“Dad should be talking to you about playing for the team, getting drafted,” I say. I fold my arms across my chest and plop down on the edge of the mattress, my legs dangling over the side.
“That’s sweet of you, but we both know Luca is a much better hockey player than I am.”
I grumble under my breath, hating that he’s right. I’ve been to enough games to know a good player from a great player. Liam is good. He’s amazing on the ice, a real team player, but Luca is the star.
Doesn’t mean I like it, though, my boyfriend getting tossed over for the star player. “I still think Dad should have entered you in the draft.”
Liam chuckles. “You have the cutest rose-colored glasses, Firebreather. But I’m not interested in playing hockey professionally. I told you, I’m planning on going to med school after I graduate. I want to be a doctor.”
“What type of doctor?” I press, staring up at him as he comes to stand between my thighs.
“The kind that gets to examine pretty girls like you,” he whispers into my ear. “Ever played doctor before?”
I giggle and gently push him back. “We can’t,” I say, eyes widening as I glance past him at the door. “My dad is still here.”
It’s too weird for me to do anything with him nearby, even if this is Liam’s place. I still feel a bit like a teenager, worried I’ll get caught by my father. Some habits and fears never die.
“Okay, okay,” Liam says and holds up his hands in surrender. “I’ll behave, but only because you told me to. It’s not because I’m not attracted to you.” The smile on his face lazily grows as he glances me up and down like he’s undressing me with his eyes.
“Stop it!” I laugh and shove him away, heading out of Liam’s bedroom.
“Where are you going?” Liam asks from inside the bedroom as I’m already in the hallway.
“Reminding myself of the consequences of certain actions,” I shoot at him over my shoulder as I plop down on the couch next to Zeke.
The perfect example of consequences. I love the kid, but I am not ready for one of my own. I don’t know how Harper and Luca are going to deal with two of them. Hell, I don’t know how Liam is going to deal with a newborn living under this roof in about eight months’ time. Or is it seven?
By the time the little one is born, I’ll be in the dorms. At least I won’t be getting woken up in the middle of the night. I’m betting Liam will be asking to stay the night at my place for a while after the second baby is born.
Harper hasn’t exactly told us the due date yet. She’d been quiet about the pregnancy, avoiding speaking of it entirely until the cramps and bleeding during the guys’ hockey game.
Worry doesn’t even begin to express the dread that I’d been feeling, knowing how much losing that baby would hurt them.
They’re all like family, and being Liam’s girlfriend has made them accept me as one of their own. Already, I have more friends here than at Great Falls, which is probably for the best because I’ll be moving into the dorms soon.
Zeke climbs onto my lap and cuddles. The kid is getting big; I can’t believe how much he’s grown since we first met. He’s enthralled with the cartoons on the television, and I quietly let him watch while Liam comes to sit next to me on the couch.
He leans in, his lips brushing against my ear. “Should I be jealous?” he teases, and I knock my elbow into his chest.
Liam chuckles and we both glance toward the hallway where Luca and my father come out, after having a rather lively discussion in the study.
“Bristol,” Dad says and nods at me. “I’ll see you for Thanksgiving.” His stare is nothing short of demanding.
“Do you think you might have space for one more?” Liam asks.
I raise a curious brow at my boyfriend. He’s already told my father that we’ll both be joining him.
“My sister,” he says, his voice hardly above a whisper.
My eyes widen, realizing my mistake, not inviting his twin.
Dad seems to catch on faster than I do. “Everyone is welcome. Just let us know the headcount a couple days prior, so we can make enough food.”
I hand Zeke over to Liam to walk Dad outside. “I’ll be right back.”
I grab my coat and slip on my shoes, heading out into the brisk autumn air. The wind whips around, it’s rather chilly outside.
Dad is quiet as he heads to the car. “Everything okay?” he asks, glancing at me, unlocking the door with the key fob.
