She hesitates but then takes it from me. She scans the pictures and then frowns.
“This one.” She points. “The picture I saw isthisone, but with a girl on your lap.”
I shake my head vehemently. “There was no girl. I don’t know what you saw but that never happened. It’s really easy to doctor photos with AI these days. Or Photoshop.”
She chews the inside of her cheek thoughtfully. “Dad and Lourdes cornered me this morning, showed me the picture, and Dad went on a rampage about how I need to stop with the hockey players, that I wasn’t really naïve enough to believe you actually loved me.”
“Do you believe that?” he asks softly. “Because I do.”
“But you never said it.”
“I said not two minutes ago.”
She lifts tear-filled golden eyes to me and blinks a few times.
“Say it again.”
“I love you. I’m in love with you. And I would never cheat on you. I wouldn’t do that to anyone, least of all you.”
I’m high on adrenaline and love.
That’s the only way to describe what I’m feeling before I look into Jayne’s eyes. But they’re shrouded. Wary. Cautious.
I can’t blame her.
Everything has been a whirlwind the last few days.
“Babe, I’m willing to beg, borrow, steal, and grovel to convince you of that.”
“I wasn’t sure why you came to get me today,” she admits. “I thought maybe it was just because Blaze told you my dad hit me.”
“I’m here because I love you,” I say firmly, reaching out to grip her chin with two fingers, forcing her to meet my gaze. “I’m not going anywhere. No matter what happens, we’re in this together. I was waiting until I had a trade in the works but then when Blaze told us what happened, West and I left immediately.”
She blinks, big hazel eyes filled with a strange combination of wonder and doubt.
“Really?”
“I love you.” I say it slowly and enunciate to make sure she’s listening. “More than anything. More than hockey. More thanmyself. If I have to play in the minors or get a job coaching at some high school, then that’s what I’ll do. It’s not ideal but if it means having you, I’ll do it.”
“You can’t give up hockey, I mean, why…” She fumbles over her words and stares at me. “I thought… but you said… fuck, I don’t know what I’m trying to say.”
“Do you love me?” I ask bluntly.
“Bodi…” She blinks and tears puddle in her eyes.
Ah, shit.
She doesn’t feel the same.
I thought sure… dammit.
“Look, even if you don’t, I’m going to get you away from your dad. West and me, we’ll make sure you’re safe, okay? There’s no scenario where—” She cuts me off by lifting to her toes and pressing her lips to mine.
“I do,” she whispers against my mouth. “I love you so much, Bodi Michener.”
“Fuck, I love hearing that.” This time I take possession of her lips like they belong to me. Along with the rest of her.
Mine.
