“That sounds great,” Noelle offered. “Gives us time to catch up, too.”
“The guest room’s already for you two,” I said to Matthew and Noelle. “And we made up a bed for you, too, Penny.”
“We didn’t kick you out of your room, did we?” Noelle asked me, looking between Owen and I.
“Ah...” I looked up at him. “No.”
Owen wrapped his hand around my hip and squeezed. “Ellie’s in my bed. We’re together again.”
I blushed. “Surprise?”
Penny laughed. “Told you!” She smirked at her parents. “I knew you moving in here would lead to this.”
“Yeah, well…” I looked over at my boyfriend and found him smiling.
I couldn’t complain about that. Even if the call from yesterday was still weighing on me. I hadn’t told Owen yet. I knew I should have this morning, but when he’d wrapped his body around mine, I’d forgotten about everything else. My damn horny brain was to blame, but who could blame me when Owen gave me orgasms like candy on Halloween?
“We’re happy,” he said, interlacing our fingers. “And that’s all that matters, right?”
“Of course, Owen.” His mom reached up, patting his cheek. “We’re just glad you two kids figured it out. Charlotte and I hated watching you two be heartbroken and avoid each other all those years.”
Owen looked away, a guilty, haunted expression on his face. “We both were young,” I said, squeezing his hand. “I think maybe we needed those years apart to grow and find our way back together.”
“Yeah.” He kissed the top of my hand. “And we did.”
We found our way back together. And here we were. He was everything I’d ever wanted. When I was with him, I felt complete. Like he was the missing piece of a puzzle I hadn’t even known I was missing.
I loved him more than ever, and I wished his family weren’t here so I could show him just how much. Even if I hadn’t told him yet.
“I can’t believeyou’re actually dating my brother again,” Penelope said, resting her head on my shoulder as we watched the guys warm-up from our seats.
“It’s great, right?” I smiled, my eyes tracking my man with his everymovement.
This was my favorite part—I loved watching Owen stretch and hit pucks into the net, and I especially loved it when he bounced a puck on his stick. As a bonus, I got a healthy amount of forearm porn, because he wore his jersey pushed up onto his pads, and I was pretty sure I was the only person who appreciated his slutty little wrists.
But damn. He washot. And all mine.
We were all decked out in Seals merch, since apparently Owen made sure all of his family had jerseys with his name on them, too. Even Uncle Matthew, who played basketball in college, fit right in wearing his bright blue jersey.
Penny sighed happily, weaving a finger around one of her red curls. “Every time I come to one of his games, I totally get why women love hockey romances.”
Noelle laughed from her other side. “The numbers don’t lie, sweetie. Athletes are the perfect romance hero.” She looked over at her husband, wiggling her eyebrows. “Right, babe?”
“Sunshine.” His voice was low. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
She pressed her lips to his cheek, and he just shook his head. I didn’t miss the hint of a smile on his face as he looked at his wife.
“I’d love him no matter what he did,” I said, the words rushing out of me. “Even if he didn’t play another game of hockey in his life. He’s just… He’s my Owen.”
“Oh, El. I know.” Noelle looked up at Uncle Matthew and then back at me. “We’ve always known that what you two had was special.” She reached over Penny to squeeze my knee. “You’re his girl. Plain and simple. Nothing could ever change that.”
I hoped she was right.
“And just think,” Penelope interjected, grinning. “One day, I’ll get to call you my sister.”
“We’ll see,” I said with a small smile. Was he thinking thatfar into the future? About what our lives would look like together in one, five, ten years? If he got traded, would he want me to go with him?
Owen looked over at that moment, pulling his helmet off and dragging his hands through his hair as he drank deeply from his water bottle. And he waved, giving me a gorgeous grin.