Page 115 of Secret Puck
“That is a lot of gummy bears. How did you get ice cream at this hour?”
“I know people.”
Her gorgeous smile will be the death of me. She picks up the spoon and brings a big bite to my lips. I take it and then kiss her again.
Maverick appears at the table. “Awww, look at you two, all smiles.” He drops his tray and then drapes an arm around each of our shoulders. “Bring it in, you two crazy kids. I’m so dang happy I could cry. Way to go big, buddy.” He nudges me with an elbow and then squeezes Ginny into his massive frame. “I love you two.”
And I know he does. Whatever it means to him, he means it with his whole heart. It’s freeing to know I get to make it mean whatever I want to, too.
“Love you too, Mav,” I tell him.
He gives me a toothy grin. “Damn straight.”
41
Ginny
One week later
“I have to go to class, I’m going to be late,” I protest, but make no move to actually go anywhere. Heath’s arms are wrapped around me and I nuzzle into his chest, stealing some of his warmth. “It’s so cold.”
“This isn’t cold.”
“It’s like forty degrees outside.”
“Like I said, this isn’t cold. Wait until you come to Michigan sometime in the winter. You’ll need real winter clothes, not these cute accessories you have.” He pulls my beanie down farther, so it completely covers my ears.
“It would be fun to see snow. It almost never snows here and when it does, it’s gone too quickly to appreciate it.”
Another chilly breeze whips through campus and I shiver.
“Come on, baby doll,” he says. “Let’s get you to class where it’s warm.”
As we’re crossing to the humanities building, a guy headed toward us slows and a big smile tips up his lips. Heath stops, as does the guy.
“Heath, hey.”
“Wes!” Heath steps forward and they hug.
Wes is a few inches taller than Heath with lighter hair and a leaner build. He looks familiar, but I can’t place him until Heath turns to me and introduces him as one of the coaches of the basketball team and an old teammate of his brother’s.
Heath comes to stand beside me again. “And this is Ginny, my girlfriend.”
My insides light up every time he calls me that.
Wes nods his head to me in greeting. “Nice to meet you, Ginny.”
“You too.”
“What are you doing on campus, old man?” Heath asks. “Shouldn’t you be at the gym making guys run sprints or something?”
“Not for another hour.” His smile is big, and his eyes crinkle up at the corners. “I’m meeting Blair for lunch.” He takes a step past us and turns. “Hey, nice season, by the way. I’m hoping to make another game soon.”
“Nathan’s coming up in two weeks for the game against Western Michigan.”
“Yeah? I’ll have to call him and give him shit for not telling me himself. I’ll see ya later.”
He heads off in the opposite direction and Heath and I continue across campus. I slide my glove-covered hand around his and squeeze.
