“I was taking a page out of one of my romance books,” I admit, ducking to hide behind the collar of my jacket. “The whole grand gesture thing. I’m sure you saw it when you were stalking myPagePulse.”
He chuckles, his eyes dancing. “This was definitely a grand gesture.”
Once I’ve confirmed that he’s got a good hold on me, I pop up on my toes and loop my arms around his neck, then tug his body tight against mine. “Remember when we were at O’Leary’s and you were teasing me about not liking attention?” I ask, my voice shaky and low. “And I said that the day I admit I’m in love with you is the same?—”
“The same day you play one of the intermission games,” he finishes, his features softening at the memory. “Wait.” His grip on my hips tightens. “Does this mean…”
“I love you,” I blurt out. “I’m sorry I didn’t say it earlier. I think I’ve loved you since you bought that alien book. I was just scared. And honestly, I think I’ll always be scared because you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and the thought of losing you physically hurts.”
With a long exhale, he brushes his thumb against my cheek. “You won’t lose me, baby. I’m right here.”
At any other time, a statement like that would make me melt into his arms. But I need to finish before I lose my nerve. “I need you to know that I meant it when I told you how happy I am for you. The Devils have always been your dream, and I fully support you. If that means…” I clear my throat. This part is tricky, because I’m working under the assumption that he’d want this, too. “If it means moving to San Diego so I can be there for you, then that’s what I’ll do.” My breath leaves me in a rush. “I don’t like the beach,” I add, “or the mountains, or, honestly, the outdoors in general. But surely there are good coffee shops and less active activities in the area. I can find a job in another bookstore and write from wherever. I have every intention of taking advantage of your miles, though, so that my family can visit. But?—”
In a classic Cole move, he shuts me up with a kiss. His lips are warm and familiar and comforting as he softly licks at the seam of my mouth.
Without hesitation, I grant him access, and as our tongues glide against one another, a small moan from deep in his chest escapes.
I don’t know how long we kiss, but eventually, the raucous cheering from the crowd pops the bubble we’ve found ourselves in.
Cole places his hands on my cheeks and smiles against my mouth. “As honored as I am to know you’d move to San Diego with me, there’s no need. I turned down the trade. And before you panic, I made this decision for myself. It’s what I want.”
I open my mouth, ready to protest, but snap it shut again. Finally, I say, “But the Devils are your dream.”
“They were the dream Nathan and I shared.” He breaks into an earnest smile, tucking a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “But he’s not here anymore, and my dreams have shifted. There are all kinds of ways to honor him that don’t involve uprooting my life when my heart’s not in it.”
My body lights up with excitement, making me feel like I’m standing an inch off the ground. “Yeah?”
He gives a bashful shrug. “Yeah. Like falling in love, getting married, and eventually having a few kids who grow up begging to hear stories about how amazing their Uncle Nathan was.”
I know I’ve made the right decision when the wordmarriagedoesn’t make me want to book the first flight to Spain and change my name.
I rake my fingers through the hair at his nape. “I like that idea.”
“You have no idea what you do to me, Maya,” he murmurs against my lips. “How consumed I am by you. Howdesperatelyin love with you I am.”
“If you think I don’t feel the same way about you, then you took a few too many hits to the head last period.” I laugh, leaning against him. “For the first time in my life, I don’t want to disappear into my books so I can live another person’s love story. Because you’re not only who I want, but who Ineed.”
Cole picks me up by the waist and twirls me around. “You’re stuck with me now, baby. I’m your happily ever after.”
Face heating in the best way, I can’t help but smile. He’s only partially right. “You’re my happily ever always.”
epilogue
COLE
Maya pops her head into the bathroom and rakes her eyes over my naked body. My cock perks up under her gaze, despite having been buried inside her less than an hour ago. It’s a good thing my stamina on the ice extends to the bedroom as well.
“Something you need?” I tease from the shower as I rinse the soap from my body. “Or are you just here for the free show?”
Her head snaps up and a flush creeps over her cheeks, as if she’s embarrassed that she’s been caught ogling me. “Oh, um. Yeah. Sorry. It’s safe for Goose to drink water out of the Stanley Cup, right? Google said that I could clean it with soap and water, so I did, but I wanted to make sure?—”
The noise that comes out of my mouth sounds inhuman, and the way it echoes off the tile walls could easily burst an eardrum. “Please, tell me you’re kidding, baby.”
Her eyes widen and she takes a cautious step back. “Is that a no?”
I nearly fall on my ass scrambling out of the shower.Jesus Christ. Players have done weird shit with the Cup after winning—everything from using it as a cereal bowl to baptizing their babies in it—but I’m not one of those guys. It’s atrophy, meaning it should be treated with the reverence and respect of one.
Letting my fucking dog use it as a water bowl? I’m never going to win a game again.
