Page 165 of Desperate Pucker
My heart skids in my chest. Could I really be in love with Ryker? We’ve only been officially a couple for a few weeks. That’s way too soon.
I push the thought aside, feeling silly. I’m probably just riding the high of fantastic sex.
Ryker stirs. He mutters something I can’t understand. Slowly, I turn around so I’m facing him. I take in the peaceful look on his sleeping face.
“You’re so pretty, Maddy,” he whispers in a sleepy murmur.
My heart leaps in my chest. He’s talking in his sleep to me. He thinks of me even when his brain is resting.
He stirs again, pulling me closer to him. His soft lips land on my forehead.
“I love you,” he rasps.
Did he just say that he loves me?
I go still. His breathing is steady and even. He’s still asleep.
My tummy is doing somersaults and my heart is fluttering like crazy. I’m grinning so hard, my entire face aches.
But then my brain catches up. He’s asleep. He could be having a dream and responding to whatever’s happening in it. He doesn’t actually mean it.
A pang of disappointment lands at the center of my chest. I’m being so silly. I can’t get excited about random things Ryker says when he’s not even conscious.
But as I close my eyes and try to fall back to sleep, I can’t deny the hope that surges through my entire body, wishing and hoping that he loves me.
I watch from the stands as the Bashers play the Grizzlies. It’s game four of the playoffs, and the Bashers have two wins against Boston. Boston has beaten Denver twice so far too.
The game is in Boston tonight, and both teams have been playing rough. They’re both desperate to break this playoff tie.
It’s the start of the second period, and Boston’s up two to one.
My gaze is glued to Ryker as he flies across the ice.
“Damn, he’s fast,” Dakota says.
“All the guys are moving like lightning,” Bella says. “You’ve whipped them into shape, Madeline.”
I smile. “It’s cool to see all our work paying off.”
“Gavin’s been raving about you,” Abby says. “He said he’s never seen the guys this energized.”
“You should be so proud of yourself, Madeline,” Dakota says.
A warm feeling settles inside of me as I look at them.
“I am,” I say softly. “When I crashed out after the Winter Olympics, I had no idea what I would do with my life. I’d spent so long focusing on being the best figure skater I could be, and when I couldn’t compete anymore, I was so lost. But now I feel like I have a purpose as a skating coach. And it makes me so happy.”
I look out at the ice, in awe of how well the guys are playing.
“You helped the team get here, Maddy,” Bella says. Abby and Dakota nod.
That warm feeling inside of me deepens. After how broken I felt over the past two years, I can’t believe I’m here.
“Thanks, you guys. That means a lot,” I say.
We focus back on the game. Ryker checks a Boston player and steals the puck from him.
“Look at your boyfriend go. He’s on fire,” Bella says.
