Stand and Defend (Lakes Hockey, #4)

by Sloane St. James

“You said you only watched the second half.” “Huh. I must have lied.”

LMAO Jordan is so funny.

She pulls her arm back and slaps my helmet. “Wow. Risking your safety to hit me? Hope it was worth it.”

“What kind of dog is it?” “She’s an Alaskan Shepherd mix. We got her from a rescue when I was in high school.” “That’s cool. What’s her name?” “Chicken Salad.”

I would do anything for Chicken Salad.

“Are you a cat or dog person?” she asks. “Dog person. Cats don’t have eyebrows, and it freaks me out.”

She’s been in such a fucked-up relationship for so long, she doesn’t yet know her own strength. When she rises like a phoenix from that pile of ash, she’ll be a force to be reckoned with, and I’ll be here waiting to tame her when she’s ready. This is only the beginning of her transformation, and I want to be the catalyst.

“Oh, shit, does Jordan think you had a girl over? Jordan if you can hear me, I swear Cam only touched my balls once and it was because I asked him to.”

The way I cackled at this.

“I’m not going to be some quiet girlfriend on the side that other women think they can step over to get to you. I don’t want to be yours behind closed doors. I’m not a delicate princess—I’m a fucking queen. If you want me, that’s how you’re going to treat me. Leave your ego at the door, I want everyone to know that you kneel at my feet.”

“I like being around you when I’m home and I miss you when I’m away. I’ve learned love is more than the butterflies in my stomach when I look at you. It’s more than seeing you in my jersey. More than needing you close to me all the time. Love is a quiet trust. It’s familiarity and knowing someone, really knowing who they are deep down. You know me better than I know myself, and I think I know you pretty well too. You admit your faults without fear and accept mine without question. I’m in awe of you every day. I want a life with you in it, not just because of how you make me feel, but because of who you are. Jordan, you are my everything.”

“Someone once said that you know you’ve found that person when you’re willing to put the other person first no matter what. Jordan, you will always come first.”

“You wanted people to see this side of me, so that’s what I’m doing. I’m leaving my ego at the door. You are my queen, and I will kneel for you every day. You aren’t a quiet girlfriend on the side, you’re center ice.”

“The best thing you ever did was fuck my best friend, the best thing I ever did was fuck yours. The only difference is I love Camden. You only love yourself, and that’s why you’ll end up alone. When are you going to realize that everyone in your life is simply putting up with you?”

I cut him off before he insults my queen.

She’s worthy of so much love. I plan to give her double.

Bryan better be ready to have his whole world flipped upside down. Don’t fuck with the queen.

She deserves the world, so I’ll work every day to deserve her.

Jordan is savage. On the outside, she’s sweet and feminine, but she’s got a fierce streak that’s almost frightening. She’s a bad bitch with zero fear. And she’s mine. Just when I think I can’t love her more . . .

I wonder if she’s secretly trying to interfere with my prank, but this is Jordan. She’d probably pick an ugly tree just so its feelings aren’t hurt. I love that she’s as compassionate as she is ruthless.

“What should we name it?” I was right, she’s already treating it like it’s a pet. I raise an eyebrow. “It’s a tree, Jordan.” “It’s gotta have a name.” Grinning, I tilt my head to the side. “Chris Smith.”

“Whatever the queen wants, the queen gets.”

“You keep those puns up and I’ll roast your nuts over an open fire.”

Jordan has been watering “Chris Smith” for almost four weeks now, by some miracle it’s still alive, and she refuses to take it down until it dies.

I needed Jordan to open my heart, and she needed me to heal hers. She changed my life, and I’m a better man because of her.

They say if two people are meant to be, they’ll find each other. That’s what we did—that’s how I know she’s my soulmate. It wasn’t luck that placed us on this earth at the same time, it was destiny. She’s my twin flame. My one and only. My forever.