Page 29 of Secret Pucking Unicorn

An unholy growl comes from sweet Daphne, and I take a step back.

“Yes. I am carrying one huge baby. Huge because I was stupid enough to fall in love with a giant.” She spins around and pokes Dec in his chest. “When you get your wife pregnant with your humongous spawn, you better spoil her and bring her ice cream and brownies and French fries. And watermelon. Even in December.”

Declan’s eyes connect with mine. “Anything she wants, I will get her. I’ll do anything for her.”

It feels like he’s making a promise to me, not reassuring Daphne. I know that’s not true. I’m not his future wife or mother of his children-to-be, no matter how I wish that were the case. He doesn’t think of me that way. I’m his sister’s best friend. And his friend.

Opening the door to the closet, I turn on the light and walk in. Other than a quick glance my first night, I haven’t explored it. That was my plan for today as I unpacked.

“Wow.” Daphne turns a full circle to take in the shelves, drawers, racks, and bench. This closet is larger and nicer than any bedroom I’ve had since leaving for my first boarding school.

“You’re a very tidy man, Declan Mackenzie,” Mallory says. “Can you teach your coach your ways?”

“Thanks.” Dec blushes again. My heart melts a little bit each time he gets that embarrassed little boy look on his face. I flash back to all the time we spent at the gazebo and our play weddings, and I wish we could go back to those simpler times.

He goes to the section of our shared close where he stores his suits and grabs a bunch of garment bags. Walking to my half, he hangs them on a rod. “Here are the dresses.”

The moment he steps away, Mallory and Kendall swoop in on the bags like seagulls going for French fries, and start unzipping the bags.

Dec comes back with some shoeboxes and small tubs.

“And the shoes and bags.”

Brick and Daphne open those and start pulling everything out and placing them on top of the counter area in the center of the closet.

I turn and am mesmerized by his sparkling blue eyes. He has a soft smile on his face, watching our friends enthuse over my fashion choices.

The closet is huge, but with him standing across from me, looking at me like he never wants to look anywhere else, it shrinks. I press my back against the shelves, trying to find room. I shake my head and look away.

“I can’t believe you kept all this stuff and moved it around with you.”

“It’s a couple of garment bags and some small boxes, not a big deal.” He reaches out for my hand and my tummy flips. “Come see what else I have.”

I follow him around a corner—this closet is big enough it has separate chambers within it—and slides open a mirrored door. I gasp when I see what this closet holds.

“Oh my goodness, I thought this was gone.” Tears spring to my eyes.

“What?” Daphne comes rushing—well, her version of rushing—into the area we are. The others trail after her.

I sniff and reach into the closet to pull out my favorite thing from high school.

“He has my hockey gear,” I say, pushing the words out around the lump in my throat. “From high school.”

“You play hockey?” Brick asks.

I nod. “I was a forward on my high school team.”

“Two-time state champion,” Dec says proudly.

“I played two years. They’ve won more years than that.”

“You were a cheerleader and a hockey player? You’re badass,” Mallory says in awe.

Shaking my head, I correct her. “I wasn’t a cheerleader until college. Wickham didn’t have a hockey team. I had to try something new.”

“Wait, you hadn’t cheered at all until Wickham?” Kennie says. “I knew you didn’t do all-star cheer, but I assumed you cheered in high school.”

“Nope, I studied the Bring It On movies and the competitions on TV. I’m a quick study and good at athletic things.”

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