It was hard for Patrick to leave Haley alone. At least he knew that April would spend some time with her, take her out to dinner, watch a movie or something. He would have loved to stay after what had happened between them, but it was impossible. They had three road games. Five days and he’d see her again. He had to concentrate on hockey now.
But that didn’t keep him from calling her. He called her from Vancouver to ask what she’d had for lunch and how she was feeling. He called her after the game to talk about it with her and about her dinner with April. Every day he was away he did that, and he also talked to Jonathan about it. Jonny heard from April how things were going.
Haley knew what he was doing, but it didn’t bother her. Quite the contrary. She was looking forward to his phone calls, to tell him what she’d eaten that day. It made her aware of what she ate throughout the day, so that she could report back to him. She wanted this to work out, to feel better about herself. Knowing that there were people, Patrick, Jonathan and April, who wanted to help her, made it a lot easier.
Patrick would return this evening from their road trip. When she thought about seeing him again, she couldn’t stop smiling. The last couple of days had made her see a different side of him. A caring, generous side. The one Jonathan had always talked about.
It was four in the afternoon and she and Duncan were pretty much the only people still at the office. Everyone else had already gone home or they were out to for interviews. She had to work together with Duncan to finish this article. She’d taken care of the photos the day before and now they had to arrange the rest.
Duncan had offered to get them a little something to eat and fresh coffee. Better coffee than they had at the office. Haley’s eyes widened when he stepped up to the table with a little cake and two forks in addition to the coffees. She’d thought he’d get there with bagels or something, not a cake.
It was good that they had one of the conference rooms to themselves. That way it was easier for Haley to eat and enjoy the cake. After all, only one person was watching her. And they were able to scatter the photos across the table to decide which one they’d go with. But now it was time for a break. They’d already finished the article, except for the last paragraph.
“I thought I’d get us something with a bit more sugar,” Duncan said as he sat down on his chair next to Haley.
“It looks delicious!” It had been quite some time since Haley had last enjoyed eating a piece of cake. She wouldn’t be able to completely enjoy it right now, but she’d try her best.
“You should get the first bite then.” With a grin on his face Duncan put a small piece on his fork and held it in front of Haley’s lips. “Come on, open up!”
Haley hesitated. Nobody had ever fed her, except for her father when she’d still been too young to do that herself. She took a deep breath and ate what he gave her. “Oh God, this is so good. Where did you get it?”
“Across the street is a small bakery and they make the best cakes I’ve ever tasted.” Duncan dug in the cake again and held it towards Haley, but this time she grabbed the fork. One bite was okay, but she wouldn’t let him feed her more. This was still a little awkward.
“So, you and Mr Hockey… How are things with you?”
That question was completely out of the blue. They’d talked about all kinds of things the last couple of days, but not about Patrick. Why now all of a sudden?
“Things are good. He’ll come home today.” Of course Duncan knew that, because he knew the schedule of the Blackhawks, but it was the safest thing for her to say.
“So, you two are already living together.”
“What? No! I just meant, he’s coming back home to Chicago.”
Duncan looked at her long and hard, before he put his fork down and sighed. “Look! It shouldn’t be any of my business, but it is, because I like you, Haley. I like you a lot.” She hoped that this wasn’t what she thought it was. It made her heart immediately beat faster and her throat tighten. “You don’t seem to be happy with this guy. When he appeared her, you looked more annoyed than anything else. I could see it in your face. And when he touches you, you stiffen, before you relax. Like at the bar.” Where Patrick had told her that Duncan wanted to get in her pants. “You never do that when I touch you.”
To prove his point, he cupped her cheek with one hand and slowly ran his thumb across her lips. He was right. She didn’t stiffen or draw back. But the same was true for Patrick after all that has happened now. She trusted Duncan and liked him. As a friend. When he leaned forward as if to kiss her, they heard a voice from the door.
“Am I interrupting something?” Patrick stood in the door, arms crossed over his chest, glaring at them. Haley hadn’t seen that expression on his face before except when he was on the ice. It was a look he reserved for enemies and it made her get up from her seat.
“No, not at all.” She could feel the smile spreading over her face. “But what are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to land in an hour.”
“We could get away earlier.” Patrick narrowed his eyes at Duncan before he looked back up at Haley. “I came to pick you up. Your friend here can finish that by himself. Let’s go.”
Haley hesitated, but Duncan just sighed and gave her a thumbs-up. He didn’t want to argue with Patrick in front of her. He’d just have to get her alone at work again to talk to her. Make her see that he was better than Patrick.
She mouthed a thank you to Duncan, put on her coat, grabbed her purse and went over to Patrick, who immediately grabbed her hand and started walking. He was a little too fast for Haley, so she started stumbling in her heels.
“Could you please slow down a little bit? I don’t want to break a leg.”
Patrick slowed down and walked next to her now, not saying a word. Haley was irritated, but she didn’t want to discuss this here and now. She’d wait until they were at his apartment, so that nobody would be able to overhear them.
When they finally arrived, Haley took her time taking off her coat and shoes. She didn’t worry about her height in front of Patrick anymore. Not one bit. Now she didn’t know how to start this.
“You know that I don’t have feelings for Duncan, don’t you?” Haley said as she watched his back. Patrick stopped at the windows and stared outside. He crossed his arms and remained silent. Haley stepped closer, not taking her eyes off him. “But you were right when you said that he has feelings for me.”
Patrick turned around, still looking angry. “Good that you finally see it. I don’t like that guy at all and he’s probably badmouthing me in front of you. I was close to running over and punching him in the face. He knows we’re in a relationship and he’s still trying to kiss you? What a dickhead.”
Haley’s lips curled up at that. Could it be that he was jealous?
“What are you smirking at?” His brows drew together, his eyes fixed on her.
God, she really was happy to see him again, even if he was angry and irritated. Or maybe especially because of that. She stepped right in front of him, put her hands on his chest and rose to the balls of her feet. She closed her eyes and sealed his lips with her own. He stood completely still for a second, but gave in quickly. He took her hands off his chest and entangled her fingers with his. Quickly he let go of one of her hands again, to wrap his arm around her, to pull her close. He deepened the kiss, enjoying every second of it.
Finally Haley drew back and took a deep breath, her lips a little swollen from this kiss. She couldn’t help but smile, and buried her face in Patrick’s chest.
“I hope you know that I’d never start anything with Duncan,” she said quietly.
“After that kiss I sure hope so,” Patrick chuckled as he wrapped both his arms around her to keep her in place.