Hat Trick (D.C. Stars, #4)

by Chelsea Curto

“Riley,” I whisper, putting both hands on his cheeks. “I’m glad I get to do your Life List with you.”

“There’s no one I’d rather do it with,”

“I’m ready for you to fuck me into oblivion, Mitchy,”

“Christ, sweetheart. You’re going to give me a heart attack.” “I thought you wanted to give me three. I need it fast, baby. Please.”

I love you, I love you, I love you, I think as I stroke her hair.

Oh, fucking fantastic. Have I mentioned I’m in love with her? Because I am. Head over heels, can’t eat, can’t sleep kind of love that makes all the bad shit seem irrelevant.

And then I’d tell him about the girl. The one he’s madly, hopelessly, irrevocably in love with who flipped his world upside down. I’d tell him about the life they have, the quiet moments late at night when she tucks herself into his side and the louder, brighter ones during the day when she’s giving him shit and making him laugh. I’d mention how perfect she is. How patient and kind and funny she is, and how every time he’s with her, his broken pieces put themselves back together. Because she’s the closest thing to an angel he’ll ever find on earth.

“You can’t really be considering not taking a job because of me.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” I challenge. “You’re the most important thing in my life. DC is my home. You are my home.”

“This is your career we’re talking about, Riley! Your future! A chance to keep doing what you love without wondering if you’ll ever have a shot a...

“You’re not trying to push me away when things are getting serious between us? You’re not taking this as a sign I’m going to leave you and hurt you when I go, because everyone else has? You want to run because you’re scared. Because it’s never been like this for you before, and I get it. But guess what, Lexi? It doesn’t matter if I’m here, or if I’m in Minnesota, or any other fucking team in the league. I’m not letting you go even if you push back and try to tell me all the reasons I shouldn’t stay.”

“Why are you different? Why should I believe you?” “Because I love you,”

“I love you so much it fucking hurts, and I know that scares the shit out of you. It scares me too, because how can things be this fucking good with you when the rest of my life is in shambles?”

“If you want to run, I’ll chase you. If you want to build a wall to keep me out, I’ll climb it. If you need time, I’ll give it to you. I’m patient, Lexi. I’m going to be waiting for you when you come back. However long that takes.”

“I love you,”

“And I’m going to love you for as long as you’ll let me.”

“A girl,” Liam rumbles out, and I jerk my head up in surprise. “The girl.”

“You all know?” I ask. “That you’re in love with Lexi? Uh, yeah.” Maverick snorts. “Keep up, Mitchy.”

“My mama raised me right,” Hudson says. “Women are complicated creatures. They’re not as easy to read, but they’re the only reason any of us are on the paths we’re on right now.”

I want him. Because I love him too.

I love him. I love him, I love him, I love him.

“I love you,” I whisper. “I love you so much, and I hope you still love me too.” “I never stopped. And I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.”

“I love you, Lexi. And everything that comes with being with you,”

“Maybe after the playoffs are finished, you can have book club at your place. You can tie me to your bed and make me wait there while you and the boys talk about your favorite parts of the novel, and none of them will ever know.”

“You put a blindfold on me last night and smiled while you did it. Me tied to your bed is where you draw the line?”

“Everyone say Guess what? We’re going to be aunts and uncles to the coolest baby girl in the whole fucking world who will be here by Christmas!”

“Baby Hartwell-Miller is on her way. It was impossible to keep a secret from you all, but we wanted to be sure things were looking good before we put it out in the open.”

“I love you,” Lexi murmurs. “So very much, Riley.” “I love you too, Lexi baby.”

WELCOME BACK, MITCHY. WE MISSED YOU. LIFE’S A BITCH, BUT WE HAVE MITCH!!!

“Get Lexi to spend the rest of her life with me,” she whispers.