RIDGEWATER HOCKEY TEAM LOVES CLARA & CAROLINE (WE'RE CONFUSED BUT WE SUPPORT BOTH)
I completely lose it.
My hand flies to my stomach as I double over laughing, actual tears gathering in my eyes.
"Oh my God—" I wheeze, still staring at the phone. "What—what is this?!"
Zach's shoulders shake as he laughs too. "Art," he says dryly. "Pure, unfiltered art."
I'm still laughing so hard my vision blurs. "My face—why am I wearing combat boots?!"
"Ask Cody," Zach snorts. "He said it 'felt powerful.'"
I can't stop. I'm wiping at my eyes, still clutching the phone like it's the funniest thing I've ever seen. My stomach hurts. My cheeks hurt. My soul hurts in the best way.
Zach watches me, grin softening into something tender beneath the humor.
"But they tried their best..." he says, amused, "and it earned my official seal of approval."
He nods like he's deeply proud... which is concerning, because he absolutely shouldn't be.
I laugh even harder, practically choking, and Zach chuckles with me—quiet, warm, the sound melting straight into my bones.
"God, I love them," I manage between breaths.
Zach immediately scowls and hooks an arm tighter around my waist, yanking me back against him.
"Absolutely not," he says. "Take that back. I didn't sign up for sharing."
I snort. "They made me a banner—"
"I bought the materials and supervised," he counters. "So technically I get the credit."
I choke on a laugh. "Babe—"
"Nope," he insists, tugging me even closer. "You can be fond of them. You can be grateful. But love?" He levels me with the most dramatic offended look. "I'm the only one you're allowed to love."
"You and your possessiveness..."
"What?" He twists his mouth into a pout and looks away like a five-year-old pretending he isn't sulking.
A laugh slips out of me.
I cup his cheeks and gently make him face me. He does, but he keeps that ridiculously cute mock scowl like he's committed to the bit.
I lean in and give him a quick kiss. "For the record," I murmur against his lips, "I happen to love it when you get all possessive."
The transformation is instant.
His scowl melts.
His whole face lights up.
A slow, beaming smile spreads across his mouth — warm, boyish, devastatingly cute.
"Yeah?" he says, voice dropping with that soft, smug happiness he can't hide.
Before I can answer, he leans in and kisses me — sweet, slow, completely undone by my words. His hands slide up my back, pulling me into him like he can't help it, like he needs to.
