Wanna Puck? by Layla Valentine & Ana Sparks

Author:Layla Valentine & Ana Sparks [Valentine, Layla]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-11-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

“If you don’t tell me what you brought here to tell me, I might be forced to interrogate you,” I teased after sampling a decent amount of my dinner.

Dante cracked a slightly nervous smile, then sipped his wine. He seemed to be fighting with himself. I raised an inquisitive brow at him and waited, chewing slowly as I watched the expressions shift over his face.

“I, um…well. First, I want to thank you,” he said, clasping my hand.

“You’re welcome. For what?”

“For pushing me to accept what I knew was coming, but didn’t want to admit,” he said vaguely, pushing food around his plate with his fork.

“What do you mean?”

“Ah…well, I knew it was inevitable. Growing up, I mean. I sort of thought if I ignored it, I could go on being a kid forever. Playing games for money, bonuses for picture day.”

He sounded bitter all of a sudden; the energy coming off of his body was almost spiky in its intensity.

“I…I’m sorry,” I mumbled, not entirely sure if his gratitude had been sarcastic.

“No, no, don’t be. I mean that. It’s better to accept it than to try and hang onto something I should have outgrown already.”

He sighed and pressed his hands together.

“Screwing around in locker rooms, tormenting newcomers…I should have put that stuff away a long time ago. I’ve decided to take Joel on as a personal project. The team’s going to need a good strong leader.”

“Don’t they already have one?” I asked, brushing my hand over his.

He smiled sadly at me, then let his face fall. “Only through the end of next season. I’m retiring.”

My heart nearly stopped. I had seen just what the game meant to Dante during our brief acquaintance, and I could feel his heart break as he said the words. I moved toward him once more, pressing my thigh against his, and took his hand.

“Are you sure?”

“I am,” he said, squeezing my hand. “It’s time for me to start thinking about moving on.”

“Start thinking about,” I repeated with a laugh. “Couldn’t think of any more ways to distance yourself from the idea?”

He twisted his lips into a wry smile. “It’s an intimidating idea,” he admitted. “I mean, the retirement package is really good, and I’m not going to have to worry about money. I saved most of what I made, although I had a couple of binge years. Everybody does at first. Joel will outgrow his before it ruins him, I think. Anyway, the money isn’t really the point. What the hell am I going to do with my time?”

He sounded lost, and it just about broke my heart.

I leaned in close, letting my lips tickle his ear as I murmured, “You can do me.”

He chuckled quietly and slipped his arm around my waist, tugging me even closer.

“That’s certainly something,” he said, kissing my mouth. He pulled back, his eyes soft as they gazed into mine. “Every day? For…a while?”

“How long is a while?” I asked, my heart pounding.

“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug.

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