“They’re all big-ass kids,” Cleo muttered, shaking her head.
“Complete children,” Carina agreed.
“Someone’s going to break a leg,” I fretted. I winced and held my breath, willing there to be no injuries that Coach would have all our heads on a platter for.
“Set.” Spencer held his hands up in a stopping motion, then shouted, “Go!”
I watched in horror as five hockey players all carrying a loved one dashed across the yard, pushing and shoving one another while the youngest passengers squealed with excitement. Cara was laughing, Kamirah whooped, and Joey circled his arm like he was about to throw a lasso.
Brayden’s shouted “Yee haw! Giddy up!” had me covering my eyes.
But it was like a train wreck—I couldn’t look away. I peeked through the gaps in my fingers. “Oh God,” I gasped, my heart hammering in my chest and my hands shaking as Brayden pretended to stumble. Hannah’s hands went up in the air as she cheered, her smile so freaking adorable as Brayden slowed his run a fraction.
“Ride harder, Texas,” Spencer shouted, egging him on.
Barely a second later, Mom cackled, her laughter ringing out even over the whoops and squeals. I thought it was from something Monroe had said—they were sharing a bottle of wine and getting along like a house on fire—but she was focused on my boyfriends. She turned her gaze to me and busted up laughing again. “That’s why he calls him cowboy?”
“What?” I asked, completely sideswiped by her question. What was she talking about?
“Save a horse,” she began with a wink.
I flushed, my cheeks heating until I was sure they were scarlet. My mother had zero filter, and I knew every single person here was about to know more than they ever wanted to know about our sex life.
“Ride a cowboy,” Mom finished, and I groaned. Then she raised her glass in a toast and yelled, “Show us what you got, Texas. Make Momma proud!”
“Mom,” I shrieked, and Monroe clinked his glass with hers.
“I knew I liked you, Jen.” He chuckled and yelled, “Let’s go, Alec. Kick their arses.”
Brayden was last, but he veered off and ran straight toward me, wrapped me up in a sweaty hug, and planted a kiss on my lips. “First one to kiss y’alls darlin’s wins.”
“Cheater!” Minns yelled, and the whole lot of them descended into chirping and wrestling one another.
It was ridiculous. I loved it.
Spencer joined us and hoisted Hannah off Brayden’s shoulders and set her down, then wrapped his arms around our waists. I leaned into him and rested my head on his shoulder.
“You are both dorks sometimes. But I love you like crazy,” I murmured and squeezed them harder. This was already one of the best days of my life.
“You think that was good? Wait until we break out the dance competition,” Spencer joked.
It struck me then how different he was today from how he was during the first team event he’d been to. Then again, so was I.
A year ago, I thought my life was falling apart. I couldn't have been more wrong. It was the beginning of something so special, and even better than I'd ever imagined. I was exactly where I needed to be.
Except maybe there was something else I needed to do.
My guys had asked me to move in with them. Repeatedly. I'd told them I wasn't ready, but really it was because I was scared to take the leap. Trusting them was easy. Trusting myself to make the right decision about them was so much harder.
But I was ready. Any doubt I had Hanna’s and my future with them was gone. “Hey,” I started.
“Yeah, Keels?” Spencer answered and pressed a kiss to my forehead.
“Yes. My answer’s yes.”
Brayden looked blankly at me for a moment, then his face transformed into a hesitant grin, one he looked like he was struggling to hold back. “Y’all, is that a yes to what I think it is?”
“It is. I'm ready.”
