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“But he can’t be. We just met.”
“I fell in love with Baden in a matter of seconds. What does time have to do with it?”
I know what she’s referring to. Baden saved her from being mugged. They have a unique bond the way Boone and I do.
But love?
I have to admit, my feelings for him run incredibly deep. How could they not with everything he’s done and shown me?
“Let’s not dwell on that,” Sophie says, snapping me out of it. “Just trust me when I say it’s clear you two have something special.”
“Yeah… I actually know that,” I admit.
“Come on.” I’m tugged forward again. “Lots to do.”
I follow Sophie around the backyard and she doesn’t leave a single person out. I meet every player, and the majority are here with a plus-one. So many people, there’s no way I’ll ever remember all their names today. Maybe by the next gathering. A handful of kids run around playing. It’s such a festive family atmosphere, I have a sudden and intense longing to have Aiden with us. He would’ve geeked out over this so hard, seeing all these Titans and having other kids to play with.
For a moment, I let myself imagine what a long-term relationship with Boone could look like. Over the last few weeks, the fact that he’s a professional hockey player has never really come into play. Sure, I’ve gone to a game and some of the Titans players have been involved with Aiden, but the fame of it hasn’t really touched me. I consider how radically different my life would be if Boone and I married one day. We wouldn’t live in our old apartment above the deli but possibly in the suburbs. Aiden would be able to go to a wonderful school, and there’s no doubt in my mind that would happen not because I asked for it but because Boone would insist on it. He would treat Aiden like his own son.
And then we would have children together. I want at least three but I have no clue if Boone wants the same. I would think so. A man cannot spend as much time as he does at a children’s hospital bringing happiness to other people’s kids to not want children of his own.
I really shouldn’t be thinking like this because no matter what Sophie says about love, Boone hasn’t said it to me. All I can do is hope to maintain what we have right now and keep my fingers crossed that I’m lucky in love for the future.
Eventually, I settle down at a table with Kiera and Danica, two of the Titans women I met after that first game. Sophie leaves me in their care to continue with her hostess duties, and upon their inquiry, I catch them up on Aiden’s condition. One comforting point of connection between me and Kiera is that she’s an oncology nurse and understands better than anyone the precarious nature of Aiden’s condition and the treatment he’s receiving. While the reward of a cure is great, the risks you have to battle before reaching it are perilous.
We spend most of the time though with them prodding me about Boone and the nature of our relationship. They think the entire story is super romantic and they, in turn, fill me in on how they started dating Camden and Bain. It’s the tiniest taste of what it would be like to have girlfriends to gab with.
Two hands come down on my shoulders.
Large, strong and familiar.
I tip my head back and see Boone hovering over me. “Come on,” he says, cutting a glance at Kiera and Danica and offering them a quick wink. “I’d like some actual alone time with you.”
“Quite the romantic,” Kiera quips.
“Damn straight,” Boone says without a hint of embarrassment.
“Let her stay with us,” Danica chides. “It’s girl time.”
Boone shoots Danica a faux glare of challenge. “This is a date for me and Lilly, and we don’t get enough time together as it is, so I’m stealing her away and if you want to hang with her later, we will be sitting over on that bench under that maple tree eating food and making goo-goo eyes at each other.”
Danica and Kiera stare agog at Boone, not just for the sweetest words ever uttered by a man completely in touch with his feelings and not afraid to express them, but by the sexy, domineering manner in which he relayed them. It’s a complete turn-on to me—every bit of it. He’s the total package, and as much as I believe all the Titan men who were lucky to land these amazing women are sweeties in their own right, I’m quite sure I got the best.
Laughing, I rise from the chair. “I’ll talk to you two later.”
“Drinks,” Danica says with a pointed look. “We’re having drinks for sure one night!”
“I’m there,” I call back as Boone takes my hand and leads me away.
Boone and I hit the food tables and then we move over to the maple tree he’d pointed out. He straddles the backless bench and I follow suit as we set our plates down between us.
“Having fun?” he asks.
“Everyone’s so nice. Can’t say I ever gave professional athletes and their families much thought before, but turns out… you all are just regular people.”
Boone snickers. “Outside of being famous and making millions, sure.” Reaching over, he nabs a piece of brisket from my plate. “How did I miss this? It’s my favorite.”
He eats the tender meat and reaches for another but I smack his hand playfully. “It’s my favorite as well.”
