Page 199 of Risking the Pucking Defense

She’s incredibly busy with a really important job; I’m sure she has loads to do, but I hate that she felt the need to choose it over this.

I wish there was something I could have done.

Maybe next year will be different. Everyone will know by then, or at least I seriously hope they will. Thoughts of it still being a secret sour in my stomach. As much as I’m happy to take this at her pace, I’m desperate to tell the world that she’s mine. Fuck the publicity and the opinions that’ll be tossed our way…I just want to be able to walk down the street holding hands. I want to be able to stop and kiss her just because I can. Hell, I want to arrive at the arena together instead of me driving and her getting a rideshare. Fuck it, if I have my way, we’ll work through her driving issues and she can drive that beauty she keeps hidden in her parking garage.

A sigh rips from my throat, successfully turning all attention on me.

“Everything all right, man?” Handsy asks.

“Yeah, I’m just⁠—”

“Daddy, can we play volleyball?” Sutton asks after racing over, a couple of other kids following.

“Fuck, yeah,” Killer barks, a beat before Sutton thrusts a container at him and shakes hit, ensuring we all hear the rattle of the coins she’s collected already this afternoon.

“Daddy is taking me shopping tomorrow for new skates. And I want the best ones,” she explains as Killer reaches over and grabs his wallet from a side table.

“Good thing I stopped at the ATM on the way over, huh?” he mutters, making me wonder how much he’s already stuffed in there today. He pulls a bill from the pocket at the back and folds it up before placing it inside. Sutton puts the lid on so fast, she almost traps his fingers in there.

“Come on then, Peanut. Let’s set it up,” Kodie says, climbing from his lounger and trailing after Sutton.

“You’re all going down,” Killer shouts as he jogs after them.

“You coming?” Rett asks.

“Hell, yeah. And I’m gonna be on Sutton’s team and help her kick all your asses.”

“Casey, you in?” Kodie shouts. “Deja vu from last year.”

Casey shoots a look at her dad, her cheeks suspiciously red.

“Uh …”

“Come on, trouble. You know you want to.”

“Uh…what happened last year?” I ask, feeling like I’m missing something.

Linc steps up behind me. “They were sneaking around behind Coach’s back and things went down under the water. If you know what I mean,” he says, wiggling his brows.

Jealousy burns through me. Fuck, if I wouldn’t give anything to fool around with Hailee under the water while everyone was blissfully unaware.

“Of course they were.”

“Dirty dog,” Rett calls, making Kodie immediately turn to look at Coach. Nothing fazes Kodie Rivers, except the possibility of disappointing him. I get it. We all feel the same, and I can imagine it’s only amplified when you’re dating his daughter.

Coach rolls his eyes at us all before returning his attention to the barbecue.

As Kodie and Killer set up the net, we all jump into the pool, a few more of the kids noticing that we’re about to embark on a game join us.

We get ourselves into teams, and Kodie starts the game with Sutton right at his side.

I lose myself in joking around with everyone and trying not to accidentally drown any kids when we get a little too competitive.

Handsy takes a hit, sending it over the net and directly to Killer, who fires it straight back. I move into position but lose my footing, and before I get a chance to hit it, I sink under the water, swallowing a mouthful in the process.

I come up spluttering, wiping my eyes, but I’m quickly distracted when Killer barks, “Oh, holy fuck. Boss lady is smoking.”

No.