Page 193 of Don't Fall for the Goalie
Oh God.
Why the hell did I say that?
Gram starts laughing and pumps her fist in the air. “Atta girl.”
Daltyn folds his arms over his chest, smirking.
Connor stares at me before bursting out laughing. “You accidentally grabbed him? How do you accidentally?—”
“I was asleep. I woke?—”
“Oh, fuck. We interrupted them,” Ford says. “Told you this was a bad idea.”
Connor is doubled over, laughing. “We cock blocked her.”
Gram shakes her head. “Sadly, it appears we did.”
“It’s your fault,” Ford points at her. “You were following us on our run in those damn pink spandex tights. And a shirt that said, ‘Older and more experienced.’”
"Which is true," Gram says, pointing a finger at him. "I don't know why you made me change."
And somehow—despite the embarrassment, the teasing, and the fact that I may never emotionally recover from this conversation—I realize something terrifying.
For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m where I belong.
51
PEYTON
By week three of training camp, I’ve accidentally developed routines with Daltyn.
Which feels dangerous. And mildly concerning.
Every morning, he drinks coffee so strong it could probably strip paint.
Every afternoon, he comes home starving and half-feral from practice.
And every evening, he steals whatever blanket I’m currently using, despite owning at least twelve of his own, cuddling with me on the couch where we watch TV or a movie.
Domesticity has apparently arrived, whether either of us agreed to it or not.
Currently, I’m standing barefoot in the kitchen stirring pasta while music plays softly through the cabin speakers.
The door opens, and heavy footsteps follow.
Daltyn appears in the kitchen, looking exhausted.
Sweat darkens the collar of his Avalanche practice shirt while his damp hair curls slightly at the ends from practice.
My brain short-circuits.
Which honestly feels rude considering I’m trying to cook.
“You’re staring again,” he says tiredly.
I blink. “You look sweaty.”
One corner of his mouth lifts slightly. “That’s usually what happens at hockey practice.”
