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I shrug. “Yeah. But I’m the best ever at ordering takeout.”
“Orange chicken and spring rolls?” she gasps, widening her eyes.
“Anything for you.” I tip my chin up before she steps back. I ache to keep her body close to mine and kiss her lips. But at least having dinner with her means I get to be near her longer today. I’ll take what I can get.
“I’ll see you in a bit?” she asks softly, and I nod.
“Yep. I’ll be over with Chinese food in hand for the prego lady.” I wink. “See you soon.”
“Bye, Hales!” Watson hollers from the living room before she leaves.
“Yeah, fuck you, sister. We just chopped liver?” Hunter yells. “Don’t worry about coming to see us!”
She shakes her head but smiles. “Hi, boys. Bye, boys!” Holding her hand up, she waves before walking back across the road.
To a house I wish I lived in with her.
29
Haley
The pride I feel in my chest as I watch the Wolves win the Frozen Four and become champions is huge. But it doesn’t compare to how big my heart swells as I watch Cade down there with them, basking in the accomplishment. Only now, he’s behind the glass as a student coach for the defensive players instead of out on the ice. And the best part about it is, because Coach LaConte is a literal saint, he fought for Cade to keep his scholarship, and won. His argument was that players who are injured are often given the chance to keep their scholarships. Cade’s injuries might not be seen with a set of eyes, but they are still there. His addiction is something he’ll always have to fight against. But LaConte truly believes that, even though Cade isn’t laced up and on the ice anymore, he is still a huge part of the team. And could be a very valuable piece to the defense program at Brooks.
Though the game was intense, there’s a look of peace on his face that I never saw when he was a player. A sense ofcontentment maybe. Whatever it is, I love it. And it makes me so happy for not only him, but our family too.
If I said everything has been easy since he got home nearly ten weeks ago, I’d be lying. Finding a way to cope as friends and not cross any imaginary boundaries, well, it’s hard.
The way I love him makes this non-romantic relationship we have incredibly challenging at times. Especially when there’s that magnetic pull between us, where our souls just want to collide with each other. I can’t say it gets easier, but I guess we’re learning what works for us. Which seems to be just being transparent. Talking to each other when one of us feels frustrated with how things are with this wholenon-romantic, but having a babything. I try not to mention how badly I want to be with him because that somehow feels like I’d be pressuring him to go against the rules he’s set in place. And I’d never do that.
I’ll wait as long as I have to, but I’m already counting down the days for when I can hold him like he’s mine. If that day ever comes, that is. I suppose a lot could happen in the next seven months while we trudge toward his one-year mark of sobriety.
The baby jabs his foot into the wall of my stomach, and I cringe. “Wowzer, you’re active tonight.”
“It could have been that humungous soda you downed,” Sutton says, her lips in a line and her eyes wide. “Just sayin’.”
“Or all that candy,” Remi adds, looking at Sutton and shrugging. “If someone fed me that shit, I’d probably have my underwear on my head, dancing right now.”
“Thank God no one did then,” I mutter. “Also, it’s not like I eat candy all day, every day, jerks. Just for special occasions.” I wave my hand out to the ice. “This qualified as special.”
“Oh, yeah? What was yesterday’s occasion?” Remi snorts before I shoot her down with some daggers, and she shrugs. “Sorry.”
I’m thirty weeks pregnant, and even though I still have ten weeks to go, give or take, I feel like a whale. And my ribs hurt. And I pee every half hour. And my ass has now doubled in size, and I’m pretty sure it’s starting its own website because it’s so large.
On top of all of that, women still throw themselves at Cade right under my nose. He, of course, turns them down. At least, from what I’ve seen, he does. But apparently, the fact that he’s been to rehab only makes him hotter to the female population at Brooks.
But at the end of the day, it’s me who he’s delivering treats and things to weekly. Whether it’s with a new sweatshirt, a baggy pair of sweatpants, or some sugar-and-butter-packed baked goods … he makes me feel special. So, I’m thankful for that.
Feeling his eyes on me, I find him down below and wave. He gives me a thumbs-up—something he’s been doing at the games lately as a way to make sure I’m feeling okay. I smile and hold my thumb up for a second before dropping it down.
God, he looks so good.
He’s more muscular than ever. And there’s just a glow on his face and a light in his eyes that was never there before. I’m sure it was at one time, before I met him.
All I have to do is look at Cade, and I somehow feel safer. And I hope, one day, he feels the same way about me.
Cade
“Is this how you thought you’d end the season?” Coach asks,clapping his hand on my shoulder.
