My hands moved to the small of her back and I pulled her right against my body.
“I fucking need you, sweetie,” I said.
I brushed my lips to hers.
I kissed her.
She returned the kiss.
She tasted good.
So fucking good.
Then the kiss stopped.
Madison turned her head.
“Mav…”
I pressed my nose to her cheek.
I touched my lips to her chin.
“I’m in love with you, Madison,” I whispered.
“No,” she said. “That doesn’t work. No.”
“What doesn’t work, sweetie?”
Madison placed her hands to my chest and pushed at me.
She jumped off the counter and backed away.
“Mav, this doesn’t work,” she said. “Look, you’re hot. You’re perfect. I’ve never met anyone like you in my life. I probably never will meet anyone like you ever again. And you know what? Fine. I’ll say it. I’m in love with you too. Okay? But it just doesn’t work.”
“I don’t get it,” I said. “Is this what you do?”
“What?”
No, Mav. The booze is going to start talking…
“I’m a goalie. Is that your thing?”
“Get out of here, Mav,” she said.
“No,” I said. “Not until I say what I want. What I came here to say to you.”
“Maverick,” Madison growled. “You can’t take words back. And you’re drunk right now. You’re not thinking straight. I’m sorry for the way this is right now. I’m sorry for what you heard.”
“Then talk to me,” I said. “Why are you so afraid of commitment? You don’t have things hung up on your walls!”
“Just leave,” she said.
“Why? So you can go to the next team? Huh? What goalie is next? I know all of them. Feel like going on a long road trip? You can take a flight to the west coast. I’ll give Anders a call. You know him, right? Anders Harlen. The goalie for theInci Warriors. Go for him.”
“You have no clue what you’re talking about,” she said.
“That’s because you give nothing up. You leave me to wonder. To think. To try and figure this out myself.”