She gives me a sly grin. “I think the term you’re looking for issmart bitch.” She enunciates thebitchand Cam groans, taking the phone from her hand. “Language, Ry. There are a lot of people here who don’t appreciate a well-placed swear word like we do. Try and pretend I did at least a passable job parenting you and go see if Lola needs help setting the table.”
“Ugh, fine,” she says, rolling her eyes. “Bye, Maddy, Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas,” Ethan says with a grin before darting away.
Once we’re alone, Cam drops back into a chair, holding the phone closer to his face. “Hi. You’re so pretty. The prettiest girl in the world.”
I grin at him. “You just want to see my tits.”
He groans. “Fuck, I would love to see your tits, but I’m currently sitting in the guest bedroom of my aunt’s house with my mom’s entire family downstairs, so I think nudity is…ill advised.”
“Rain check.”
His eyes swirl with heat as his gaze bores into mine. “Definitely rain check.” Then his face goes serious and a little…uncertain maybe? “The jersey,” he starts. “Was it too much? It was Ethan’s idea, and he was so excited about it, but I didn’t realize why he wanted to give it to you and I should have. I have two kids and that’s a whole thing, and I really like you but I don’t want you to think I’m looking for, like, a new mom for them or whatever. It’s just that…I mean…I don’t…fuck,” he mutters, scrubbing his free hand over his face.
I giggle, delighted and charmed by him and his ramblings. “I love the jersey. I love that Ethan wanted to give it to me because he wants us all to match when you play. I love that you all called me together, and that Riley and Ethan wanted to talk to me. They’re amazing kids, Cameron, and you’re an incredible dad. I’m crazy about all three of you.”
“Crazy about us, huh?” Cam says, his lips tipping up in that smile I love, dimple winking in his cheek that makes me a little weak in the knees.
I nod. “Definitely crazy about you.”
The small smile turns a little devious. “Crazy enough to be wearing my jersey and only my jersey next time I see you?”
“Don’t tell me you’re one of those athletes who goes feral over a girl wearing his jersey.”
“Not a girl. You. I’ll go feral overyouwearing my jersey. My girl. My name. My jersey.”
“Well, fuck,” I mutter, squeezing my legs together to try to quell the ache between them. “Are you sure nudity is entirely off the table right now?”
Cam laughs. “The second I’m home, I’m taking you on a date.”
I gasp, pressing a hand to my chest. “The long-awaited first date?” Between both of our schedules and his kids andwaves hands everywhere, almost all of our time together has been spent either at the practice facility, the stadium, or at one of our houses.
“Bet your ass. And there will absolutely be nudity.”
I grin at him through the phone. “I can’t wait. I miss you.”
Cam looks at me for a long moment. “Wildcat, you have absolutely no idea.”
I think I do because even though I love my annual Pittsburgh Christmas, I know that tonight, while I’m celebrating, my heart will be in St. Louis with the three people who now own its biggest piece.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CAM
“Cameron Lowry, at my front door? What an excellent fucking night.” Maddy grins at me from her open door as I jog up the steps to her porch. Her hair is fire in the moonlight, and she’s wearing tight black leggings and a green sweater that makes her eyes glow. I can’t get to her fast enough, taking the steps two at a time.
“Get the fuck over here,” I practically growl as I hit the top step, opening my arms. She throws herself at me with a laugh. I wrap my arms tightly around her, breathing in the scent of her hair, closing my eyes against the onslaught of emotion I feel at the way her body fits so perfectly against mine. The early January air is freezing, and the wind bites at my skin, but I don’t feel anything except the warmth of her in my arms and theclickof my soul settling right back into place now that I’m back where I belong. With her. “I fucking missed you,” I murmur, kissing the top of her head.
“I missed you, too.” Maddy pulls back and lifts up on her toes, tugging my head down until our lips meet. Our warm breaths mingle as our mouths move together. As she sucks mylower lip into her mouth and runs her tongue over it, making me groan. As I tip her head back to deepen the kiss, licking into her mouth like it’s the only place I want to be.
Because it is.
Because of the two away games in a row and my St. Louis Christmas, it’s been eight days since I last saw her. Eight days that felt like a fucking eternity.
“You’re so pretty.” I run the back of my hand down her cheek, grazing her freckles with my thumb. “I could look at you forever.”
Her face floods with color that has nothing to do with the cold and she smiles, wrapping her arms more tightly around my waist and tipping her head back so she’s looking at me. “Talk about pretty, Jesus. Video calls just do not do you justice. I think maybe you got hotter while you were away.”
