Page 38 of One Pucking Surprise
I grin, leaning in close. “No question.”
When the ball sinks cleanly into the hole, the cheer that erupts from Blair is deafening.
“We did it!” Lainey exclaims, spinning toward me, her excitement infectious.
Without thinking, I pull her into my arms, lifting her slightly off the ground. “You were amazing,” I murmur, my voice low enough for just her to hear.
When I set her back on the ground, I can’t resist pressing a quick kiss to her temple, letting my hand linger at her waist. Around us, Blair claps loudly while Clarissa crosses her arms, looking distinctly unamused.
“This isn’t over yet,” Clarissa mutters under her breath as she trudges toward the house. “There are still other teams to consider.”
Blair snorts. “She’s just mad because she dragged us down.”
Lainey giggles, slipping her hand into mine as we follow Blair back toward the house. “Is she always this fun?” she whispers.
“Always,” I reply with a grin, squeezing her hand.
Back at the house, a crowd gathers near the patio where someone set up a whiteboard with a hand-drawn tournament bracket on an easel. My cousin Sam, who’s taken on the role of scorekeeper this year, is tallying the last numbers as teams trickle in.
“Okay, folks!” Sam calls out, holding up a marker like it’s a microphone. “The momentwe’ve all been waiting for. I’ve got the final scores here.”
The chatter dies down as everyone turns toward the board. Lainey shifts closer to me, her hand still in mine, and I glance down to see the mix of nerves and excitement lighting up her face.
“Team Zach…” Sam announces dramatically, pausing for effect. “Eighty-four strokes total. Not bad.”
Blair pumps a fist in the air. “Take that!”
Sam rolls his eyes. “Calm down. Let me finish.” He glances at the next numbers. “Team Noah… ninety-two strokes. Ouch.”
Blair lets out a loud cackle. “Nice try, Noah!”
Noah just shrugs, looking completely unfazed, though Alice pouts adorably at her uncle.
Sam moves to the last score on the board, drawing out the suspense. “And the last team—Uncle Joe’s crew…” He pauses dramatically, holding up the marker. “Eighty-nine strokes. Which means…”
He spins toward us, pointing the marker like it’s a prize. “Team Zach takes the win!”
The crowd erupts into cheers and applause. Lainey beams as Blair throws an arm aroundher shoulders, pulling her into a celebratory hug.
“Not bad, team,” Blair says, grinning from ear to ear. “Not bad at all.”
Lainey laughs, the sound light and unrestrained. “That was so much fun.”
I can’t help myself—I pull her close again, this time wrapping both arms around her. She lets out a small gasp of surprise before laughing softly against my chest. “You’re incredible,” I whisper, just loud enough for her to hear.
Clarissa hovers nearby, her forced smile barely masking her irritation. “Well,” she says stiffly, “at least the money’s going to a good cause.”
“Absolutely,” Lainey replies, her tone bright but firm. “And we’re glad to have been the ones to win it.”
Blair smirks, catching my eye. “I’ve got to say, Lainey, you’re a good addition to the family. Zach better not screw this up.”
“Not planning to,” I reply, my arm still around Lainey’s shoulders.
As Sam presents the official donation card for the $50,000 prize, the crowd claps again, and Lainey glances up at me, her smile wide and genuine.
In the back of my mind, I know this is all part of the charade. But the way she lights up, the way she fits so seamlessly into my world—it feels like more than an act.
Chapter 14
