Page 24 of Risking the Pucking Defense

When I risk a look over, I find her chewing on her bottom lip.

“And I know you’re right. I should trust the others. I just…I’m the rookie, the baby. I’m already inexperienced and naive; I don’t want to be more of a burden.”

“What?” She gasps. “You’re not a burden. You’re a part of the team. It doesn’t matter if you’re a franchise player or a rookie. You’re one of us, and we look after our own.”

I lower my head, unable to see the compassion and concern in her eyes.

“Let the guys know what you’re going through. I guarantee they’ll stand at your side the whole way.”

Guilt wraps around me. “I should have told them a long time ago. They’ll be pissed I kept secrets.”

“No, they won’t,” she argues. “Trust them, Hayden. Please.”

When no more words come, I lean over and place my empty mug on the nightstand before throwing my legs off the bed and heading for the bathroom.

It’s not that I want to get away from her, but I need a moment to process.

I probably spend too long in there, but I can’t help it, because Hailee freaking Caldwell is laid out on my bed in her pajamas, her bare legs on display, and she’s…fuck, she’s perfect. I’ve known since the first moment I laid eyes on her, but everything she’s done for me today only confirms it.

Day to day, she might be a hard-ass who keeps us all at arm’s length, but when it really matters, she lets that other side out that I knew was hiding beneath the fierce exterior.

Once I’ve somewhat got myself together, I pull the door open and walk back toward the bed, only my steps falter when I find that she’s rearranged the pillows and snuggled down under the sheets.

“Sorry, my legs were cold. Is this okay?”

I comb my fingers through my hair, pulling hard enough for it to hurt just so I can convince myself that this is really happening.

“Yeah, of course. Get comfortable. We can binge the trilogy if you’re up for it.” Her eyes track me as I return to the other side of the bed. “I haven’t been sleeping well. Spending the night watching them all sounds much more appealing than staring at the ceiling.”

“Let’s do it, then. Normal life is going to be upon us before we know it. Now’s the time to live on the wild side.”

I raise a brow. “The wild side?”

“Well, you know what I mean. I’m too old to be partying all night. And something tells me that you’re not really in the mood for that.”

“You’re not too old,” I say.

“Not all of us were born in the two thousands, Monroe,” she teases.

“Wow, you’re a nineteen hundreds baby. Practically prehistoric.”

I don’t see her reach for the cushion, but I sure as shit feel it as it collides with my face.

“And here I was thinking you were the nice one,” she sulks.

“I am. I am,” I say through my laughter. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you don’t have gray hairs or anything.”

“Damn fucking straight I don’t. And look,” she says, forcing me to turn to face her.

Her eyes capture mine, and for a few seconds, I can’t do anything but stare at her amber eyes. My heart begins to race, and I have to clench my fists to stop them from moving.

“Not a single wrinkle,” she finally says, reminding me that there’s a reason why I’m looking at her so intently, and not just because she’s unbelievably pretty and I’d happily look at her forever.

I make a point of flicking my eyes over every inch of her face before finding her eyes again. “You’re right, not a single one. You could definitely pass as a two thousands baby.”

“I appreciate that,” she says, turning back toward the TV. “Shall I press play?”

It’s only now that I realize she’s paused it.