Page 98 of Almost Ours
I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could, he was already glancing at the clock. “I can’t believe it’s the last game before Christmas. We better win. I’m so excited I get to play again.”
His grin was infectious, pulling one from me despite the tight knot in my chest. I reached for my coffee, letting the warmth seep into my hands, and told myself that whatever happened between Ryan and me, this–Connor’s happiness–was what mattered most.
The crowd’senergy hummed through the rink hours later as I slid into my seat beside Nina. She was bundled in a cream cable-knit sweater, her chestnut hair falling in effortless waves over her shoulders. She leaned forward on her forearms, eyes sharp as she tracked the players on the ice, watching the warm-up.
I let my gaze wander toward the bench, searching for him–but all I saw was Shane. At six-foot-four, he stood out easily, a towering figure with broad shoulders and slightly tousled red hair that caught in the rink lights. His expression was its usual blend of focus and faint amusement, like he’d seen it all before and nothing surprised him anymore.
No Ryan.
My phone buzzed against my thigh. I pulled it out to see a new message.
Ryan: Get your cute butt down the tunnel.
My brows knit together.What?
I made my way down toward the player’s entrance. The hall was quiet except for the muffled echo of the crowd above, and I was just passing the janitor’s closet when the door swung open. A firm hand caught my wrist, tugging me inside before I could even make a sound.
My breath caught, my heart lurching–until I saw him.
Ryan stood there in full coaching gear, stubble freshly cleaned, eyes glinting under the harsh fluorescent lights.
“Hi,” he said, voice low, his mouth curving into a slow, devastating smile.
“Hi,” I breathed back, still catching up to the moment.
“I missed you.” His hand slid to my waist, and before I could reply, his mouth was on mine–hot insistent, tasting faintly of spearmint. The sudden closeness stole my breath, my hands instinctively curling into the front of his jacket to pull him closer.
When he finally broke away, his forehead rested against mine, his voice rough. “Just needed a quick moment alone with you.”
I swallowed, my pulse still skittering. “Just a moment?”
The corner of his mouth kicked up, but there was regret in his eyes. “If I stay longer, I’m not making it back to the bench.”
I wanted to say I didn’t care. That I wanted more–so much more. Instead, I just nodded, even as my chest ached. Because this… this was unlike anything I’d ever felt before. It was like some dormant part of me had finally been shaken awake, hungry and alive in a way I hadn’t even known was possible. Reid had never made me feel like this–never taken the time to make sure I was taken care of, to pull pleasure from me like it was somethingworth savoring. With Ryan, it was different. Intense. Addictive. And God help me, I wanted it all the damn time.
With a quick squeeze at my waist, he was gone, slipping out the door and back toward the ice.
I took a moment to steady my breathing before making my way back to my seat. The game was seconds from starting when I slid into the spot beside Nina. She looked at me, then toward the bench where Ryan had just appeared, settling behind the players. Her eyebrows shot up.
“Do not,” I warned under my breath.
Her lips curved. “Don’t worry. My lips are sealed. Unlike yours, apparently.”
The buzzer soundedto end the first period, and the players on the ice skated toward their benches. The crowd began to stir, people heading toward the concession stands.
Nina and I stood to stretch, but we didn’t make it more than a few steps before she muttered under her breath, lips curving into a smirk. “Uh-oh. Hockey moms, twelve o’clock.”
I followed her gaze and immediately spotted them, their festive sweaters and perfectly curled hair making them look like an ad for a lifestyle blog.
“There’s no escaping them, is there?” I whispered.
“Not unless you want to hide in the bathroom until the period starts,” Nina replied dryly.
Too late.
“Harper!” Kelly’s voice rang out, her wave a little too enthusiastic. “We were just saying how great Connor’s been playing. That last period? Incredible.”
“Yeah,” I said, stepping closer with Nina. The smell of popcorn, peppermint mochas, and the unmistakable hint of baileys—warm and sweet, like comfort in a cup—hung in the air. “He’s been working really hard.”
