“Tate,” I place a hand there. “It’s okay. Really. It was agreatgift. Amazing even.”
“Amazing, huh?” He smirks
“For a man,” I shrug noncommittally.
Instead of answering, he pulls out a small velvet jewelry box. Inside is a dainty blue stone butterfly. Just like the one Tate has tattooed.On his ass.
I cackle. Not even in a cute way.
“Oh… my…God!” I say between my laughter. “I-I… absolutelylove it.”
“Thank fuck,” Tate exhales. “It was a little risky, I’ll admit.”
“Yeah, giving me a necklace that matches your tramp stamp? A little risky, I’d say.” My laughter simmering into giggles. “You know I’m gonna show this to everyone. Even Ronan.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m not ashamed, I like my butterfly.” He says pulling it from the box before adding, “And it’s not a tramp stamp.”
“Whatever you say,” I sing-song.
“It’s not. It’s too low on my ass cheek.” He chuckles.
“You ever gonna tell me the story behind that?”
“Maybe.” I sneak a glance at him. He’s smirking. He uses his finger to make a twirling motion. I shift so my back is to him. My breath catches when his calloused fingers dance gently over my skin to push my hair away from my neck.
I scoot to the edge to allow him to put it on me. Maybe it's a little intentional that the movement puts me closer to him. My heart rate picks up, pitter pattering in my chest.
His fingertips tease my neck as he clasps the jewelry.
“There.” He says softly. His hands cup my hair and place it back behind my shoulders. He’s not looking at the necklace when he says, “Beautiful.”
My cheeks flush.
I gingerly touch the necklace sitting just above my collarbone with my fingertips.
“Thank you.” I whisper. He leans back on the cushions. His arm stretched along the back of the couch this time.
I only consider it for a moment before I settle there into his side.
As I watch the boys show each other their gifts and chat enthusiastically, my heart aches.
How do I tell Hudson that his father is having another baby? I don’t even know if Hudson will get to be a part of its life.
“Aw,Rambo!Again?” Hudson groans.
Chapter 17 Tate
“Hope you all had a good break and enjoyed time with your families. Now, it's time to get back to work.” Coach Randall calls out over the ice. He’s on the ice with us today. “We have a gruelling schedule in the upcoming weeks. A home game tomorrow and then we pack right up for an away series.”
My legs burn on each push as Coach pushes us with the warmup. Jordan is right there next to me.
It was only two days off from workouts and practice, but my body is howling from the lack of use.
Jordan speeds up. I push myself to keep up. He glances at me with a smirk and pushes harder. It turns into a competition until we are skating full speed on a warmup.
He doesn’t know I live for the burn though. I pass him and lap him.
“Holy shit, old man. You’ve got speed.” He huffs as we slide to a stop by the bench.
