Page 106 of Hot Shot
“Hi, sweets. I’m sorry. Fuck.” I run a hand through my hair, yanking on the ends. “Can I come in? Can we talk?”
“Yeah.” Madison steps back to let me in and closes the door.
I spin around and take a hesitant step closer to her. I want to reach out and touch her, but I don’t.
We need to clear the air between us, so I settle for being close enough to breathe in her sweet, comforting scent.
“Madison.” My voice comes out shaky. “I’m sorry.”
She stares at me, her mouth opening and closing a few times but no sound coming out. She takes a deep breath wringing her hands. “Why are you sorry?”
“For fucking this whole thing up.” I throw my hands in the air. “I don’t—I’m sorry.”
“Come on.” She takes my hand, and I let out a breath, feeling the weight that I was carrying around disappear when her hand slides into mine.
She leads me to her couch, where I take a seat. Taking a chance, I pull her down into my lap. Breathing another sigh of relief when she nestles into me.
“What’s going on, hot shot?” she asks, turning around to meet my gaze. She reaches up and caresses my cheek. A sigh escapes me as I lean into her touch.
“I fucked up. I’m sorry. I should have talked to you after everything happened. I handled things badly.”
“No, I’m the one who’s sorry. I should have told you sooner about my dad. It’s all my fault that the news came out the way it did.” She lets out a huff. “Actually, if I’d told you about my dad from the beginning, it wouldn’t have mattered what EJ did. I’ll understand if you don’t want to be together after all that drama went down. I know it was a distraction to your game.” She trails off and buries her face in her hands.
I pull her into my chest, wrapping my arms around her. “I want you, sweets. I’ll always want you. I should have told you this weeks ago.” I pause and Madison lifts her head from my chest. “I love you, Madison Mae Harris. You’re it for me. I think you’ve been it for me for a while. As much as I love hockey, if I had to choose, I’d choose you. Every day. All day.”
“Hunter,” Madison whispers, swiping away the tears that are falling down her cheek.
Fuck. I made her cry. I open my mouth to say something. To make her feel better, but she shakes her head at me, and I wait.
“Hunter, I love you too. I’d choose you every day, all day, no matter what.”
My eyes well with tears, and I clear my throat, hoping she doesn’t see the emotion written on my face.
I’ve spent so long wanting someone to choose me, and here it’s finally happening in a way that I never expected.
I came to Florida hoping to live out my dream of playing professional hockey, making it in the NHL, and not only have I done that, but I’ve also met my dream girl, found my forever, found myhome.
“Say it again, sweets,” I whisper, struggling to gain my composure.
“I love you.”
“No, the other part,” I choke out, needing to hear her say it again.
Her eyes shining with unshed tears, she says, “I’d choose you every day, all day, no matter what.”
There is still one thing on my mind that I need to ask. “What happens if I get traded?”
“We’ll move somewhere new.”
“You’d go with me?” I ask, my face lighting up.
“Of course I would, hot shot. You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
“What about your business? I couldn’t ask you to give that up.”
Madison sits up, takes my face in her hands, and pulls me toward her. “You’re not asking me to do anything I don’t want to do. Don’t you understand? I love you, Hunter. I’d go with you anywhere.”
“Fuck,” I mumble, my eyes stinging with emotion again. How did I get this lucky to have this woman in my life?
