Page 145 of Scoring Lessons

“This feels good,” she whispered. “Just one more minute.”

I kissed the side of her head. “Anything for you, Livvie girl.”

So there I remained, inside of her, running my fingers up and down her arm. Happily holding the love of my life, in no rush to let her go.

FORTY-THREE

OLIVIA

I’M A ONE WOMAN MAN, BABY.

Team dinners had become a favorite part of my routine since I’d started working for the Strikers.

Some of the guys had been planning to watch the playoffs, and since they didn’t know where to go, I offered to host at Wesley’s apartment.

Though if I ever said that in front of him, he’d always correct me. To him, this was our home.

The place had become homier since then. Wesley loved buying too many toys and dog beds for Daisy, even though she’d sleep on his lap every chance she got.

They were inseparable, and I never believed someone could ever have more than one soulmate, but every time I looked at my sweet girl and the love of my life together, I knew deep in my bones that Daisy was always meant to be taken care of and loved by Wesley, too.

The TV was already on in the living room, pregame commentary bleeding into the kitchen. My brother opened the door without so much as a knock and waltzed in wearing his Strikers jersey while carrying Captain Sushi in his arms, who was wearing a special edition jersey Kennedy had gotten made when the Strikers won the Cup last season. “The lives of the party have arrived.”

“Why are you wearing your jersey?” I asked, scrunching my nose.

“I refuse to wear another team’s,” he replied, visibly offended. “Next season, we’ll be back. You’ll see.”

Parker appeared out of nowhere with a bag of chips and queso and dropped them on the counter. “Fuck yeah, we will!”

I groaned. “Do any of you ever knock?”

Parker frowned like the thought hadn’t occurred to him. “Now that I think about it…no.”

“We’ve had no reason to,” my brother added.

Kennedy strode into the kitchen and rested her elbows on the counter then grabbed a chip and munched on it. “That’s risky business, considering your sister is literally dating your best friend.” She tilted her head, her grin turning devilish. “What if you walk in on them while they’re fucking?”

Henry gagged as he did a visible full-body shiver. “I think I’m going to be sick. Don’t you ever say that in my presence again.”

“I would probably ask if I could join?” Parker said, more as a question.

My brother’s jaw went slack as he stared at him in disbelief.

“I think this is the first time I have no comeback for the random shit you sputter out of your mouth.” Kennedy reared back and blinked once. “That’s oddly surprising.”

Wesley draped an arm over my shoulder and shot Parker a glare over the rim of his glass. “You feel like dying today, Levi?”

Parker raised his hands in mock defeat. “I mean, I didn’t say you needed to agree. No need to get violent.”

I placed a hand against Wesley’s chest and laughed as my gaze found his. “It’s funny you think Parker was being serious.”

“I was⁠—”

I interrupted him. “I’m trying to save your ass here, Parker.”

Wesley rolled his eyes then hooked his index finger underneath my chin and lifted it, dropping a quick kiss on my lips. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look yet?”

“About three times already,” I replied through a grin I tried to fight off.