Page 229 of A Song for You

Her face remains expressionless. “And there’s just something about hockey players,” she hums.

“Good thing your future husband knows how to play, then,” I counter.

Cat’s eyes light up. “You do?”

I laugh and rest my head on her chest. I love surprising this girl. Leaning back against the couch, I get comfortable and look up at her. “Yeah. Gavin and I met after—” My voice catches, but I push forward. “I needed a distraction after everything happened. Garreth, my brother,” I explain, unsure if she remembers, “he saw all the anger I’d bottled up and told me to find a hobby.” I laugh. I looked like such an ass on the ice that first year. “I could barely skate when I started.”

Cat shakes her head, but she’s smiling. “Why not pick a sport that’s a little less difficult?”

I give her hips another squeeze, grounding myself to this moment. Reminding myself that I can talk about those dark years, because the light has returned.

“Nothing else could shut my mind down. Basketball was second nature. I could do it without thinking. And boxing…” I shrug. She can probably guess why I stopped boxing. It was something Carter and I did together. It’s what all her brothers did. They still do.

“So you learned how to ice skate.”

“I wasn’t fucking twirling around,” I banter, picking up on where her mind is going.

She giggles. “I love ice skating.”

The one and only time I had Cat on the ice was at Rockefeller Center thirteen years ago. Memories flash in my mind and threaten to choke me. A yellow diamond necklace. Promises of forever. Our goodbye.

“Maybe we could take Chloe sometime,” she says quietly, her melancholy expression matching the way I feel.

I have no doubt her thoughts are right there with mine. On that cold December day.

“I’d like that.”

“You know what else I’d like?” she says, rolling her hips over me in a seductive manner.

I slide my palms up her thighs. “What?”

“A night alone. Just you and me. Bottle of wine. Lots of sex.”

Then she’s taking my lips with hers. Her kiss is hungry, desperate, needy. Her tits are pressed against me, and her heart beats wildly against mine as she grinds against me.

It’s been over a month since I’ve had her. And fuck, I want her. I want her so desperately, my cock is ready to burst through my pants.

But with a groan, I pull her to me and hug her tightly. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this,” I mutter.

Cat stills. “Is something wrong?”

I don’t answer immediately. I breathe deeply and just enjoy the way she feels in my arms.

“Jay?”

“Chloe thinks the only reason I’m sticking around is because I’m trying to win you back.”

Cat’s face falls. “Fuck.”

Cupping her cheeks, I rake my gaze over every inch of her face. “I want you so fucking badly, but I need to show her that she matters. She needs to know she comes first.”

“Of course she does,” Cat says quickly, pushing at my chest.

I don’t let her move, though. “You both do. I’m not here for her alone, and I’m not here just for you. I’m here for you both. You are my family, and I want to reassure her of that.”

Her eyes soften. “You don’t have to explain it to me, Jay. I feel the same way.”

“But that doesn’t mean we can’t spend time together, Kitten,” I whisper and drop a soft kiss to her lips.