Page 54 of My Husband Problem

She is staring at me with her lips parted.

No, I didn’t ease into this conversation. I never know where conversations with Astrid are going to go. I want her to know that I’m seeing all of this. And I don’t hate it.

I move in closer and drop my voice slightly. “Because you’re like me, Astrid. You have lived in a very different world in something of a bubble, and now you’re rubbing up against the real world with regular people. It’s a whole new experience, and you’re learning some stuff and finding it’s pretty great. It’s notthathard to believe that I’ve found the same thing, is it?”

I reach up and run the pad of my thumb over her cheek. I’ve decided to stop fighting my urges with this woman. She is perfectly capable of telling me where her boundaries are.

“Youactuallyenjoyed what you did this morning with Wilson,” she finally says, studying my eyes.

“I did.”

“How is it happening so fast with you?” She looks legitimately confused.

“How is what happening so fast?”

“I’ve been here for ten months. You’ve been here for a day. And you’re already falling for these people?”

My heart does a weird thump in my chest. No way am I falling for anyone here but her. That’s absurd.

But that flip in my chest doesn’t feel like athat’s absurdreaction.

I shake my head. “It did not take you ten months.”

She takes a deep breath, then lets it out on a long sigh. “Dammit, Declan, I was expecting you to be thebad guyand tell everyone no rather than turning into the billionaire with a heart of gold.”

I shrug. “Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do.”

“It just means I need to try even harder to find ways to irritate you.” She meets my gaze directly. “Challenge accepted.”

I open my mouth to ask whatthatmeans, but just then the door flies open, the bell overhead almost crying for help as it is repeatedly bumped as people spill into the diner.

Correction. Not just people. Men. Men of varying sizes, but all between roughly twenty-two and forty-something, in good shape, and all seeming in very good moods.

They’re hockey players.

Specifically, hockey players from the two teams in Astrid’s bonkers hockey league. I’ve watched every game, so I recognize players from both the Rebel Revelers and the Bayou Otters coming through the door.

Of course, that includes my brother-in-law, Alex.

“Hey, Declan, good to see you. Welcome to Rebel,” he says with a big grin.

“Alex,” I greet.

He is extremely happy here, in no small part thanks to the woman he has tucked under his arm, who smiles at me as they pass.

“Hi, Declan.”

“Hi, Nora.”

I also recognize Beckett Moore, the young player who called out to me at the park last night.I looked up the roster last night, lying in bed, memorizing the faces and names. I expected to run into more of the players. Just not so soon. And all at once.

“Mr. O’Grady,” he says, giving me a big grin and a salute. “Great to have you here.”

I’m similarly greeted as the rest of them file past on their way to tables in the bar section of the establishment.

At the back of the group are two women, both blondes. I’ve seen them with Astrid before, from afar.

“Declan, this is Sutton Moore. She’s Beckett's sister and works with Nora in the Parks and Rec department. She’s also the team choreographer,” Astrid introduces as the women stop.