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“One day, some girl is gonna walk into your life and flip your whole world upside down and you’re not gonna know what the fuck to do with yourself except drop to your knees and beg her to never leave.”
“Liv, Liv, Liv, Liv, Liv,” Carter chants, punctuating each call of my name with a tap on the glass. “What?” I whisper-yell, finally spinning his way, throwing my hands overhead. His grin is explosive, handsome, sexy, infuriating. Leaning over the boards, he stares down the length of his stick at me, the tip resting on top of the glass. “Hi.”
The corner of Carter’s mouth lifts, revealing a panty-dropping grin as he props his chin on his gloved hand. “I’m gonna score a goal for you.” There’s a sureness in his deep timbre, an arrogance that makes my stomach tighten with anticipation. With a wink and the shimmy of his hips, he skates backward and drops to his knees, spreading his legs as he stretches his groin and blows a big, pink bubble, all without taking his eyes off me.
“I like it when you smile,” he murmurs. “It makes me want to smile too.”
Carter scoffs. “You can’t kiss my date at midnight!” “For God’s sake, Carter, this isn’t a date.” “You can’t kiss my not-a-real-date-but-actually-is-a-real-date at midnight!”
If he’s surprised, he doesn’t show it. Instead, he cups my cheek, kisses me softly, and says, “I’m sorry I can’t say the same. But I can tell you honestly if I only had sex with people I cared about, I’d be losing my virginity tonight at the age of twenty-seven.” Surely that can’t be right. There’s no way I’m the only person he’s ever— “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. Never, Ollie. I just want you to consider… consider giving me a shot. Consider me. That’s all I want, Ol. A chance with you.”
Consider me. I’m fucking trying here.
“Just so we’re clear, you’re the one who’s walking away right now. This isn’t what I want.”
Her wide eyes lock on mine, cheeks blazing, hand hanging there in midair, holding on to a… A goddamn Oreo. Woman’s my fucking soul mate.
“Carter?” she calls suddenly, the words thick with sleep. Her eyes are still closed, and I think she might be dreaming. “Yeah, princess?” “What if I fall in love with you?” “Then I’ll fall with you, too, Ollie girl.”
Chris dabs at the corner of my mouth. “Never thought I’d see the day where Carter Beckett fought over a girl. Was it worth it?” “She’ll always be worth it.” “Whatever it takes to keep your girl safe?” “Whatever it takes.” A promise I intend to keep.
“We fought.” His eyes collide with mine. Something tender flickers in them, something unsteady, like maybe… maybe he’s scared too. “That doesn’t change anything.”
“First of all, it would be the last thing I’d want to do and the last thing you’d want too; let’s be honest. I’d leave beyond angry with myself and you’d pretend you were done with me, that it was for the best. Then you’d get inside, put on your pajamas, have five minutes to cool down, and realize you’re angry with yourself too. You’d cry over our fight, like you’re doing now, because you’d feel bad that you hurt me with your words. And me?” He gestures at himself as he looks me over, watching my tears continue to fall. “I’d get home, be pissed at myself for letting you walk away, leaving you
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“You wanna fight, get your self-doubt out, that’s fine. But you’re gonna do it with me, at my house, together.” His searing stare swings my way. “I refuse to let you push me away again.”
“All right, gentlemen, welcome to gym time with Mr. Beckett.” Nabbing Olivia’s clipboard off the ground, I flip through the notes, clicking my tongue against the roof of my mouth. “Ah, here we are. First order of business… which one of you called Miss Parker a puck bunny last Monday?”
“Carter’s still coming to terms with the fact that he loves someone more than himself and Oreos. Ollie’s struggling to admit to herself that she’s in love with the world’s most arrogant, controlling, annoying man. It would be impossible for anybody to wrap their head around such a mind-blowing scenario.”
“Can I show you something, Ollie girl?” I whisper against her lips. “Of course, Carter. What do you want to show me?” Leaning my forehead against hers, I lay her wet hair over her shoulder before kissing her lips once more. My next breath rocks me to my core, and yet not as much as my next words do. “I want to show you how much I love you.”
“If I had to choose between you and Oreos for the rest of my life, I’d choose you every day, always.”
