Page 9 of Offside Angle

“Ah ah,” I call after her, amused. “Where the hell do you think you’re going, young lady?”

She stops in the doorway and turns around with a bright, mischievous grin. “A bedroom?” she says, putting on an impressive show of innocence despite very obviously choosing one that isn’t mine.

I shake my head and walk past her, pushing open the door to my own bedroom instead. I point inside with one hand.

“This,” I say, “is your bedroom for the next few days, sweetheart.”

Lena’s grin widens as she steps closer, tilting her head at me with that dangerous little sparkle in her eyes. “Oh?” she teases. “You want me in your bed?”

I huff, trying to keep a straight face. “No,” I deadpan. “I want you under it. Get.”

Lena bursts out laughing, the sound bright and genuine as she swats at my arm. She’s still giggling when she finally steps into my room, already making herself at home.

I drop her bag beside the dresser. “Oh, and fair warning—my parents get here tomorrow. They’re staying with us.”

Her eyes go even wider. “Wait…” she says slowly, voice rising. “They’ll be coming here tomorrow… here where?”

I smirk and gesture vaguely around the house with one hand.

She stares at me. “No…” she says, the word coming out half-whine, half-panic.

“Lena,” I say, trying not to laugh, “it’s a big house. I have seven guest rooms. You’ll probably barely see each other.”

It’s only half true. Yes, I have seven guest rooms. But I also know my parents. My dad is going to take one look at her and decide she needs feeding, stories, and probably a full interrogation about her life. My mom will be quieter about it, but she’ll find ways to pull Lena into conversations and watch her with that look she gets when she’s deciding if someone is good enough for her son.

They’re going to adopt her.

And I also know why Lena looks like she wants to crawl under the bed right now.

She and Cole haven’t had parents for a long time. This kind of parental energy — warm, overwhelming, and very present — is unfamiliar territory for her. I can see it in the way her shoulders have gone a little stiff and how she’s suddenly very interested in the floor.

I step closer and gently catch her hand, giving it a light squeeze.

“Hey,” I say. “You don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with. They’re just excited to meet you properly. But if it gets too much, you can hide in here with me. I’ll run interference.”

Lena glances up at me, looking a little overwhelmed but clearly trying to relax. She squeezes my hand back.

“You’re really throwing me to the wolves, huh?” she mutters, but there’s a small smile starting to form.

I grin. “More like throwing you to two very dramatic, very affectionate wolves who are going to love you. But yeah… pretty much.”

She lets out a long sigh and drops her forehead against my chest. “I hate you,” she mumbles into my shirt.

“No you don’t,” I say, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her in properly. “You’re just scared my dad is going to try to teach you how to make paella at seven in the morning.”

Lena groans against me, but I feel her relax a little in my arms.

Later that evening, I’m in the middle of getting ready to head back to the rink for evening gym when Lena appears in the doorway.

I’m pulling on a hoodie when she suddenly jumps onto my back, arms looping around my shoulders and legs wrapping around my waist like a koala.

“Can I come?” she asks right next to my ear.

I let out a short laugh, steadying myself with one hand on the wall so I don’t topple over. “If you want to be surrounded by twenty sweaty hockey players and have Damian make you do actual exercise…” I tease, adjusting my grip on her thighs, “sure.”

Lena hums like she’s actually considering it, her chin hooked over my shoulder. I can practically feel her thinking.

Then she suddenly hops off my back and bolts toward the bedroom without another word.