Center Ice (Boston Rebels, #1)

by Julia Connors

“I’m Graham.” He gives me a lopsided smile as he stares back at me with his big brown eyes. It’s like looking into a mirror. “How old are you, Graham?” “I’m five and I’m in kindergarten.” Heart stuttering, I glance up at Audrey, and I’m sure there’s confusion written across my face. Even I don’t need a tutor to do this kind of math.

“You knew this was a possibility when you heard about the trade,” Jules reminds me. She’s the only person on the planet who knows Drew is Graham’s father. I couldn’t tell Jameson—he was too much of a hot-head back then, too protective of his baby sisters, who he’d practically raised. The first thing he’d said to me when I’d told him I was pregnant but didn’t think the guy would be interested in being involved was, “I’m going to kill him.”

“I regret missing out on all of that. But the reason I didn’t call you back was because I was a mess. I’d moved to a new country, was living away from my family the first time, and had just found out my mom had Parkinson’s. I was just trying to survive.”

And as I walk her home, the realization creeps over me slowly but surely: I want her, just like I did six years ago. Everything’s more complicated now, and getting involved with her is probably a terrible idea. But I can’t shake the sensation that even though I’m not what she wants, I might be exactly what she needs—and she might be what I need, too.

It hits me then: there’s nothing I could be out doing that I wouldn’t drop for her. But

Yesssssss

I know that the responsible thing is to not get involved with her in any way. But when I’m around her, all that flies out the window, because I want her.

you ever speak about the mother of my child and my future wife that way again, you and I are done. For good. Understand?”

Ate

“You show her you’re the type of person worth building that foundation with.”

“I appreciate the thought, but the only name I wear on my back is my own.” He leans in so close his lips graze my earlobe and the sparks of desire shoot straight through me. “Don’t worry, baby, one day my last name will be yours.”

Wait no ate

future wife. But sure, you can call yourself my girlfriend if you need to put a label on this.

“You are my sun, Audrey. You’re the center of my whole universe, the star that Graham and I are lucky enough to orbit around. And you always will be.” She squeezes me tight, burying her face in the crevice between my shoulder and neck. “I love you so much.” “I love you too. Forever.”