“Go ahead. Say it. I’m still going to stay to help you out with this.”
“You’ve got good taste. I guess I could use your eye.” The keys click as she switches between screens, bringing up a folder that says January. She clicks on the first image, then scrolls throughseveral pictures. “I’ve narrowed it down to these for January. I was going to send all my picks out to the rest of the team for their feedback, and then we can choose our winners.”
It’s us. All the emotion is there. He’s done a twist on the serious pose. If our arms were crossed and the smiles were photoshopped off, it would look intense, competitive. But the cats in our arms totally soften the image. Especially the ridiculous floof I’m holding. The mere memory of her voluminous tail brushing my face has me reaching up to scratch my nose.
“We get January?”
“Of course. We’re the captains. That’s what everyone is in for, right? Wildaker. Hottest new couple of the hockey world?” Every syllable is drenched in self-deprecation.
“I can’t believe they gave us a couple name. Completely ridiculous.”
She turns to me, looking up from under long lashes. “I’ve been called much worse on social media. I actually kind of like it.”
Need comes on hot and fast, ripping through me. Something about the pictures. The sentiment. It gets to me. The name inextricably ties us together. Lets everyone know that she’s mine. And that I can get behind.
Chapter 29
Damage Control
Luna
Thelightingisperfect.
Soft early morning glow spilling through the window brushes everything with a kind of romantic haze I couldn’t recreate if I tried. The ring light’s angled just right. My hair’s doing the swoopy thing I like, and my favorite Lightning crop top is hanging just right.
There’s a hum in my chest, the low-key electricity that’s half anticipation, half performance mode. Beau and I are officially going public with our relationship. Not that the wolves aren’t already out for blood, but this will be the ultimate confirmation. My followers have been buzzing with talk about it. They’ve been begging for more Beau since his first appearance with me at the rescue.
Thinking about that day brings a smile to my face, and warmth flows through my numb fingers again. He stepped up then and now we’re going next level. We’re sharing the news and preorder link for the calendar. He was so funny helping me go throughthe pictures. Too bad we’re doing it here. If we were at his place, Bluebeard could make a guest appearance.
Maisie watches from the couch as I adjust the camera one more time. “Okay, this looks professional,” she says. “Like, you might actually convince people you have your life together.”
“That is the goal,” I say, tapping on my phone screen to fix the framing. “We’re going for high-functioning chaos. No one needs to know I stress-ate three waffles this morning.”
“Four,” she corrects.
I flip her off without looking.
The camera’s ready. The giveaways are stacked. JJ even agreed to DJ from the other room when I asked him as a joke. That boy is a fame whore, and he’s going to get himself in trouble one of these days. I’m just about to click over to the live preview when my phone buzzes. I glance down confused when I see it's Beau.
Golden Boy: Got pulled into something for my dad. I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you.
Golden Boy: Sending JJ instead.
I stare at the screen.
Not a call. Not even a voice memo.
Just a text.
The tension drops out of me so fast it feels like someone cut a wire. I sit down slowly on the edge of the couch, head swimming.
He knew this was important. For us as a couple, for the charity and, even more important, for the hockey program. Not to mention the boost in my earnings to help with Celeste’s dance school tuition. We talked about this at her competition. I never thought he’d let me down like this. Especially after we talked things through on Wednesday. I thought we weregood. I understand his side, and maybe I don’t agree, but it’s his decision. My skin prickles uncomfortably, and heat presses against the back of my eyes. I blink to keep the tears in check.
“Everything okay?” Maisie asks.
I nod, throat dry. “Yeah. Just... switch-up. JJ’s filling in.”
She raises a brow. “Seriously?”
