My throat burns as I start to babble. “I just wasn’t sure, because we’ve never had this conversation, and I didn’t want to assume, and I didn’t want to pressure you…”
For a beat, he just stares at me, then he curses low, dragging a hand through his hair. His chest heaves like he’s holding back a thousand things at once, and then it breaks.
“Fuck, I hate doing this over a screen.” He leans forward, eyes locked on mine. “Will you please be my girlfriend? Because you already fucking are. I’ll say it every damn day if you need me to. You’re my girl, Lulu.”
The breath leaves me in a shaky rush. “Yeah?”
“Yes.” His mouth curves slowly. “So… are you gonna say yes, Lu? Because I’m going crazy here thinking you thought this was temporary.”
I suck my bottom lip under my teeth, watching his stormy eyes wait.
“Well… I guess that would be theefficientthing to do…”
“I swear to God, Tallulah—”
“Fine, yes. Of course. I would love to be your girlfriend.”
His mouth softens, but his eyes stay fierce. “I’m so gone for you, Lu. The only thing I care about—the only thing—is figuring out how we tell Eli without blowing this all to hell. Because you’re stuck with me.”
Heat blooms through me, tangled up with nerves. A laugh slips out, quiet but real. “Guess I can live with that.”
“Good. Then that’s settled. You’re my girl, and I’ll say it a hundred times if you need me to.”
My eyes feel a bit watery as I nod. “Maybe once more.”
“Mine,” he says in a low, immediate growl.
It’s so stupid, but it feels like the most important word in the world right now. To know that he’s got me, that I’m his. And no matter what happens, we’re in this together.
My whole body shivers at the thought, and because I can’t help myself, I grin.
“Careful, Miller. If you growl at me like that in public, people are gonna think you’re into some weird shit.”
His warm and husky laugh cracks through the tension. “Baby, Iaminto some weird shit. And all of it’s you.”
Heat rushes up my neck, and I bury my smile in my hand. God help me, I’m so far gone for this idiot.
He adjusts the screen, eyes locking onto me. “You’re shattered, Lu. Hang up and have a bath, then go to bed and dream about me. Preferably naked.”
I roll my eyes, but my smile is wide. “You really ruin all your romantic moments, don’t you?”
“Count the sleeps, baby, because it’s not the only thing I’m gonna ruin.”
A laugh barks out of me. “Oh my god, my boyfriend is disgusting.”
Chapter twenty-eight
That’s not how fashion works
Logan
Four games in six nights. My legs are cooked, and my shoulders ache every time I shift on the bench in the locker room. Trainers call it “building resilience.” I call it bullshit.
All it’s built is a permanent groove in my ass from plane seats. Now we’re back in Denver with practice winding down, and three whole days off before the next stretch
But it’s not the travel or ice stuck in my head right now, it’s Lulu. Her voice on the phone a few nights ago, so soft and hesitant, asking me if she could call herself my girlfriend. Like it wasn’t obvious, like I haven’t already fallen harder than I planned to.
I thought it went without saying, but that’s my mistake. Because yeah, she’s my girlfriend. Hell, she’s more than that. And I don’t know how to tell her that without tipping my whole hand—or Eli catching the cards out of the air and stabbing me with them.
