AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh yeah?” My heart hitches, my fingers curling around the countertop as I brace for whatever she has to say.
“Don’t worry.” She grins, leaning forward to peck my lips. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Relief washes through me, but I’m still kind of tense because her smile is fading fast.
“I need to give that money back to Theo, though. And I’m just trying to work out a safe way to do that. I don’t want to give my location away or leave any kind of digital trail.”
“Why do you have to give it back?” I take her hands in mine. “Just keep it. Use it.”
“I can’t.” She shakes her head. “It makes me feel gross even having it. I want to rid him from my life completely. And as long as I don’t return that money, he still has a hold on me, you know?”
Her eyes are so green right now. Shining emeralds, sparkling under the kitchen lights.
“Okay.” I pull her against me. “We’ll figure out a safe way to do it.”
“Thank you.”
“Any talk about you looking for a place together?” I murmur against her neck. “Mick looked pretty riled when she left.”
“Yeah, she’s keen. I just…” She pulls back, putting on a smile.
“You just what?”
She swallows and shakes her head. “Nothing.”
I want to ask for more, but she pulls away, walking out of the kitchen and straight into Casey’s arms.
She kind of jolts as he wraps her in a hug.
“Your ex and his friends are fucking assholes.” He rubs her back.
“Uh…” She pats his shoulder. “That’s true.”
Casey pulls away, his face the picture of sincerity. “If that fuckface ever gives you trouble again, you call me, okay? Any of the Cougars will be there for you in a heartbeat. You got that?”
She nods.
“I’ve gotta hear you say it, kid. Them Cougars got my back.”
“Um.” She lets out a soft giggle. “Them Cougars got my back.”
“Now shout it.”
“Them Cougars got my back.”
“Shout, sweetie, shout. I want to hear you roar that shit.”
“Them Cougars got my back!” She screams the words and gets a hearty “Puck yeah!” in return.
I stifle a laugh, watching my woman go bright red and loving my bros for taking such good care of her.
CHAPTER 29
RACHEL
So, Mikayla did talk incessantly about finding a place while we were sharing pie at the diner. I nodded and softly agreed, but I’m really not sure if that’s what I want to do. Hockey House was a pigsty when we returned, and yes, I get that living with boys can be super gross… but there’s a safety to it, you know?
The house is filled with big, muscly guys who will defend me at the drop of a hat. Do I really want to leave that?
