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He shakes his head in dismay, but he’s smirking, so I’ll count it as a win. “I’ll see you Monday? It’ll be my last time coaching. Oh, and we never set up a day for my last one-on-one with Noah.” Mitch releases my hand so he can slip his arm around my waist. He pulls me closer to himself. “My first game back with the Eagles is Wednesday, but I could work with him Thursday?”

“I work Thursday, but let me check with Ronda and see if she can drop him off.” He nods solemnly and a wave of sadness washes over me. I will the feeling away, not wanting to ruin how wonderful this evening has been… minus Noah’s sickness. “I’ll kind of miss seeing you at his games and practices.”

Mitch’s free hand comes to my chin and tilts my face up, he stares into my eyes like there are a million things he wants to say, but doesn’t have the time to say them. “I want to see you. I know my schedule is about to get crazy, but I want to keep seeing you.”

“Okay. I’d like that.”

He bends down and I close my eyes, expecting him to kiss me goodbye. But his lips land on my left eyelid with a kiss as soft as a butterfly’s wings. He repeats the movement with my right eyelid. I don’t want to open my eyes, I don't want this to end. But I picture Noah laying on the sofa, feeling miserable. And with that, I open my eyes and say goodbye.

* * *

Sunday, I called in to work so I could stay home with my sick brother, and by Monday, he’s all better. It must’ve been something he ate at the restaurant. Just the perfect amount of time to ruin my almost-perfect evening with Mitch.

Little brothers, man. But I am relieved he’s feeling okay now.

We head to practice Monday evening and I’m practically giddy to see Mitch. We’ve texted the past few days, fighting and flirting like we usually do, but it’s so much more satisfying now that I’m certain he likes me.

Likes me, likes me… as Noah would say.

When we walk inside the iceplex, I’m trying so hard to play it cool, but as soon as I see Mitch standing there in his coaching gear and hockey skates, a huge grin spreads across my face.

Yeah, I have no chill. I feel a little better when he smiles back at me, in a way he doesn’t smile at anyone else. I amble up to him like an awkward teenage girl, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear so I have something to do with my hands, and biting my bottom lip to keep myself from kissing him in front of everyone. I’ve gone two days without his lips, and am dying to kiss him again.

Mitch’s hazel eyes, looking more blue today, twinkle as he says, “Hey, Blondie.”

Two words. That’s all it takes for me to melt. “Hey, Big Man.”

“Uh, what’s happening?” Noah asks, looking back and forth between us with a furrowed brow. “Why are you guys being nice to each other?”

Mitch tousles Noah’s hair. “I’m always nice to your sister.”

“Okay, but she’s not usually nice to you.”

I cross my arms and glare at him. “That’s not true.”

“Yeah it is,” Mitch argues, still with that gleam in his eyes. “I’m just an innocent soul, constantly being bullied by you. You’re vicious.”

He says it with such a straight face, I almost laugh. Noah narrows his eyes, looking at me through slits. “You’re taking his side?” I ask, allowing my jaw to drop dramatically.

“Of course he is, you’ve been yelling at me since day one,” Mitch says, crossing his arms to match mine.

“You know,” I say. “I liked you better when you spoke in grunts and growls.”

Noah looks between us again and rolls his eyes, walking off toward the locker room to get ready.

Mitch takes a step closer, angling his head down to look at me with that intense stare of his. His eyes are dark and hooded now as he looks into my eyes like we’re the only two people in the room… or in the world. Then he makes a low, growly sound in his throat. That sound pulses through me like a heartbeat. “Is that better?”

“Is what better?” My eyes are half closed and my voice comes out in a whisper.

Mitch chuckles deep and low. “Growling instead of talking.”

“Yes, much better.”

Mitch smirks then steps away from me, and I instantly miss being in his towering shadow. Like when you’re having the best summer day but then the sun sets and it’s all over too quickly.

“I gotta help Coach Aaron get set up for practice, I’ll find you after.” He gives me a faint smile, then turns and walks through the doors leading to one of the ice rinks.

How a man can sexily swagger away like that with hockey skates strapped onto his feet is a mystery I will never solve. I would certainly look like a penguin trying to walk for the very first time, but not Mitch.