Page 166 of The Offside Rule
He leaned back and yelled into the apartment, “Mom, Hunter’s here.”
Holland appeared behind him, already trying not to smile. “Jaden, move.”
“It’s a date,” Mila called from somewhere inside.
I stepped into the apartment, and there she was, perched on the arm of the couch with her legs swinging, looking far too pleased with herself.
Mila grinned at me. “Hi, Hunter.”
“Hi, Mils.”
Cole stood by the island with his arms crossed, wearing the expression of a man who had decided not to murder me but was keeping the option open for later.
“Coach,” I said.
His eyebrows rose slightly.
“Russell,” he said.
Holland shot him a look. He clearly ignored it, which I deserved. Then Catherine walked out of the hallway, and every thought in my head disappeared. The dress hit me like a body check. Deep blue silk skimmed over her curves and caught thelight when she moved. Her hair fell loose around her shoulders, softer than she wore it at the arena. Her heels were high enough to make her legs look like they should have come with a warning label. She stopped when she saw me. Her gaze moved over my black suit, slow enough that the back of my neck went hot. The suit had been worth it.
“Hi,” she said.
I tried to answer like a normal man.
“Hi,” keeping my voice even was suddenly a challenge. Then I realized I had forgotten to bring her flowers. First fail of the night. “You look beautiful.”
Mila leaned forward, delighted. “Are you going to kiss her?”
“Mila,” Holland said. “Hush.”
“What?” Mila looked genuinely confused. “He’s Isla’s dad, and he’s going to be kissing my sister.”
Jaden made a gagging noise. “That’s disgusting.”
Catherine closed her eyes. “I hate all of you.”
I was trying very hard not to laugh because laughing felt dangerous with Cole standing ten feet away looking like his blood pressure had doubled. Holland pressed her fingers to her mouth, but I saw the smile. Cole looked at Mila, then at Catherine, then at me. Then Holland narrowed her eyes at him in what I read as a warning.
“Have a good time tonight,” he said. The words sounded more like a question than a statement, but he was trying, and I had to meet him halfway.
“Thank you. I have some surprises planned,” I said.
“I love surprises,” Mila said. “They’re so romantic.”
Catherine walked toward me, and I held out my hand. She looked at it for one second before placing hers in mine. That one small choice felt bigger than it should have. Cole and Holland saw it too.
Holland stepped forward and touched Catherine’s arm. “You look beautiful, sweetheart.”
Catherine swallowed. “Thank you.”
Mila sighed. “The dress is amazing.”
“Hunter picked it,” Catherine said.
Holland smiled at me then, softer than I deserved. “Have a nice night.”
“We will.”
