Page 56 of Sinful Storms

“No!” His eyes widened, alarm flaring in his expression. “Don’t say anything. Give me a second to get my head around the fact that you’re actually here and I’m not just hallucinating it because I want it so badly.”

“Okay,” I whispered. My heart was beating so quickly I felt light-headed.

“Do you mean that?” he said eventually. “That you care about me?”

It was so difficult to admit it to his face, but I managed a nod, knowing my cheeks were flushing red. Before he could respondto that, I asked the question that had been playing on my mind ever since he’d sent me the text. “Tristan, why did you tell me it was important to come to your game today?”

He reached out, cupping my jaw, sliding his thumb back and forth across my skin. “How can I play without my little scorpion to cheer me on?”

“You want me to be your personal cheerleader?”

“No. I want you to be so much more than that.” Releasing my jaw, his hands went to the back of his head. “Here. I didn’t think you’d come, but I wore it just in case.”

I stared as he unclasped a gold chain from around his neck, lifting it from beneath his jersey. Taking my hand, he turned it palm up and let the chain spool into my cupped palm. A little golden lightning bolt was strung from the delicate links, tiny diamonds embedded along its length.

My gaze flew to his, and he blew out a heavy breath. “That night at the manor?—”

“Tristan.” Roman came jogging up, obliterating our private bubble, and all at once, the rest of the world came filtering back in. “Everyone’s waiting.”

“Fucking shit timing, mate.”

“Yeah, I know.” Roman shot me a sideways glance, mouthingsorry. “But hey, your girl came.” Tristan punched him in the shoulder, and he laughed, then turned to me. “Quinn and Elena saved you a seat in case you decided to come.”

I nodded, still staring at Tristan. His expression was suddenly defeated, and I couldn’t have that. Closing my fingers around the chain, I reached out with my free hand, gripping his shoulder as I rose onto my tiptoes. “I’ll wait for you,” I whispered into his ear.

When I stepped away, he caught my wrist in his hand, his lips curving upwards. “Where are you going?”

“Um. I’m going to sit down and watch you win this game.”

“You are,” he agreed. “But first, I want a good luck kiss from my girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend! That’s a bit presump?—”

He shut me up with a kiss, slanting his mouth over mine, still smiling. My whole body was alight, buzzing with euphoria and nerves and so much happiness I didn’t know what to do with myself.

Releasing me, he gave me a brisk nod, his smile turning a little smug. “That’s better. Go and cheer me on, baby. We’ll talk everything through after, okay? But you and me—” He flicked his finger between us. “—this is happening. Any problems with that?”

I sighed loudly. “No one else has the mental fortitude to put up with your dramatics, so I guess I’d be doing everyone a favour.”

I remembered Roman was still standing there when he snorted with laughter. “You two are a match made in heaven. Or hell. Either way, it works. Come on. Saunders looks like he’s about to explode.”

“You’re the dramatic one,” Tristan told me. “I’ll see you after.”

“Whatever. Don’t you have a game to win? You’re not going to win it standing over here chatting, are you?”

He laughed, shaking his head. “Why do I like you so fucking much? I must be insane.”

“You are,” I agreed. “Sorry about that. See you later.”

As he backed away, he gave me the finger, and I returned it with a smile before making my way along the stands towards my friends.

When I reached them, ducking back under the barrier, they both stared at me with wide eyes.

“What was all that about?” Quinn breathed.

“What’s that in your hand?” Elena asked at the same time.

The whistle blew. I shook my head. “Tell you afterwards.”

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