Her eyes shine like she’s trying not to cry and failing in the best way. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
Relief hits so hard I have to chuckle. Without thinking, I slide my arm around her back and pull her close. She tucks her face into my neck, and the skin-on-skin contact ignites a whirlwind of shivers through me.
“So,” she murmurs, “you still want to break up with Bodan for me?”
I grin into her hair. “Absolutely.”
“No, I was joking. I’ll handle it.” The softest chuckle leaks from her. “I can’t believe we are boyfriend and girlfriend.” She goes quiet, like she’s letting herself believe it. “This feels unreal.”
“Good unreal or bad unreal?”
“Good, of course, but Ham’s going to kill me.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I won’t let him.” I hadn’t planned on kissing her, though it’s all I’ve thought about since the last one. Well, when I wasn’t thinking about hockey. I’d forbidden myself to even touch her in public. But when I look into her eyes, normally sea-glass green, they spiral with so many colors it’s like I’m seeing an entire forest of happiness. And what happens next? I’ll just call it another oops.
One second we’re talking. The next, I’m cupping her face in my hand. She doesn’t hold back either, leaning in, her fingers curling into my shirt.
That is the part that gets me!
I feel it everywhere!
In my chest.
In my ribs.
In my intestines, which let out a happy gurgle like I just fed them cake.
I hope she didn’t hear it.
Did she hear it?
Our lips meet, painstakingly slow, irresistibly slow. I give her time to resist, letting her guide me to where she’s comfortable, which turns out to be a pretty good plan, because she melts into the kiss, stealing every last ounce of breath I have.
Crrrruuuunch!
The sound of someone stepping on rocks cuts through the air. I yank back and freeze. A figure lingers off to the side, phoneraised as if filming. The fountain? Us? I hate to be arrogant and assume either is important enough to be filmed, but my heart jumps into my throat.
Lottie stiffens, her gaze locking on the person.
“Sorry,” the person says, moving into the light. It’s a woman, touristy-looking in cargo shorts and a Washington DC T-shirt. Likely photographing the fountain. I hope she was just capturing the fountain. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you two,” she adds.
“Oh, you’re not,” I throw out as casually as I can. Thankfully, she lowers her phone and disappears down the path.
“Phew.” Lottie laughs shakily. “I thought we were toast.”
“So did I,” I admit.
“That wouldn’t be good.” She chuckles, the sound thin. “But I think we’re okay.”
I toss another look over my shoulder. My heightened senses say not so fast. I want to believe her, but we are in a public place. This might have been a stupid idea. I hadn’t planned on kissing her, but declaring we’re a couple? That’s a huge moment. Standing, I take a step aside. “Well, maybe we should walk. That might appear more casual.”
Following my lead, she stands and walks forward. “Yeah, that was close but … worth it,” she says like a confession.
“I have to agree.” My fingers twitch, hating I can’t grab her hand right now. It’s a cruel game that after all the years of waiting to tell her how I feel, after I finally do, and we are officially together, I still can’t touch her in public. Speaking of public appearances, I bring up something else. “So, tomorrow is the last game. Are you able to come?”
“I don’t know.” Her face falls a little. “I want to, but I will probably need to ask Bodan to be the decoy, and I don’t want to drag this out. The more times we are seen in public, the harder it’ll be to break it off.”
“Maybe you can come by yourself.” I step closer, lowering my voice. “Nobody has to know you are there to watch me. It’s not like you are going to wear a wag jacket.”
