Page 292 of On His Team

I look at him. “Wow.”

He hooks an arm around my waist and pulls me against him.

I land half across his lap. “Could’ve hesitated.”

Stanley points harder. “Look at this. Everybody look at what’s happening right now.”

Rowan ignores him. “I’m not staying for Gianna.”

“Again,” I say, “you can make this sound slightly more romantic.”

Rowan looks down at me. “I’m staying because I want the degree. I want another year here. I want to play.” His hand settles against my hip. “And my girlfriend being here doesn’t hurt.”

There it is.

Warmth spreads straight through my chest. “Better.”

He smiles down at me.

Benson looks at me. “Good luck.”

I lean farther into Rowan and smile. “I am going to be so fucking unbearable next year.”

“You already are,” Blue says.

I point at him. “Your defenseman is staying because he loves me.”

Stanley groans. “That is literally not what he said.”

I shrug. “That’s what I heard.”

Rowan laughs against the side of my head.

Then everybody starts talking over each other again. Next year’s lines. Who’s leaving. Who’s coming back. Whether Mackey and Rowan stay together. Whether Percy can somehow become even more annoying about his save percentage. Stanley has apparently decided he is going to visit as much as he can despite nobody inviting him.

I barely listen.

Rowan already chose Camden. He chose the degree. He chose another year of hockey because that’s what he wants. And I get to be here for it.

Rowan squeezes my hip.

I look up. “What?”

“You’re smiling.”

“So?”

“So, you love me.”

I nod. “Yeah.”

He leans in. “I love you too.”

My heart does something fucking stupid.

I settle farther into him. “You’re going to love me even more next year.”

“We’ll see.”