Page 98 of Body Check

“What can I do for you, McKittrick?”

Passing over the file, she flips it open, and her eyes go even wider.

“You’re sure about this?” she asks. I’m not the first player to date a staff member… but soon, I won’t be a player anymore. I’ll be her peer.

“One hundred and ten percent.”

Jacky nods. “Alright, then. I’ll get it formalized. You two should be good to go.” She pauses. “You deserve someone who makes you happy. Someone who makes you smile like you have been.”

“She’s pretty fantastic,” I agree. “All I want to do is love her. She’s finally ready to love me back.”

“I wish you a lifetime of happiness,” she says, tucking the file into a pile on her desk. “Consider your relationship declared. No fooling around in the training facility, please.”

A smirk curves my lips. “We’ll do our best.”

My errand done, I head down to the dressing room, where the guys are changing out of their kits. All chatter stops when I limp into the room.

“What?” I ask. “Is there something on my face?”

“Oh, Cap,” Jenkins says, in a falsetto. “I love you, Cap.”

I glare at the kid. “What the fuck did you just say?”

“No, I love you more,” Sinclair says, in a high-pitched voice.

Lewis wraps his arms around his shoulders and pretends to make out with himself.

“The fuck is going on here?” My voice comes out as a roar, and Gonzo flinches.

“Shut up, it’s cute,” Logan says.

My glare narrows on him. “What are you talking about?”

“You and Amelia,” Logan says, with a shrug. “You guys ready to finally stop hiding it?”

“What are you talking about?” It sounds hollow. We haven’t discussed telling everyone, only that we wouldn’t need to keep it a secret.

“Come on, McKittrick,” Easton says. “You two have snuck around this place for months.”

My mouth drops open. “What?”

“You’re always smiling at her,” Henry says. “You watch her and smile, and when anyone looks at you, you scowl to cover it. You’re totally obvious, bud.”

“I’ve seen her leaving our building, like, seven different times,” MacGregor adds. “Doesn’t make much sense for her to be over when she lives just next door.”

“And her backpack is always inside your front door.” Logan shakes his head. “You really make her hide whenever we come over?”

My face heats. “I—we⁠—”

“You can tell us,” Larsson says. “You don’t have to hide it.”

“Yes,” Amelia’s voice says from behind me. “We’re together. And if you say another fucking word about it, the next time you’re on my table, you’ll cry.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Larsson says seriously.

She steps up beside me, sliding her hand into mine. “You took too long,” she teases, before she kisses me.

The dressing room erupts into cheers and shouts.

“All right, all right, settle down,” Coach calls, and we break apart.

Amelia’s face is flushed, a smile stretching her face.

“Larsson, you’re a healthy scratch tonight,” he adds.

The Swede opens his mouth to argue.

“Son, you need to get to the hospital,” Coach says. “Vanessa’s water just broke. Jacky’s called an ambulance, and it’ll be here in a few minutes.”

Larsson’s face goes white. “We’re having a baby?”

“Yeah, man,” Henry says, slapping his back. “You’re having a baby.”

And then the dressing room erupts into cheers again.