The Fake Out (Vancouver Storm, #2)(72)

“Is that lipstick on the end of his nose?”

She laughs. “We had to improvise at the last minute. Hayden never gives us a warning about these ideas.”

“Are you here for Christmas?” I remember Hayden saying Darcy’s from Vancouver, like he is.

“Yep. We played Seattle last night, so Kit’s spending tonight here to see my family before he flies out to Ontario for the holiday.” Seattle is a two-hour drive from Vancouver. “Hayden and I will probably spend most of the break playing Legend of Zelda like back in university.” She grins. “We used to play for hours. Kit would hide the controllers so we could get some studying done. I’m looking forward to hanging out with him. We don’t get to see him enough during the season.”

Again, I think about Rory coming home for Christmas, and I’m so glad I asked. There’s no way I could let him stay here alone.

“You and Kit have been together since university, right?”

“The first week of school. Feels like forever ago.” She watches the guys out on the ice. “But also, sometimes, it feels like we all just met yesterday.”

Her eyes track them as they skate. Hayden grins over at her, waving, and she waves back with a beaming smile.

I study her for a moment. I’ve never seen her without Hayden and Kit nearby, but I think she might be shy. There’s something about Hayden’s boisterous friendliness that puts people at ease, though, and I think being around him brings her out of her shell.

“Did you and Hayden ever go out?” I ask, because I’m a nosy bitch.

Her eyes widen. “Oh my god. No. No.” She laughs. “His type is like, tall supermodels with dark hair, and I’m the girl who did a whole degree in math.” She laughs again, rolling her eyes at herself, before she pauses, a tiny frown forming between her eyebrows. “I thought he was going to ask me out in the first week of school but…” She shakes her head at herself. “Anyway, like I said.” She gestures at her petite frame with a self-deprecating laugh. “Not his type. Guys like Kit are more my speed.”

My eyebrow goes up because that’s not what I asked, and now I’m curious as hell, but she catches herself.

“And I love Kit.” Her eyes go to him. “Is it hard, having my life revolve around his? Of course. Do we feel like roommates sometimes? Yes. But we know each other so well and—” She blinks. “I can’t imagine not being with him.”

Her words feel strange, like she’s tiptoeing around what she really wants to say.

“I think this is just what happens when you’ve been with someone for seven years. It’s fine.” Her expression tightens like she’s embarrassed. “I’m rambling. Can you talk now, please, so it doesn’t get weird?”

I start laughing, because even if I’m slightly concerned with what she said, Darcy is adorable. “What do you want to talk about?”

“You and Rory,” she says pointedly. “I want to know all the dirty details.” I laugh harder as her eyes go wide with excitement. “Seriously. I want to know all the TMI stuff. My life is boring, Hazel. I’m living vicariously through you.”

“Well,” I chuckle, thinking about riding his hand last night. Definitely can’t tell her about that, although I’m sure she’d love it. “It’s really fun. He’s different from what I expected.”

“He looks at you like you’re a dessert he’s about to devour.”

My face warms.

“Enjoy it,” she says, smiling. “This is the fun part, when you can’t get enough of each other.”

I think about this phase ending, and my heart aches at the idea of Rory’s eyes flicking over me with disinterest. His teasing used to irritate me, but now I’d miss it.

A massive blur of red and green comes to a sudden stop in front of us, spraying ice against the boards.

“Oh my god. Come here.” Darcy reaches up and rubs her thumb down Hayden’s jaw. Her head barely comes to his shoulder. “You have glitter all over. Where did you even get this stuff?”

He obediently leans down for her while she brushes it out of his stubble. “Pippa put it on me.” He gives her a flirty smile. “Aren’t I the prettiest elf you’ve ever seen?”

She’s blushing. “You’re definitely the biggest elf. You’d weigh the sleigh down.”

Hayden puffs his chest out. “I’m taking that as a compliment.”

They grin at each other, but there’s something in Hayden’s eyes as he looks down at Darcy. His gaze lingers on her, flooded with the same warm, affectionate longing I see in Rory’s eyes when he looks at me.

Kit skates up beside Darcy. “You two look like you’re getting into trouble.”

He wraps an arm around her waist, and Hayden’s eyes drop to it before he glances away.

“Just the usual.” Darcy smiles at Kit, nudging him with her elbow. “You were having fun out there, huh?”

“I was.” He rubs the back of his neck, sending her a quiet smile. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Teaching kids to skate?” Darcy asks, chuckling.

“No.” He gives her a shy, meaningful expression. “Having kids. A bunch of them. Going skating with them and stuff.”