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“And you also remember that I take care of what’s mine, right?” he asks, lower this time. “Yes,” I whisper. “I do.” “Good.”
I don’t want her as a teammate or someone I fuck multiple times a week. I want her as so much more—a partner. A girlfriend. My best friend. I don’t know if we lose the game or not. I really don’t fucking care, because I’ve already won. I have her, and she’s the greatest prize of all.
He looked back at me, bloodied and bruised, and smiled. Fucking smiled, and mouthed, I’d do it again. I know he would.
“I feel a lot of things when I’m with you, Maverick, and safe is always one of them,” I whisper, and his mouth twists into a smile.
“I care about you more than I’ve ever cared about anyone else, Emmy,” he murmurs, and my heart explodes in my chest. “And I’d get decked in the face all over again if it meant seeing you smile.”
Nope. Someone else tonight. Redheaded Assassin You can’t wear your own jersey, Miller. Me Try and stop me, Hartwell.
“I’m not sure I’ll ever get sick of you,” Emmy admits. “You’re my favorite person in the world.”
He’s nothing like the men in my past. I know that, and the more time I spend with my hands in his hair and his lips against my forehead, listing all the things he adores about me, the closer my heart comes to falling out of my chest.
For so long, I’ve felt like I was alone. Chasing after something I couldn’t quite reach and running until everything in me ached. When I’m in Maverick’s arms, I think I’ve finally put my feet on the ground. I think I’ve found someone who might help heal that loneliness that’s followed me for years.
“Password is 3669.” “Why are you telling me your password?” “So I can keep holding you. You’re so warm.”
“What are you—Maverick. This is so thoughtful of you, but he can’t be alone during the game. I mean, he can.
take a deep breath and try not to cry. It feels like the wind just got knocked out of me, and my fingers curl around his navy sheets.
“It’s important to you. I know how much it would mean to you if he were there. It would make you happy, and if we’re being honest, I really want to meet the man who helped bring my favorite spitfire girl into the world.”
Love. Love, love, love. I think I might love him a little bit. A whole lot, actually, and I don’t know when that happened.
I went and fell head over heels for the one person I swore I was immune to.
I don’t think I ever stood a chance with Maverick, though. It was inevitable right from the start. Oh, god. This is terrible. Horrific.
“It’s such a kind thing to do, and I’m having a difficult time processing it.”
You take as long as you need, Emmy girl.
Stop being so nice to me. Love me back. Stay with me forever because I’m terrified of what might happen if you go.
“I love when you flirt with me, Emmy girl.” I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you.
I like her so much, it hurts when she’s not around. I’d do anything to make her happy, and when she smiles at me, I feel like the luckiest guy in the world.
It’s almost like I can’t breathe, and it only gets worse the longer I look. The sensation expands behind my ribs and takes up all the space in my head. When her mouth curls into a small smile, it makes me wonder if she’s feeling it too. “That’s your girl?” Hudson asks. “Yeah.” I grin, and there’s an arrow lodged in my chest. “That’s my girl.”
“I’ve been wanting to shout from the rooftops that you’re my girlfriend for a while now.”
“You make me happy,” she says softly. “You make me happier than anyone else ever has.”
like learning how to do this with you. I like learning that you hog the covers and have to sleep with one leg on top of the sheets.”
“How long have you been in love with her?” Alan asks, and I blink.
Oh, god. I love her. I fucking love her. I love her, and I’d do anything for her.
“You’re smart. You’re so kind. I’ve never met anyone as kind as you. I love that you can get me to laugh so much. That cockiness isn’t arrogance. It’s confidence, because you know how hard you work to be the best friend. The best athlete. The best lover. Sometimes I think about how lucky I am to have a man like you in my life and I—” I have to squeeze my eyes shut so I don’t look at him as I say this next part. “It makes me wonder what I did to deserve someone so wonderful. It makes me think I might finally be good enough to have earned something so… so lovely in my life.”
I love you. I love every part of you, and that won’t change whether you’re here or there. I told you early on I’d find a way to track you down, and I would. I will, baby, because I fucking love you. I’m going to be on a plane to see you every day I can. I’ll buy a place up there so I can have somewhere to stay without invading the life you create for
Oh my god, he loves me. I love him too. I’ve loved him for so long. Longer than I thought was possible or rational or believable, but I love him, I love him, I love him.
“If you fall, I fall, baby. I’m so far gone for you, Emmy, and it’s okay to be scared. I’m scared shitless too, but there’s no one I’d rather be scared with.”
have a past, but I have a future now too, and that future is with you. If you ever feel uneasy, I want you to look at all those unread messages and know that you’re enough, baby. I’ll take a night in with you over a night out with anyone else any day.”
“I use your name as my password because I’m fucking obsessed with you, Hartwell. Have been since the minute I laid eyes on you.”
“Impossible. I could never pretend like I don’t know you. You’re my favorite girl.”
“Thank you for letting me take care of you.” He unclips my helmet and tosses it on one of the chairs. “Thank you for letting me be by your side.”
Come and find out.
“Come here, baby,” he says, breaking the silence, and I run to him. I jump into his arms and he spins me around, his hand at the small of my back and his mouth warm on my cheek.
“The last thing I want from you is space. You’re not going anywhere, pretty boy.”
love you, Emmy girl.” “I love you, too, and you’re going first with the question tonight.” “Easiest one ever.” He beams. “How do you feel about letting me bug you forever, Red?” I roll my eyes, but I can’t help but grin from ear to ear. “I can’t wait.”
I’m as head over heels for him as I was when I told him I loved him for the very first time. We’ve had our ups and downs like any couple, and now ours also involve playing for different professional sports teams.
“Because I have to ask my question of the day, and it’s easier from down here.”
love you, Emmy. I love the fire in your heart. I love your stubbornness. I love that you don’t let me win things easily, and I love that chip you have on your shoulder. I haven’t had a bad day since I met you, and we’re going to keep having good days, baby, for a long time.”
“I love you so much, those three words don’t feel like enough. I love you more than I did yesterday, which is insane, because I didn’t think that was possible.”
“I had to save the best question for last, didn’t I?”
“Emerson Rose Hartwell. Love of my life. The most badass hockey player I’ve ever had the pleasure of being teammates with. My sweet girl and my dream woman. Will you marry me?”
“Yes, of course I’ll marry you. I’d be the luckiest girl in the world.”
“I’ll get you a shiny ring, pretty boy.”
“You think very highly of yourself.” “Would you have it any other way?” “No, pretty boy.” I kiss his hand and drag him onto the ice. “I sure as hell wouldn’t.”
