He laughs out loud. “Fine. Challenge accepted.”
A smile pulls at my lips. “Things are actually going well. I don’t want to ruin it with that.”
“Who says it will be ruined?” I just look at him, and he shrugs. “I’m serious. They’d take you in a heartbeat.” I don’t agree, but I don’t want to argue with him. Not after last night. When he reaches over, taking my hand in his, he brings it into his lap. He squeezes it lightly, and I glance over to see him smiling. “I believe in you.”
What the hell am I supposed to say to that? I think the last time someone said that was my dad. Tears cloud my eyes as I lean my head on my knees, watching as he drives. His smile remains. I want that. That confidence and belief in myself.
Why did I allow Drew to steal that from me?
When “Drive By” by Train starts playing, Chandler reaches over and turns the music up without letting go of my hand. A grin replaces my sullen look as he sings loudly and proudly. When he turns to me, grinning as he sings, I shake my head.
“You’re insane.”
“This is my jam,” he says, turning it up a little more. “Sing with me.”
So I do.
With the air blowing my hair around and our voices loud and awful, the heaviness on my heart disappears. I feel wild, young, and absolutely free. As our voices combine, he goes off on some falsetto that he should leave alone, and I know there is no way this thing we’ve got going on will be easy to get over. I knew the moment I touched him back in college there would be history between us. I just didn’t know we’d be in a truck together after a night of amazing sex, singing as if we’re back in college. As if we don’t have two failed marriages and plenty of heartbreak.
No, we’re just happy.
“I’m such a shy guy,” he says at the end of the song, and I scoff.
“You are not.”
“I am!”
“Chandler, you asked me out the moment after you found out I wasn’t with Drew anymore.”
He gives me a grin. “Because I wanted you. Seriously, though, I’m shy. You make me nervous, and I start word vomiting on you, and then you somehow still want to kiss me.”
“What? I never wanted to kiss you.”
He snorts. “Liar. You wanted me the moment you saw me again too.”
“You’re insane. My dad was shy. He basically didn’t even talk to my mom on their first date. He was so nervous.”
“I don’t blame him. It’s hard to think or even speak when you’re in the presence of complete beauty.”
I laugh. “So you’re crushing on my mom?”
He shakes his head with a laugh. “I meant that about you.”
I grin. “See! You’re not shy. You’re the most confident person I’ve ever met.”
“Because of you.” He kisses my temple.
What the hell is happening? Damn it. If I thought sleeping with him as a rebound would be only sex, I’m a complete idiot. This guy is no rebound.
“I wish I had met your dad. Ryan always talks about how awesome he was.”
Pain tugs at my heart as I nod slowly. “He was the best. He treated me like a princess. Loved me more than himself. Hell, he loved all of us more than himself.”
Chandler kisses my palm. “He’d be proud of you. Even with the mistakes, Amelia, you’re getting back to you. I know you are.”
When I look at him, I swear the whole world fades away. No pain, no fear, nothing, just him and me. “I guess I’m gonna have to sleep with you again later.”
He smiles wryly before leaning over and kissing my jaw. “That was a given.”
He winks as he pulls back, and then he turns onto a very long road. I am a little confused about where we are. A huge building comes into view, and I see it’s called Malcolm Peterson Arena.
“Where are we?”
He tsks at me. “Shelli would know, and she’d know the square footage. Probably the opening date and the owner’s birthday, too.”
I laugh. “Probably. So I guess this is your arena?”
“Yup.”
“And we’re here…?”
“To make you love hockey again,” he says as he parks right at the front.
“Make me love hockey?”
He doesn’t answer me. He just shuts the truck off and then rolls the windows up. After he gets out, I’m about to open my door, but he’s there opening it for me. He gazes up at me before holding his hand out. I take it, and he helps me down as he says, “Yes, because I want to look out in the crowd and see you enjoying the game. But you have to cheer for me.”
I roll my eyes once my feet hit the ground. “But what if I want to cheer for the other team?”