The Hockey Player (Matt Sturniolo) - Thank You

"Me either" I squeezed his hand for reassurance. "If you ask if stuff is okay, then I'll try not to get caught up again. You don't have to ask every time, but just when we introduce stuff?"

He nodded. "Of course"

After a long walk, Matt stopped and stepped off the trail. He went from a paved path to standing knee deep, his level too, not mine, in weeds. He smiled and held his hand out to me.

Based on the sun's position, we had a few more hours left in the afternoon. The park closed at sunset and walking through the forest with Mother Nature's multi legged friends didn't have the romance appeal. "Where are you going?"

He wiggled his fingers. "This way"

"If I get poison ivy, I'm rubbing it on your underwear" I mumbled at the back of his head.

I slipped my hand into his, then stepped behind him. Twigs broke under our feet. We climbed over and around trees, and I cringed when a spider web hit my forehead.

His large hand pulled me under a tree that only he needed to stoop lower to pass under. "Almost there"

With one long step from Matt's legs and his help pulling me over a log too wide from my legs to touch down, the tree and brush cleared to a small river's opening. The only sounds were from the water and the faint, random chirps from birds.

"Here?" I asked in a low voice

Matt nodded, dropping my hand and taking the bag off his shoulder. I washed my sweaty hands in the cool river water as he pulled out sealed food containers and a massive blanket. When I stood, he set up a small picnic over an open area.

"I concede" I sank on to my knees next to him under the calm settings. "I'm officially impressed. Do you take all the girls here?"

Matt laughed. "Only the important ones"

"Huh" I sat down. "Do I want to know where I fall on the importance scale?"

"Thought it was obvious"

"Humour me"

"Aurora" he took my closest hand in his. "I don't know how or why, and I'm still processing it, but you're one of the most important people to me"

Wow. How sweet was he? I looked at him and smiled. "And you have, annoyingly wedged yourself into my mind. I don't mind it now as much as I used to"

"Thanks for a half compliment"

"So, how do we do, uh...this?" I gestured between us.

He looked down at the food containers. "We open these and eat?"

"Us, you goof"

"Oh. Us" he smirked. "There better be a lot of kissing between us, because....because"

I rubbed my forehead. "I meant logically. Our schools aren't the closest"

"I thought about that" he pulled two water bottles out of his bag. "Are you able to come to me on afternoons you don't work? I'm sure Mom won't mind seeing you for dinner. I'll make sure she doesn't cook"

"Or I can teach her?" I waited for Matt's laughs to subside. "Yes, if your asking me to come to your practices, it's probably an upgrade over attending Dan's"

"And if you're okay, I can visit you at work. I'll stick to a corner and do homework because I always have that, Friday's are games, but-"

"I want to come to them" I cut him off, smiling.

"Honestly, I'm pretty useless after games" he laughed. "Saturday's, I'm all yours and I wish I could get out of Sundays with dad, but I can't. Till take what you can give"

My brain went to mush when he handed me a food container and brushed his fingers over mine.

I owe him some appreciation.

"How did you know about this place?" I reached back, slid a hand up my back and pretended to scratch my back. I wanted to hide my bold intentions. He would either pass out or laugh. Or pass out laughing.

"I used to hike here with Chris" he said, looking at the river. My smile faded with his serious tone. "When we moved here, our parents were still fighting. We came here to get away from it"

I placed my hand on his leg. "I'm sorry"

"Don't be" he smiled, but still had a sad look in his eyes. "They got over it. I haven't been here in years, but it looks the same. I always wanted to take a girl on a date here"

I smiled. The idea he didn't bring anyone else here, even though this place was special to him, made this date more special. He was right. I was impressed.

"Do you want to eat, or...do something?" He asked, clearing his throat. By the slight dilation of his pupils, he meant to do something else with our mouths.

"Actually?" I shuffled on my knees until I faced him and nearly sat on his lap. Our height difference put my face just above his and my chest at his chin level.

Perfect.

I stroked his cheek with my hand. The swelling was gone, but his eye was dark grey, with a purple bruise. "You held up your end of the deal"

Matt tipped his head back and smirked. "I didn't think you'd take a punch in the face for me"

"Wasn't part of the plan" his smirk faded, but he had curiosity in his eyes. "Where are you going with this?"

I knee shuffled closer, and ran my hand up his arm. When I palmed his shoulder for balance and knelt a foot from his chest, he smiled at me, bent his knees and trapped my claves with his feet.

"Matt" I stroked the sides of his neck. "I..."

"Yeah?"

His patience was too much to mess with. With slow movements, I dragged out my intentions with a long silence. In the slowest hinge over, I pressed a soft kiss under his jaw.

"Would" I guided his hands to my waist, holding them there. My heart raced, no matter how slow I moved, bending over and brushing my lips against his cheek. "Like"

"Getting better"

"To say" I whispered, in a teasing tone.

We were completely alone, but I paused for dramatic effect and looked around us. Only a few birds fluttered from tree to tree. "Are you going to tell me before the park closes, Aurora?"

I laughed, looking at him again. I rested my hands on his shoulders. In another slow movement, I took my shirt off and my hair fell down against my bare back.

I rested my palm on his shoulders to see the exact moment he realised what he did. I held Matt's gaze for as long as possible, but when I smiled, he broke our staring contest. He looked down and widened his eyes.

I dropped my hands to my sides. "Thank you, Matt"

For the first time, Matt was speechless. I couldn't blame him, but it was amusing and nerve wrecking. An urge to cover myself came over me, but I pinned my arms at my sides.

"Sorry it's not a picture, Matt" I smirked. "But take what you get"

Without blinking, Matt looked back up at me. His eyes were wide, his jaw was unhinged and his forehead, cheeks and neck were red. Maybe this was a bad idea?

"Surprise?"

The Hockey Player (Matt Sturniolo) - Thank You - Page 3 (2024)

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