Page 206 of Risking the Pucking Defense

“The fuck, man?” Killer barks as he bounds over. “You snagged Hailee. How the fuck did you do that?”

I cried on her.

“Because I’m better looking than you.”

Killer’s chin drops, but he recovers quickly. “We all know that isn’t true.”

“It’s gotta be his age. All that stamina,” Linc adds, walking over and squeezing my shoulder. “Proud of you, man.”

“Thanks. And yeah, that’s exactly it.”

Once the girls are finished with Hailee, they turn to me and engulf me in a group hug.

It feels incredible. There will always be something missing in my life. A Rylee-shaped hole will be there forever. But with these incredible people around me, it gets a little easier to deal with every single day.

“Hey, baby. You should be relaxing, not working,” I say when I catch up to Hailee, who’s making the rounds.

Her cheeks are burning when she looks up at me.

“What is it?”

“I’m just…making sure this stays within the arena walls for now.”

“Okay,” I say, smiling down at her. “I’m so proud of you. Turning up here like that, announcing our relationship. That took some serious balls.”

“Yeah, well. Haven’t you heard? I’m a badass bitch that everyone is scared of,” she states, popping a hip.

“Trust me, baby. I’ve noticed. Why do you think I always do what I’m told?”

I shudder as she slides her hands up my chest before linking them behind my neck and stretching up on her tiptoes. I groan when she presses the length of her body against mine before she whispers, “Because you’re such a good boy.”

“Fucking hell,” I moan. “Do not make me hard. These shorts won’t hide anything.”

When she pulls back, she’s wearing the wickedest of all smirks.

“Maybe that’s my intention.”

“No one here needs more evidence to ensure they know that I’m gone for you. They’ve been watching me follow you around like a lost puppy for the better part of a year.”

“Put him down, Caldwell. We’ve got a game of volleyball to resume,” Handsy hollers.

“You joining us, baby? I think we’d be great teammates.”

“Yeah, we probably would. But I think it would be more fun to be on opposing teams,” she teases.

“Oh? So I can watch you jumping around in this little top without being able to get my hands on you?”

She takes a step back, letting her nails rake down my bare chest and stomach.

“Delayed gratification,” she mumbles before she turns her back on me and begins stripping down to her swimsuit. The second she pushes her skirt from her hips, I understand what she meant about her bikini not quite being the same as I remember.

It’s still fucking insane, though.

“Monroe, stop fucking drooling and get your head in the game,” Kodie barks, stealing my attention from my girl.

“As if you’re any better,” I scoff before I jump into the pool.

When I come up and wipe the water from my face, Hailee is sitting on the edge of the other side of the net, her legs dangling in the water.