At one point, he leans close as we jostle for the ball. “You’ve gotten better since last time.” His shoulder presses into mine, deliberately or not, and his eyes sparkle beneath the lights.
“I’ve always been good. Maybe you’ve gotten worse,” I fire back, breathless.
His grin deepens. “Not possible. Okay…maybe I’m a little bit out of practice.”
By the time the game winds down, my legs ache, my lungs burn, and I can’t stop smiling. The game was close, but with the Whitmans having Tully, a professional hockey player, we rarely win. We all give each other high-fives, pretending we’re a pro team like we have since we played as kids.
Everyone piles off the ice. Jackson and Dylan recount their plays, and Erin bumps my hip with hers.
“Was it my imagination, or was there a little heat between you and Camden out there tonight? And I don’t mean the usual heat.” She lowers her head and keeps her eyes directed on me.
I flush and am about to tell her that I have some updating to do when I see two gorgeous girls in tight ski pants andfitted jackets, every strand of long perfect hair in place, walk up to Jackson and Camden. The brunette loops her hand through Jackson’s, and the redhead loops her hand through Camden’s.
“They came to catch a game of broomball,” Jackson says, winking at Camden.
“As if we’d be caught dead out there,” the redhead laughs. “No, we just came to show our support.”
“Really? Didn’t notice you out there,” Camden says.
She throws her head back and laughs, and my nose curls.
“Who the hell are they?” Erin mutters.
Goldie and Tully walk up to us.
“Who invited the puck bunnies?” Tully asks under his breath.
“Looks like they’re friends of Jackson and Camden,” I say, my voice sounding hollow.
Everyone’s invited to the Whitmans’ house, and I debate skipping, my earlier elation deflated by the red nails on Camden’s arm. But I want to hang out with Goldie and Erin too much to miss it…and more than a little curious about the girls.
The Whitmans’ house glows warm against the dark winter night, windows steaming from the heat inside. We stomp snow off our boots and leave them in the mudroom. Goldie tells us her grandmas have hot chocolate and pies ready for everyone.
As the hallway narrows, Erin moves forward first, I fall in step behind Goldie, and Milo catches up with her, putting his arm around her shoulder. I’m thinking how cute they are together when a hand catches mine and tugs me into the den. It’s dark, but I can make out Camden’s broad shoulders.
“What are you—?” My words die when his hand cups the side of my face, the other sliding around my waist, and he puts his mouth on mine—his lips are chilly from the cold, but his tongue is warm and insistent.
I melt into him.
The world narrows to just us. He lifts me until my feet are off the floor, kissing me soundly. When we finally break apart, I’m breathless, my forehead resting against his.
“You’re keeping your redhead waiting,” I whisper.
“She’s not my anything,” he whispers back. “Jackson thought it would be a great idea to invite some friends to keep us company tonight. Without clearing it with me first.”
I smile. “You’re supposed to be inside, bragging with your family,” I say, my lips still tingling.
“Everyone can wait,” he murmurs, his smile wicked in the dim light. “I’ve been waiting all day for this.”
My laugh catches in my throat. “This feels like we’re sneaking around.”
He kisses me again, slower this time, like we have all the time in the world. When he finally pulls back, his breath is uneven, his forehead still pressed to mine. He sets me on my feet, and his hands stay on my waist.
“I don’t want Jackson to find out,” he says quietly, the words spilling out like he’s been holding them in all night.
My stomach dips and my heart sinks. “What?”
He shakes his head, jaw tight. “Not yet. He already thinks we’d be a disaster. He even said it was a good thing we aren’t together. He wouldn’t be okay with this.”
