“Nepo baby to a hockey legacy of course,” she jokes, and I want to pull her into me. I want to keep her as close as possible at all times. I know no one around us would bat an eye if I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her against me. But I’d want it to mean more; I want to press a kiss to her hair. I want her to keep looking at me like she has been, but for it to mean more. I want tobemore.
“Trust me, Coach Mitchell will keep all the guys in line, he’s a hardass,” my cousin, Evie, says.
I nod in agreement. Coach Mitchell is new to us this season, but we’ve met him at practices. I liked our last coach, but our general manager didn’t like that he didn’t get us to win a Cup.
“How do you know?” Rae asks Evie.
“Oh, I figured everyone knew since information spreads through our family like wildfire apparently. I got a job with the team as an athletic trainer.”
“Now you can make sure I stay on the line, and not get pulled for stupid stuff.” I raise my hand up in her direction and she glowers at me.
“Fuck no, I’m not. No one gets special treatment with me.”
I sigh. “Fine.”
Rae presses her hand against my abdomen, making the muscles there tighten. I swear I can feel the warmness of her skin burning through my shirt. “You’re not allowed to play on an injury, I won’t let you either.”
“Great, now there’s two of you,” I tease, finally giving into the urge to pull her into me and she wraps her arms around my middle, resting her head on my chest.
“How cute,” Evie comments.
Maya gives us a look, but doesn’t say anything.
“I’m going to grab another drink, anyone want anything?” Evie asks.
“Maybe, but I want to see what they have,” Maya joins, and they walk deeper into the kitchen.
“I have a surprise for you,” I whisper to Rae.
She beams up at me. “A surprise? Where?”
“In your old room, but I won’t steal you away from everyone yet.”
“Ominous.”
I chuckle. “You know me, always so sneaky.”
We both know that’s completely untrue, especially when it comes to her. I never keep secrets or hide anything from her. She knows about everything in my life. Including my failed attempts at relationships. She’s never liked any of my girlfriends, and I never dated them long enough to love them. I was trying to see if my feelings for Rae could be replicated.
Turns out they can’t.
And that’s why I gave up.
We’re interrupted again when Audrey and Charlie come over with Rae’s parents to talk to us, and I bide my time just waiting until I can have her alone for a few minutes.
After a couple hours,the family get together winds down with everyone going home. Nash is staying with his parents because he’s currently in the middle of renovating his new house. Steele has his own place in downtown Denver. Rae has a house not far from her parents, but wanted to stay heretonight for the nostalgia. At least that’s what she says and I don’t question her reasoning.
I snuck away when she was busy talking to get the surprise I have for her. It may be silly, and something I probably would have and should have done in high school, but I’m doing it now. Pulling out the jersey I brought with me, every second I wait for her has my nerves racking up more and more.
It also gives me time to doubt what I’m doing. It’s not like I’m here with a love confession or anything. It could mean something completely platonic to her. I mean itiscompletely platonic. Because that’s all we are.
The door opens, and Rae slips in, looking around for me. That bright smile spreads on her face as soon as she catches my eye, and shuts the door behind her.
“What’s your surprise?” she asks, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet from excitement.
“It’s not a big deal,” I preface for my own sanity. “I just wanted to make sure you have a proper jersey to wear this season.”
I hold it up for her to see, but I’m showing her the front and she raises an eyebrow, looking up from the Dragon logo on the front.
