he just gapes at me.  I’m seconds away from waving a hand in front of his face when he suddenly drops to his knees.
    His eyes hold mine before he says in a solemn voice, “It would truly be honor if you would consider stalking me.”
    Unable to help myself, I feel the edges of my lips pull up.  This guy is going to be my complete undoing.  But at this point, I just want him off his knees.  His antics are drawing too much attention from his teammates.  Even Brooklyn is looking over at us with some interest.  And that, I don’t need.  “Get up and I’ll give it some thought.” 
    Cole pops back up to his feet before grabbing my hand.  Part of me wants to yank it back but a bigger part wants to leave it right where it is.  Safely secured within his larger one.  “You know hockey.”  There’s a fair amount of surprise riddled throughout his voice.
    “Diehard fan.”
    That’s not technically a lie.  Although it isn’t precisely the truth either.  But it seems like the easiest way to explain it without… well, actually having to explain it.  I don’t want Cole knowing about the nosedive my life took last year.
    “So let me just get this straight, you know about muscle cars and hockey and are pretty smart because you took college level calculus in high school.”
    I blink before asking slowly, “Is there a question wrapped up somewhere in there?”
    With my hand still safely ensconced in his, he smiles.  “I guess not because you’re smart, beautiful, know cars and hockey and if I’m real lucky- you’ll start stalking me.”
    Lowering my eyes, I shake my head.  “No, I’m not all that.”  I am so not all that and sooner or later, he’ll realize the mistake he’s made in thinking it.  And then disappointment will set in.  Some of my happiness instantly dims as those thoughts settle uncomfortably within me.
    With gentle fingers, he slowly lifts my chin, capturing my eyes with his own. They lock and hold until my heart is racing and I’m kind of wishing that I could be the girl he seems to think I am.  “Yeah, you are.  And I get the feeling that I’ve only just started to scratch the surface.”
    Those quietly spoken words have me jerking abruptly out of the trance he has woven around me yet again.  No, I don’t need Cole scratching the surface.  I don’t want him delving any deeper into who I am.  I don’t want him knowing the real me.
    Half the time, I don’t even want to know the real me.  Not anymore.
    Glancing away, I begin tugging my hand free of his.  He doesn’t say anything as he finally releases me.  Unable to help myself, I scramble back a step, then another before dragging my eyes to his.  Without saying a word, he studies me like I’m a puzzle that needs