Page 64 of Center Ice

22

Dani

Sydney knocked on the door in the morning and invited me to swim with her and the boys since the team had another training session. Milo and Finn were great at keeping themselves occupied, so I told her about everything that happened the day before while they had a splash contest on the other side of the pool.

I didn’t mention the offer from the Indianapolis team. I wasn’t sure if Jake told any of his teammates, and it wasn’t my news to share.

“Who knew he had a romantic side?” She winked and kicked her legs in the water. We were still seated at the edge since the boys wanted us to watch and score each cannonball they attempted. This mostly included cheering at regular intervals and holding up nine or ten fingers to let them know we were impressed.

“Romantic? It was the place he went to grieve his mother while she was still alive and sick.”

She shrugged. “But he was thinking of his dream house.”

“That he planned on building and living in alone,” I pointed out.

“Okay, maybe romantic isn’t the right word. Sentimental?”

“Yeah, I didn’t expect it either, but he was different when he was up there. It was like he was able to take off the weight he carries around and relax.”

“Well, one day when he’s ready, he can buy the land and build that house.”

I wanted that to be true, but that was just as likely to happen as moving across the country. He hadn’t told me if he decided this morning, so it was more of the same waiting game. I made him wait two days. I could do the same.

“What did you think of that area?”

“The view was gorgeous. Anyone would love it.”

“But could you see yourself living there?” She watched me, and I narrowed my eyes.

“You mean, could I see myself living with him?”

She smiled and nodded.

“I know it’s fast, but––”

“Hey, I’m not going to judge when it comes to that. Brandon and I went from boss and nanny to a couple in record time.”

I relaxed a little bit. “Yeah, I could see us being together, and maybe even one day starting a family.”

She looked at the boys and clapped at their progress. “That’s how I felt when I met them. I loved them from the first day. Brandon came later, and now they’re my family.” She faced me again. “Don’t let what anyone else thinks influence you. If you love him after a week, that’s just as valid as saying it after a year.”

Love? Did I love Jake?

I’d never been in love before. Not true, soul-shattering love. I had a boyfriend in high school, but that was more attraction and admiration. I loved him, but I wasn’t in love with him. Which was a very different thing.

I already loved the team and the women of the Pride. They made it hard not to.

It was something else entirely to think about Jake and admitting to myself what I felt. I cared about him. I wanted him to be as happy as possible. I was willing to trust him enough to move here. I thought there was a future between us. But was I in love?

I was close. There was a stubborn piece of me that said it was too soon. We didn’t know each other well enough.

But did that matter? When was it enough? When we knew each other’s favorite color, childhood best friend, and how they folded their towels? What did things like that change?

No, it was about how someone made you feel. Did they boost you up? Make you want to be better? Did they lift you up when you were down? Were they kind? Loyal? Honest?

The small details would come over time, but there was no point in waiting to discover those if the big deal-breakers weren’t already there.

“You’ve gone quiet on me.” She nudged me with her elbow.