Yeah, that isn't helping my boner, but I don't care.It feels good, and I want her to keep touching me like she owns me, because she does.
We watch the rest of the game like that—pressed together in the cold stands, cheering for Owen, stealing glances at each other when we think the other isn't looking.
It's not fancy.It's not romantic in the traditional sense.It's just...real.
And for the first time in three, I'm not chasing her.
She's right here beside me.
Exactly where she belongs.
Thefinalbuzzersounds,and Owen's team wins 4-2.The kids mob each other on the ice like they just won the Stanley Cup, and I can't help but grin at the pure joy on Owen's face.
“Come on,” I say, standing and offering Ally my hand.“Time for you to meet the real star of the family.”
She takes my hand, letting me pull her up.“Should I be nervous?”
“No, but I am.The kid has zero filter.”
“Ah, so he's just like you.Think I can handle that.”
“He's worse.I at least have charm.”
She snorts but doesn't argue, which I'm counting as a win.
We make our way down to the area outside the locker rooms, where parents are already gathering to collect their kids.
After a few minutes, Owen bursts through the locker room door, whose face splits into a grin the second he sees me.
“Jay!”He drops his bag and barrels into me, and I catch him in a hug that's a half tackle.
“Nice goal, O.”I ruffle his hair, which he immediately tries to fix.“Finally listened to me about waiting for the goalie, huh?”
“Yeah, yeah, you were right.”He rolls his eyes, but he's still smiling.“You gonna hold that over me forever?”
“Obviously.”
Owen's gaze slides past me to Ally, and his eyebrows shoot up.“Uh, Jay?Who's that?”
I step aside, placing my hand on the small of Ally's back.“Owen, this is Ally.Ally, this is my pain-in-the-ass little brother.”
“Hey!”Owen protests, but he's already extending his hand to Ally with a charming smile that's definitely genetic.“Nice to meet you.Sorry about him.”
Ally shakes his hand, clearly amused.“Nice to meet you too.That was a great game.”
“Thanks.”Owen's eyes narrow slightly as he looks between us.“So...you're like, Jay's girlfriend?”
“We're—” Ally starts.
“Working on it,” I cut in.
Owen's jaw drops.“Wait.Seriously?”He turns to Ally with wide eyes.“You're actually dating my brother?Like, voluntarily?”
“I haven't agreed to anything yet,” Ally says, shooting me a look.
“But you're here.At my game.”Owen looks genuinely stunned.“Jay's never brought anyone to my games before.Ever.I didn't even know he knew how to talk to girls without making them run away.”
“Owen.”
