Page 119 of Of Pucking Course

Shawn opens the sliding glass door. “Bath time, kids.”

They groan and protest, but both Caitlin and Shawn tell them to head inside.

Caitlin stands up. “Guess I should go help my husband hose off our children.”

Sam and I chuckle. She stops and gives Sam a long hug.

He chuckles when she lets him go.

“What was that for?”

She pats his chest. “For being a great brother and an even better uncle.”

She walks inside. Sam steps over to me.

“Your sister knows about us,” I blurt.

His brow lifts in surprise. “She does?”

I nod. “I swear I didn’t say anything. She figured it out on her own.”

He smiles. “I’m fine with her knowing if you are too.”

I start to smile too. “I am.”

He pulls me against him. “Is this okay?” he asks. “I know we’re a secret, but I figured it’s fine if I hug you since everyone is inside and no one can see?—”

I cut him off with a kiss, teasing my tongue against his. He moans into my mouth. When we break apart, we’re both panting.

I rest my forehead against his as I catch my breath. His hot breath dusts over my skin.

“I guess that’s a yes.” He chuckles. “You okay?”

I cup my hands around his face and gaze up at him, my heart thudding faster with each passing second. Emotion bubbles up in my chest when I think about how incredible Sam is—how I feel like the luckiest woman in the world to have him.

Our relationship might be a secret, but there’s something I can do to prove just how much he means to me. It’s something I’ve been putting off, but now, in this moment when my feelings for Sam are growing stronger by the second, I’m finally ready to do it.

I gaze up at him. “I will be.”

Chapter 42

Dakota

Nerves throttle my insides as I listen to the other line ringing while pacing in the kitchen.

On the sixth ring, someone finally answers.

“County of Denver Office of Marriage Licenses and Civil Unions. How can I help you?”

The woman’s sweet tone eases my nerves the tiniest bit. I’ve been putting off filing for an annulment from Jake for the past few weeks because I didn’t want to deal with all the unpleasantness that will inevitably come with this. Paperwork. Legal fees. Reliving our dumpster fire relationship. Possibly having to see Jake again.

But I need to do this. I need to officially, legally sever this tie I have with him. It feels like an invisible weight dragging me down. I want to be totally free from Jake so I can move on, so he’s not lingering in the background, like some low-hanging cloud over my relationship with Sam.

I know that Sam doesn’t care. He’s told me that he understands my marriage to Jake is over, that it’s just a piece of paper. And he’s right. And he’s the most amazingboyfriend in the world for being so supportive and letting me move at my own pace with this.

But I’m finally ready to end it.

“Hi, yes, I was wondering if you could help me with kind of a weird question.” I let out a nervous laugh and clear my throat. “I, um, got married a few weeks ago, but I would like to get it annulled. Our marriage license was submitted in the mail, but I never received the official marriage certificate because, um, well, we split up and I no longer live at that address listed on the license.” Another nervous laugh. “I’m sorry, I feel so embarrassed right now.”

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