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I groan, nestling my forehead into the crook of her neck, still not willing to put her down, to slip out of her and resume life as normal. How will it ever be normal again? It can’t. Because I’ve got Mikayla, and she is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
“I love you,” she whispers against my cheek, brushing her fingers through my hair. “I love you so fucking much.”
I smile against her skin, then kiss her neck before pulling away so I can look into her eyes. So she can see how much I mean it when I whisper back, “You and me. Forever.”
“Forever.” She smiles, and the look of trust in her eyes makes my insides bloom.
Then we seal the deal with a kiss.
CHAPTER57
LIAM
Mikayla’s been living at Hockey House for nearly a month. She keeps saying it’s a temporary fix but seems pretty settled here. Plus, just quietly, I think she doesn’t want to live alone but doesn’t know how to find a roommate either. It’s not like she’s got a bunch of girlfriends to hang out with. She’s a tomboy at her core, and I can’t imagine Ethan wanting her to move in with some other guy, even if it is just a platonic thing.
I wonder how long she’ll stay.
Not that it bothers me. She’s cool, and I don’t mind having her around. Ethan’s been the happiest I’ve ever seen him, but I’m not sure everyone is as cool with the arrangement as he is.
Baxter would never say anything, but he’s a pretty private, reserved guy, and I don’t think he appreciated walking into the bathroom to find Mikayla shaving her legs the other day. He was red for the rest of the afternoon.
Asher would have sprinted right up there to check it out for himself if Ethan hadn’t blocked his way with a feral snarl. Asher was only riling him up, but I’m worried that it might turn into a brawl if Asher doesn’t figure out where the frickin’ line is. The guy can be so damn clueless.
Running up to the front door, I wipe the sweat off my face with the bottom of my shirt. Despite the fact that it’s mid-November, it’s still pretty warm. I love the cold. Give me snow and ice and all things chilly.
We’ve had a bunch of frosts and two decent snowfalls, but I’m hanging out for those weeks where the entire campus turns into a winter wonderland. It may sound cheesy, but I love that North Pole promise. That crystal-white snow coating everything, your skin tingling with that icy chill while you sip a hot coffee.
I love standing in the middle of a snowfall, the flakes dancing through the sky and landing on my jacket and boots and beanie.
There’s a silent beauty to snow. And waking up to a clear morning after a heavy dump is pure magic. There’s no other way to describe it.
I open the front door and strip off my shirt, using it to wipe the sweat off my body. The house is toasty warm. Mikayla’s gonna love that. She’s a tiny speck with a very thin layer of fat to ward off the chill. She’s used to Southern Californian winters, and she’s already complaining about how freaking cold everything is.
Wait until January and February, Mick. You’re gonna turn into a popsicle.
I don’t feel the cold. I was born and raised in Colorado, got my first pair of skates when I was three. I spent my youth hanging by the rink—any excuse not to go home, right?
The dark thought makes me frown, and I whip out my phone, sending a quick text to my younger sister, Sofia.
Me: Checking in. How’s your week going?
Sofia: All good, big bro. Nothing that interesting. School is boring. Math is the devil’s spawn, and Mom’s not letting me go out with Elena this weekend even though her older brother is coming with us to play bodyguard.
Me: Where were you gonna go?
Sofia: Just dancing.
In other words, clubbing with fake IDs. I shake my head, hearing my sister’s voice as if she were in the room with me. She’s a junior in high school, and I’m siding with Mama on this one.
Sofia: Maybe if you came too…
Me: Sorry, chica. I’ve got hockey. I’m sure you’ll find something fun to do instead.
Sofia: Argh! You suck too.
I grin.
Me: I love you.
