Page 231 of On His Team

“No.” The answer comes so fast I almost laugh. Rowan’s brow pulls together. “I mean this version.”

I understand what he means. It’s the sound of Stanley yelling downstairs, the rink ten minutes away, and maybe me in his bed because I have nowhere else to be this week.

“This version ends,” he says. “Doesn’t mean we do.”

I look at him. There are moments with Rowan where I wish he understood the effect he has on me. Then I’m grateful he doesn’t because I think my heart just squeezed. Internally, I’m screaming. I move closer and kiss him.

He rolls onto his back and pulls me over him.

I smile against his mouth. “Was that your romantic speech?”

“Pretty good, yeah.”

“It was.”

His hands settle at my hips.

I kiss him again, slower.

“I really love—” The word almost comes out. I catch it so quickly it turns into something else. “—being on spring break.”

Rowan pulls back.

I stare at him.

He stares at me.

My heart beats so hard I am convinced he can feel it where I’m lying on top of him.

Then one corner of his mouth lifts. “You love spring break.”

I close my eyes. “Yes.”

“A lot?” he asks.

I nod. “Very much.”

I open my eyes and laugh. Then I kiss him.

He doesn’t say anything more. Thank God.

Saturday night against Minnesota goes to overtime.

By then, everybody is back at Hawthorne. Spring break is technically still happening, but nobody has gone anywhere anymore. Lucy is beside me. Mara is sitting cross-legged on the floor with a pillow against her stomach. Aspen has abandoned pretending she can calmly analyze anything and is standing near the television.

The score is tied two-two.

Overtime stretches.

Five minutes.

Seven.

Nine.

I have stopped sitting.

Mara looks up at me when I pass in front of her again. “You are doing the thing.”