Page 63 of The Captain

I didn’t care if I got caught, but I didn’t need to get caught naked.

I was working up the words to tell Cassie that I wanted to break the news to my family about us finally getting together when I got back to her room and found her peacefully dozing on the bed.

I took the warm washcloth and wiped her clean as she moaned softly. If she hadn’t been asleep, there would have been a repeat performance.

I threw the towel in the laundry basket before I slipped into the bed, arranging the blankets around us and clicking off her bedside lamp.

I pulled her into me and sighed with contentment. Knowing she was asleep, I pressed a kiss to her forehead and told her the words I’d been dying to say.

“I love you.”

TWENTY

Lincoln

Present

The cabin was fucking cool.

There were levels of space for us to all sprawl out around, a large kitchen, a huge living room with a fireplace already roaring even though it was unnecessary in this weather, and a game room for everyone to chill in.

It was a weekend my sister planned for all of her friends and Tanner’s, mainly the bridal party with a few extras thrown in there.

I was ecstatic for this weekend. A whole weekend with Cassie where I could finally show her that we could still be together and everything would work out.

I wasn’t kidding when I told her that she was the only woman I wanted. I hadn’t been with anyone else in over a year, a long time before Cassie and I even became friends.

I’d driven separately from everyone else, needing to get some stuff done before I could escape for the weekend, so everyone was already here when I got settled into my room.

I hear laughter down the hall, and my feet follow it, expecting to see a couple people in the room next to mine. I frown when I peer in, and no one is to be seen.

Taking a step inside, I finally see someone lounging on the bed, feet kicked up and a book in hand. My heart kicks at the sight of her.

“Good book?” I ask, my shoulder leaning against the wall, watching her with a smile on my face.

She starts, twisting to look at me, and I grin at the picture she’s painted for me.

Cassie sits up and shrugs. “It’s good. Different than I’m used to.”

“What? No blood and guts and murder to keep you entertained?” I ask, knowing that’s the kind of stuff that happens in her fantasy novels.

“Oh no, there is. But it’s funny too.” She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear, closes the book, and scoots to the edge of the bed. “I should go back downstairs so Mickey doesn’t yell at me about not participating.”

I smirk and nod. “She probably would too.”

I follow her out the door, my eyes taking in every inch of her, and my hands squeeze into fists when I have the urge to reach out and grab her. I refrain from doing so, just barely.

We head into the kitchen just as everyone is gathered around; it’s still early in the day so they’re all making plans to head into town and go to a brewery. It’s not my favorite activity, but I’m sure I can manage enough to get through it.

We all head outside to see the sun shining brightly over the mountains, the smells and sounds here waking up my senses. The summer here was absolutely beautiful. Where we’re at is only a couple of hours from home, but in the winter, this place is a certified ski resort that has me itching to come back.

Too bad when I’m playing hockey, I can’t exactly ski.

I fall behind the group, looking everyone over. I don’t think this is everyone, but it’s a little surreal for me whenever Tanner Mitchum and Devon Halloway are in the same space as me. I’ve been watching them play hockey for years.

According to my sister, there were two other players from Tanner’s old team that were supposed to be here, and if I wasn’t so distracted with my love life, I’d probably be freaking out.

Somehow, Cassie ends up falling to the back of the group. Her hands are tucked into her hoodie, and she’s casually strolling next to me. My eyes are on her for a few seconds before I look ahead again, just as we round the corner and come onto the main strip of the little town we’re in.

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