Her hand cups my cheek, drawing me to face her again. “I think I’ve always loved you, Wade. Just took me a while to realize I wasin lovewith you.”
Her words stun me into silence. She said she loves me, something I never expected to hear from her this soon.
I pull her onto my lap so I can hold her closer. “I’ve had way more time to figure out my feelings for you, Bree, so please don’t feel like you have to say anything before you’re ready.”
She brushes her lips against mine. The kiss is sweet, yet filled with so much promise. She pulls back until our eyes lock. “I meant every word.”
Her voice is breathy, impassioned, and her face tells me without words what I’ve dreamed of for so long.
She’s mine. And I’m hers.
Always have been, even when she didn’t realize it.
Chapter Thirty-Five
BREE
I wring my hands, more nervous about today than any game Wade has ever played in his entire career. When Zach and I planned out the All Goalies Game, we accounted for as many possibilities and wild cards as we could so that Wade and Chase wouldn’t have a run-in on the ice.
So far, so good. As long as everyone follows the plan, Wade’s and Chase’s lines shouldn’t be out there at the same time.
Shouldn’t be.
But I know Chase. And I know from some well-placed birdies—aka Lily and Mia—that Chase got wind of the article. One of the guys on his team came across it on the website, from what I understand, and wanted to know if it was all true.
Supposedly, Chase tried to blow it off with some long-winded story of how this was my doing. That I’d taken our breakup badly, and would do anything to win him back.
As if. Just the idea makes me want to hurl into his skates, then stick them in the hot Florida sun so the smell bakes right in.
Leave it to Chase to come out smelling like a rose. So far, I’m not seeing any fallout from Sophie’s exposé. But at least the truthis out there, and maybe, hopefully, some of the higher-ups will take notice at some point.
At the moment, I’m more concerned about Wade’s state of mind regarding Chase if they do wind up playing at the same time.
I sense Wade’s presence before I see him, and spin around. Wade waddles out of the locker room in his full gear, making him appear larger than life.
He pulls me into his padding and kisses me before studying my face. “Hey, you okay?”
Less than a day has passed since our first official date, less than twelve hours since our last kiss, yet this all feels so…normal as if we’ve been together for years.
In a way, we have, but not like this. I’m not sure what to call us yet, other than we’re together. We haven’t labeled anything, and maybe that’s for the best since it’s all so new. But part of me wants to officially be called his girlfriend—not just his best friend who happens to be a girl—as if it’s some kind of guarantee he won’t change his mind.
“I’m fine. Really.” I let out a nervous laugh.
His grin tilts as he stares, seeing right through me—through my brave facade like he always has. “Liar.”
I exhale as much of this pent-up energy and worry as I can. “Promise me that if you wind up on the ice at the same time, you won’t do something stupid.”
“You mean like bash out all his teeth so he’ll never smile again?”
“Yes, exactly that,” I confess. The thought of him doing that satisfies a need for vengeance, but also ignites a warm spark deep within me. Wade would fight to protect me…and fightforme because he thinks I’m worth it.
The realization leaves me heady.
“Losing teeth comes with the territory.”
“Wade!” I swat him on the arm, which I doubt he can even feel with all his padding.
He sighs. “I promise.”
