My skin heats. I don’t want to discuss this with my agent.
“You are so in love,” Cole says. “Never thought I would see it.”
I stiffen, because this feels like an insult.
“Noahis incredible.”
Cole regards me, and my skin prickles as I wonder what he’s thinking.
“I didn’t say he wasn’t,” Cole says finally. “There’s no need to be nervous, Finn. Show the world your love. That’s all they want to see.”
I nod, but my stomach twists and tightens.
Because even if I’m in love with Noah, he isn’t in love with me. This marriage might have been inconvenient, but at this point, divorcing would be more inconvenient.
Maybe I should have tried harder for an annulment.
“Let’s get some makeup on you,” a 50-something woman with red hair and the sort of curls only possible on someone who knows advanced curling techniques gleefully declares.
“Is there still time to flee this building?” I ask.
“Absolutely not.” Cole turns to the makeup artist. “Better give him a lot of bronzer. His skin looks green.”
“Why do you think I have a job?” She gives a menacing grin, then brushes descend over my face.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
FINN
The days blur as we get further into hockey season, the time when everything focuses on pucks and goals and hockey sticks, but this year, Noah is beside everything. He is the warm body wrapped around me at night, one I did not realize I needed, but now cannot be without.
One year. One glorious year. One year of having Noah beside me. One year of seeing his green eyes land on me when I wake up, and one year of having him pressed against me on buses and jets. One year of claiming his lips as mine, and the joy swelling through me as I make him laugh. One year.
I don’t want to waste a second; we are always together.
We don’t walk from the bus to the hotel or arena when we could be walking holding hands, and we don’t go to a restaurant without my arm flung around his shoulders, even as we eat.
Because I’m greedy. I need to savor every moment with him, because in the future, they will be memories, and I will be alone in my apartment and will need them to get through every day.
I’ve never been in a relationship before. I am an expert at hockey, not life. But then, I’d never met Noah before. I never felt the need to take someone to fancy restaurants, to watch candlelight flicker over an attractive face, and to learn everything about a person’s life.
Hookups are not conducive to learning about someone’s childhood pet or favorite vacation spot. Dinners are, as is wandering the city, side by side.
Now we’re wandering to find a tailor, because we’re so going to look fancy for Isaiah’s wedding.
“Are you sure a tux is required?” Noah asks.
“Of course.”
“Seems overkill.”
“Hah. We wear suits at work. We’re totally all going to wear tuxes to the wedding.”
Nervousness flits over Noah’s face.
“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll help you get your cufflinks on.”
His eyes widen. “I’m going to need those too!”
