She opens her mouth, probably to protest precisely that, but Smitty saves the day for once instead of making things more awkward.
“Let’s go, Ricky!” he calls. “This ice time isn’t paying for itself.”
Fifteen
Harper
“You’re staring,” Faye whispers.
I jerk, tear my gaze away from the ice—or more specifically away from one particular player on the ice—and glance over at my favorite romance author.
And my friend.
A few months ago, I was alone, and now…I’m part of something special.
A family in name rather than blood.
Having lost mine, I know exactly how valuable family—biological or not—can be. But what Luna and the others have built together is special and loud and fun and nosy and chaotic and…more. Not more than my mom, not more than what she gave me.
But more than either of us ever had.
I smile at Faye and bump my shoulder against hers. “I think you’re the one who’s gone ga-ga over your boytoy.”
She giggles. “I’m not sure if Gray would be offended to be called my boytoy or not.”
“Not,” Bri says from the other side of her. “Last time I heard him introduce himself he said he was Faye’s fictional heroic hockey influence.”
Faye groans.
I laugh.
“I can totally see it,” Luna says then clearly demonstrates the nosy part of the family they’ve built. “He’s totally the inspiration for Asher, right?”
Faye’s cheeks go pink.
“The hot neighbor your heroine is lusting after but too shy to talk to?” Luns grins. “You got everything except the fire.”
Faye glares at her. “That’s because I hadn’t lived through my house burning down yet.”
“It is a convenient plot arc,” Kailey adds dryly. “That whole forced proximity thing?” She clutches her hands to her chest and sighs. “So good.”
“Kill me now,” Faye mutters, but she’s fighting a smile.
“Never,” Luna declares. “I need more fictional hockey hotties.” A beat. “So, so many more.”
Bri rolls her eyes. “I thought you already have your…hockey hottie.” With the last, she pretends to gag a little, probably because Aiden has become a bit like a surrogate big brother for her—all the guys have. Talking about him being hot…yeah, probably not Bri’s thing.
“You’re not wrong about my hockey hottie.” Luna’s gaze slides out to the ice. “My man is gorgeous.” She turns back and winks at us. “But it’s still fun to imagine, am I right?”
“No,” I lie.
“Absolutely not,” Bri says.
“Oh, yes,” Faye chimes in.
“One hundred percent,” Kailey adds.
We freeze.
