Page 106 of Trade It All

That’s it. I snap. My feet are moving before my brain catches up.

I stalk across the locker room with every player’s conversation slowly dying around me because apparently Coach Dean storming through the middle of pregame has a noticeable vibe.

Maddie looks up just as I reach her. Her brows lift. “Dean—”

I grab her by the waist, spin her toward me, and kiss her. Hard. Not a maybe-this-could-be-misunderstood kiss. Not a subtle peck. A full, possessive, locker-room-stopping kiss. The kind that says mine in every language known to man.

For one split second I expect her to jerk back in surprise. To shove at my chest. To remind me we are in public. Instead—herhands come up and cup my face. And she kisses me back. Just as deep. Just as hungry.

A roar explodes around us. Helmets slam. Someone whistles loud enough to rupture an eardrum.

I finally drag myself back an inch, breathing hard, my hands still locked on her waist. Her lips are pink. Her eyes dazed. My wife. I keep my gaze on hers when I speak.

But my words are for the idiot rookie standing two feet behind her looking like he just witnessed an alien landing.

“Eyes off my wife, kid.”

Silence. One beat. Then the entire locker room detonates. Half the team starts shouting. The other half starts cackling. A chorus of WHAT THE FUCK echoes off concrete walls.

Luka’s voice bellows the loudest. “WIFE?”

Jake is halfway out of his stall, tape hanging from one hand, looking personally betrayed.

Grady just shouts, “NO FUCKING WAY.”

And Jasper—dramatic, ridiculous Jasper—throws both hands in the air. “This is why she would never go out with me!”

Maddie buries her face in my chest laughing. I don’t even care that the room is in chaos. I just wrap one arm around her shoulders, look at the stunned rookie over her head, and shrug.

Chapter 41

Maddie

Forasecond,Icannot hear anything except my own heartbeat.

The locker room is chaos around me—helmets banging, men yelling, Jasper still dramatically shouting about me ruining his chances—but all I can see is Dean.

Dean with his hands still warm on my waist.

Dean with that look in his eyes that says he would do it all over again without hesitation.

Dean who just kissed me in front of the entire team and called me his wife like he was claiming territory.

My husband. The thought still feels surreal.

Dean finally steps back enough for the room to come back into focus, but he doesn’t let go of me completely. His hand slides from my waist to the small of my back like he still needs the contact.

Luka is the first one to barrel over.

“What the actual fuck?” he bellows, ripping his helmet off. His eyes bounce between me and Dean. “You got married?”

Jake is right behind him, looking equally offended. “In Vegas? Without us?”

Grady shoves between them, his brows pulled low. Unlike the other two, his eyes land directly on me.

“You good with…all of this?” he asks, jerking his thumb vaguely between Dean and the room full of screaming men.

Something in my chest softens.