Page 40 of Rookie Season
I start running and pushing, then jump onto the toboggan. Brooke throws up her hands and my dog yips.
We slide down the hill, faster than I expect. The whoosh of wind on my face feels good. So does having her in front of me.
In the league, guys think of me as the fun one. But Brooke makes it all magic. She’s the best sidekick at a party or partner in crime for a prank.
The second run, we lean the wrong way, and we go sprawling.
I land next to her in a pile. She’s grinning.
“I love you, Princess.”
“I love you.”
“Want to go back and bake cookies?”
“Great.”
But I swear her smile dims a little, and I wish I knew why.
Brooke
I take Waffles back to the cabin, then strip out of my jacket and boots before heading to the kitchen. I pull out baking supplies from under the counter, plus mixing bowls. There’s a bag of giant candy canes Miles brought. I take one.
Is this really who we are? Cozy cottage baking people?
For the longest time, I wanted a man who saw me and had my back through everything.
I found him. He’d been there the whole time.
My fiancé, the all-star of the league and my fantasies. All the memories I have of secret hookups and longing looks and sexy road trips.
It’s stupid to wonder, but what if the tension, the sneaking around, was part of the fun? Will that go away once we tie the knot?
On impulse, I pull my boots back on. I return to the shed and tug open the door. Inside, the sunlight falls over Miles resetting the sleds on a shelf.
“I love you. I love our life.”
He turns, meeting my gaze. “Me too.”
“I don’t want things to get… boring.”
“Boring?” he echoes, his dark brows shooting up under the thick fall of hair.
“There’s always been so much tension between us. Fire. Chaos.” I shrug helplessly.
His gaze drops to my hand and the candy cane in it. “You think we’ll bake peppermint chocolate chip cookies and all of a sudden it’ll be dull?”
“You’re making fun of me,” I grumble, folding my arms.
His eyes crinkle. “C’mere.”
I oblige, stomping across the floor to him.
He’s really handsome even when he’s laughing at me.
“You remember the time you took me shopping for your sorority retreat?” His hands reach for the front of my pants. “You were helping me get dressed.”
“What’s your point?”
