Page 143 of Catch
He pauses and cups my face in his hands.
“It’s true, baby, and it’s okay that it scares you. It scares me too. Most days I’m in awe that you and I ended up hereand that we’re so fucking happy together. But we are, and I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.”
I nod, blinking away tears. Ethan pulls me in for a kiss that’s slow and sweet.
“No matter what, if I stumble—when I stumble—I know you’ll catch me,” he whispers. “And I’ll catch you.”
“Because that’s what our love is.”
Ethan smiles against my lips.
“Sugar, I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
EPILOGUE
ETHAN
SIX MONTHS LATER
“Stop fiddling with your tie,” Jett whispers.
“Yes, dear.”
“Just for that, I’m gonna sleep in the other bed tonight.”
“You wouldn’t.”
Jett smirks. My boyfriend loves to tease me. I thought I was merciless, but I’ve met my match.
“Hush, the meeting’s about to start.”
I reach for my silver necklace, because I’m nervous as fuck and I need something to do with my hands. It’s either that or reach for Jett, and given where we are, now’s not the time for foreplay.
We’re sitting in a boardroom surrounded by hockey memorabilia, and I pinch myself. Literally, I pinch my arm to make sure I’m not dreaming. I hardly slept last night in anticipation of this moment. Jett and I arrived in Seattle yesterday, and while our hotel was impressively roomy and comfortable, I was so nervous that I spent half the night fidgeting and stress talking, unable to sleep. Finally, at twoa.m., Jett ordered me to lie on my stomach and proceeded to rim me until I lost my damn mind. There was no more tossing and turning—or talking—after that. We only managed to get a few hours’ sleep, but we woke up smiling.
Until this moment.
I’m too hyped up to smile or talk or do anything except pop my knees up and down.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the boardroom door opens. A woman with a sharp red bob and an even sharper gray suit stalks into the room and up to the table. The lanyard around her neck reads “Avril Adamsen, General Manager, Seattle Renegades.”
Holy shit, this is really happening. I’m signing an entry-level contract with Seattle. NHL, here I come…
I quickly stand up and offer my hand.
“It’s great to meet you in person, Ms. Adamsen.”
“It’s Avril, and you as well, Ethan,” she announces with a warm smile. “Are you ready?”
“I am,” I reply confidently and motion to Jett, who stands beside me. “As I mentioned in our communications, this is my boyfriend, Jett Hawthorne.”
Avril nods and shakes Jett’s hand.
“A pleasure to meet you, Jett.”
There’s a knock at the door and two more people enter the room. Avril does the introductions with the team’s public relations director and the operations manager and then motions for all of us to take a seat.
I grip Jett’s hand under the table. His palm is as sweaty as mine.
