“Hey, just answer the question.”
“False. The bottle landed on a girl. Who later came out of the closet in our senior year and everyone thought she was a lesbian because of my kiss.”
The corner of my mouth slides up. “Can’t say I’m surprised. You’re an amazing kisser.”
Sofia’s face flushes but she doesn’t have a chance to say anything because the line moves forward. We take our seats and I reach for her hand. She willingly accepts it. Within seconds, I swear there’s no circulation left in the hand she’s gripping.
The ride jerks up and my stomach stays behind on a slight time delay. She screams. Her hand releases mine and she grabs the safety harness pressing against her shoulders. She screams like everyone else as we rapidly ascend, then we drop, and for a moment my stomach feels like it was left behind, again.
After a few more rapid ascents and descents, the ride returns to the ground. Sofia’s smiling, and I have a feeling it has nothing to do with the ride being over.
We climb down from the seats and she kisses my cheek. A quick kiss. One filled with gratitude, nothing more.
“Thanks,” she says.
“For what?”
“For taking me on that ride. For challenging me to do something I didn’t think I could do. For being there for me.” She scans the nearby rides. “Okay, where to now?”
We walk around the park, riding whatever ride Sofia’s comfortable with…which surprisingly includes the roller coaster. We also play arcade games while throwing out the occasional question in our True and False game. I fight to keep the limp from being noticeable as the ache in my leg builds. It’s not bad yet, but since I didn’t have a chance to sit in the sauna after work, it’s worse than it might have otherwise been.
“You dated the high school mascot in your senior year.” She sips her smoothie through her straw in a way that’s incredibly hot. As in, I’m-getting-hard-against-my-jeans-zipper hot.
“True or false,” she prompts.
“False. Our mascot was a bulldog. An actual bulldog. You were the high school mascot in your senior year.”
“True. But it wasn’t anything sexy. We were the woodchucks and no one else wanted to do it, mainly because the mascot had to do this stupid dance.” She demonstrates, shaking her ass, which does nothing for my situation.
Rain splatters against my arms and my head. Scattered shrieks pierce the air as the rain picks up in intensity and people run for cover.
“We might as well catch our bus now,” Sofia calls out. Her damp t-shirt clings to her body. The image in my mind of peeling off her clothes and finding the body I know is buried underneath also doesn’t help my situation.
“Good idea.”
We walk to the bus stop, the rain no longer bothering us. We’re already wet. The entire time I wonder if I should risk kissing her again, but in the end it doesn’t matter if I want to kiss her or if she wants me to kiss her, her bus is waiting at the stop.
“Thanks for the fun. See ya later,” is all she has time to say.
And I’m left alone, watching her climb on the bus. It drives away as I wonder what the heck I’m going to do. Sofia is getting to me in a way no girl has in a while, and I’m not sure what I should do about it.
Or if I should do anything about it.
Chapter Ten
Sofia
The day I walked out of my pity party for one had been the first warm day of spring. Young green shoots were poking their way between the dead brown grass. The early buds were forming on the trees and bushes. Birds were chirping from the branches in my backyard. That was the day I decided to spend the summer in Finland and get a fresh start.
My plan might’ve been to have a fresh start, but so far it hasn’t happened. The same tired Sofia stares back at me in the mirror. My long blond hair is pulled back in a ponytail. The same way it has been for the past year. I can’t even remember the last time I had a haircut.
I take a deep breath and make a decision. Muumu is watching TV on the orange vinyl couch in my room (aka the living room). She nods at me as I enter and tells me I can change the channel if I want. I tell her I’m good, although I’m not sure if it has the same meaning in Finnish as it does in English.
Taking my phone with me, I step out onto the balcony. Laughter greets me from young kids running around the playground one level down. Tall apartment buildings and birch trees surround the area. Even years after I was last here, the area looks the same.
I Google hair salons in Vantaa and I call one to book an appointment for myself and for Muumu. Luckily, the girl who answers the phone speaks English.
“I have a cancellation for one o’clock this afternoon. I can fit you both in then. Is that okay?”
Not only can she fit us in for hair appointments, she can schedule us in for pedicures and manicures. Perfect. Let the girl-bonding session begin. My grandfather died a few years ago and Muumu has lived alone ever since. Who knows when she last did something nice for herself. In the short time I’ve been here, she’s done all kinds of nice things for me.
I return to the living room and sit next to Muumu on the couch. With my smart phone, I Google translate the words I need to help me. I don’t use my phone for translating too often because it’s a major drain on my phone plan. Plus, I’ve learned the hard way that it’s not always the most reliable method. The translations have been screwy more times than they’ve been correct.
Maybe sensing I want to say something, she looks expectantly at me. I say the Finnish word for haircut and I point to her then me. Her expression is blank at first, as she tries to figure out what I said, but after a few seconds she nods. I pretend to paint my fingernails and toenails. Again, I point to her then me.
She nods and I let out a relieved breath. That was easy enough. I tell her the appointments are today, as well as the where and the when. Her eyes light up at the news.
My phone pings. I check the text from Maija. I haven’t heard from Kyle today, but Maija and I have plans for tonight. I respond to her text confirming we’re still on. I’ve already told Muumu that I’m going dancing with a friend tonight. The first thing she asked was if it was Joni. I might have rolled my eyes.
Muumu’s show finishes and a Friends episode comes on. I laugh at something Rachel tells Ross. Apparently, Rachel and Ross are just as funny with Finnish subtitles, because Muumu also laughs, albeit a second later because of the delay in translation. By the end of the show, we’re both laughing hard.
Muumu drives us to the hair salon and day spa in time for our appointment. She’s normally animated, but this Muumu is like a kid on candy. She’s as excited about our girl-bonding session as I am, which makes me feel a million times better already.
We arrive five minutes early and are directed to the seats in the corner, where we sit and wait our turn. Muumu picks a tabloid from the coffee table. I select a hairstyling magazine and flip through it. I need a change, but nothing too drastic.
Something to represent the new me.
Chapter Eleven
Kyle
My phone rings as Nik and I walk along the sidewalk to the dance club. I check to see who it is—my brother, Cody—and accept the call. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Nothing much. What are you up to?” His tone is in the gray zone between interrogation and casual. Which way it falls depends on how I answer.
And since lying to Cody is out, given the loud music spilling onto the streets… “Coaching the guys is going well, but they’re nowhere near as talented as you.” Who knows if he’s buying my bullshit. They’re all equally talented. “Nik and I are just checking out the local night scene.”
My brother groans. He thinks I’m out to get wasted and laid. To forget about last year.
Except this time, he’s wrong.
I’m here to forget the girl who’s starting to get to me in the short time I’ve known her. She’s not what I need. What I need is exactly what I’ve been doing since the accident—living the life I gave up t
o get married so young.
“I promise, I’m fine,” I say. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Promise.” And this time I won’t be hung over. Or at least I’ll try not to be.
I promise Cody I’ll be careful tonight and end the call.
The nightclub is similar to any other back home. But instead of the normal college crowd, here you’ve got your college-crowd smorgasbord from all over the world.
Nik’s face lights up and he straight-lines for the bar while scanning the crowd. He’s not just hunting for an easy lay for himself. He’s searching for a girl with female friends so neither of us go home empty handed.
I leave him talking to a group of girls Sofia’s age, and walk to the bar. Contrary to what Nik wanted, I haven’t been back here since the night I went home with the girl who looked like a sexy version of Snow White. I order drinks for us and join him and his groupies. I listen to the introductions—and forget their names the instant I spot her on the dance floor. Her long brown hair swings against the olive brown of her shoulders. Her purple dress skims her curves. Gabby.
Except it isn’t Gabby. But that doesn’t matter. Just seeing her is a stabbing reminder of everything I’ve lost. I swallow back the pain and the memories of the last time I saw her, bleeding next to me in the car.
One of Nik’s groupies says something to me. I block her out as I down my beer like it’s a life preserver to keep me from drowning. Once the drink’s finished, I return to the bar and order two more. I don’t give a damn what I promised Cody or my parents. I need this. I’m not planning to get wasted. Just a little buzzed to get me through the evening.
I return to Nik and gulp back some beer. He glances at the two bottles in my hand but doesn’t say anything. The girl who tried to talk to me earlier asks him a question. He nods and they head for the dance floor. Her friend asks me if I want to dance, but since the Gabby lookalike is there, I shake my head and go back to drinking. She quickly loses interest in me and chats with her friends. In Finnish.
As I contemplate the pros and cons of bailing on this fun-filled evening, my gaze catches a familiar blond. A familiar blond who looks…different. Her long blond hair now swings just above her shoulders. She looked pretty before, but now she’s hot. I blink, positive it can’t be Sofia. It must be another look alike. The universe hates me that much.
She’s with a girl and a guy, and is laughing. My eyes scour the crowd near her. If Joni’s here, I don’t see him. I let out a slow breath and the tension that’s been building trickles away like a water from a faulty faucet.
I continue staring at Sofia until she must’ve sensed me watching her and looks over. She smiles and everything instantly feels better with the world. Without saying anything to the girls, I walk over to her, bumping into people as the alcohol kicks in. Shit. Not how I want Sofia to see me.
I stop in front of her. Her smile wavers and she glances at the dance floor, her mind spinning over something. She then grabs my hand. The warmth of it seeps into my skin and sobers me a little.
“Let’s dance.” She pulls me toward the crowded space.
We don’t get that far. As if summoned by my thoughts of her earlier, Snow White steps in front of me and rests her hand on my chest. The seductive curl of her lips makes it clear she wants a repeat of the other night. “Hi, Kyle.”
Chapter Twelve
Sofia
The woman steps closer to Kyle, her manicured hand still on his chest. Everything about her is the opposite of me—if you don’t count my newly manicured fingers and toes.
She’s about my age, but her chin-length black hair and slim fitting red dress scream sophistication. Her long legs appear never ending, especially with her stilettos and short dress. She’s obviously not living out of a suitcase with only a limited supply of clothing.
I glance down at my short skirt and the white tank top that Kyle has seen me in before.
“I’ve missed you,” she purrs and my stomach twists. “My bed’s been lonely without you.” Her hand moves south, stopping just above the waistband of his jeans. She either hasn’t noticed me standing next to him or just doesn’t care. Clearly I’m not much competition as far as she’s concerned.
And she’s right.
I step away and return to Maija and her boyfriend. Guys like Kyle aren’t interested in girls like me, not when they can have women like the one now whispering in his ear about all the hot positions they can do tonight.
My stomach pinches at the thought. Silly stomach. But really, what did I expect? He knows I’m not interested in a boyfriend and that my last one cheated on me. Kyle’s probably already guessed why Ian did that. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out I wasn’t all Ian had hoped for. This woman knows how to please a man; I’m a million miles from there.
“Hey,” Kyle says, catching up to me. “I thought we were going to dance.” His words hold a slight slur.
“You were busy.” I cringe inwardly at how petty that sounded. Kyle doesn’t seem to notice.
“Sorry about that. She surprised me by showing up like that.”
“Who is she?” I glance around but can’t see her anywhere.
Kyle doesn’t say anything. He reaches for my hand and tries to pull me to the dance floor. I hold my ground.
“I’ll still dance with you,” I say, “But I just want to know who she is?” And if you’ve slept with her.
He releases my hand. His shoulders slouch forward, my words knocking the wind out of him. “She was a one-night stand. Nothing more than that. I haven’t seen her since then. At least not until tonight.”
“Okay.” I smile, the movement small but genuine. “Thank you for being honest with me.” I place my hand on his biceps, the muscle hard from hours in the gym. “And I believe you owe me a dance.”
We manage to find a spot on the crowded dance floor, our bodies pressed together. I wrap my arms around his neck and move my body with his. It’s been a while since I last went dancing. I’ve missed it. I just didn’t realize how much until now.
I turn around, my back against his chest, my arms around his neck. My tank top raises, exposing my stomach. His fingers trace the skin above my waistband. Tiny shivers glance across my skin at his touch and I suck in a sharp breath.
I move my body to the beat, the song fast yet sensual. The limited space keeps me against Kyle, and he takes advantage of the situation. His slight state of drunkenness has to do with that, too. His lips press the skin on my shoulder. Then his tongue flicks lightly against it, turning my legs into molten lava. It’s a good thing his arm is around my waist, keeping me upright; otherwise, I’d melt onto the sticky floor.
The feel of Kyle’s lips on my skin triggers the memory of them on my mouth, all of them good, which is part of the problem. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him since the kiss. I haven’t stopped craving him since the kiss. Even at Linnanmäki, when he challenged me to face my fear of heights, I wanted to kiss him, really kiss him. But I couldn’t.
His lips continue their path, marking their way along my shoulder. He pushes my hair aside, and his mouth is back to teasing me. As if it has a will of its own, my head drops to his shoulder, encouraging him to keep going. My brain tells me to stop this from continuing further. My body says to hell with it. I deserve this just once.
The song slows, but we stay the same, moving in a way that makes me dizzy with want. His hands slide down my hips. I sway against him. His breath is raspy in my ear and he moans, the sound barely heard over the loud music.
I turn around to face him and rewrap my arms around his neck. My gaze falls on his mouth. I want to kiss him so badly. Maybe things will be different with Kyle. Maybe he can teach me to be a better lover. Maybe he can give me the confidence I’m missing, like he did at the amusement park when it came to my fear of heights.
I kiss him. Lightly. Hunger gleams in his eyes. Hunger and uncertainty. Before I can speak, his mouth is back on mine and I welcome him in.
His kiss is as amazing as I remember. O
ur tongues stroke, glide, feel in time to the music and the swaying of our bodies. Nothing else exists. Just us. And the kiss.
Kyle’s hands drift from my hips to my lower back and pull me closer. Every cell in my body hums, until I’m positive the vibrations in the floor are caused by me and not the music. Our swaying stops. The kissing doesn’t.
It’s not until someone bumps against us that I realize the music is no longer slow. Kyle takes my hand and leads me off the dance floor, my breath still ragged. He pauses, looks at a group of girls and the guy from that day in the sauna, then heads toward Maija and her boyfriend.
His expression looks torn, but I can’t tell what he’s torn about. Is it because he’s with me instead of those girls? If they gave him the chance, would he go home with one of them?
“Is something wrong?” His thumb slides along my lip and pulls it away from my teeth. Until then, I hadn’t realized I was chewing it.
“No, I’m good.” I glance over my shoulder at the girls again. I’ve never done a one-night stand before. I’ve only been with Ian. I flirt with guys all the time, but when it comes to taking things further, the art of seduction is lost on me.
I look back at Kyle. I guess there’s a first for everything.
I introduce Maija and her boyfriend to Kyle. Kyle and Toivo hit it off immediately, and start talking hockey.
Kyle’s friend joins us with his three-girl entourage.
Maija pulls me aside. “Watch out for the girl in the pink shorts. I heard her talking to her friend in the bathroom. She’s very interested in Kyle, if you know what I mean.” I know what she means. The girl isn’t touching him, but she’s close enough that if she shifts slightly, there’ll be a lot of bodily contact.
“Thanks for the warning.”
Maija wraps her arms about her boyfriend’s waist. I do the same to Kyle, sliding between him and Pink Shorts. She gives me the death glare but moves back a step. Kyle gives me an amused grin. I almost reach up and kiss him, but decide it might be too much. He’s not territory to be marked.
Heat it Up: Off the Ice - Book One Page 6
