Page 62 of Pucks and Books

Her brow softens, and it’s a beautiful sight to watch her concerns float away.

“That I found the girl of my dreams and I’m happy.”

Her smile is dazzling as a sweet blush warms her cheeks. “The girl of your dreams, huh?”

I lean in, pressing my nose to hers. “Yup, I have everything I want in my hands.”

Her lips part before she cups my face, her palms warm and inviting against my flesh. “As do I.”

As our lips meet, my heart swells for this girl.

The girl I’m hoping is falling for me—just as quickly as I’m falling for her.

CHAPTER 37

Louisa

The work week goes quickly, between preorders and talking about the new releases in the store, and it’s easy to say I’m busy every day.

At night, I’m Ciaran’s.

He hasn’t slept at his apartment since we fell into my bed together that first time. I know his roommate has an issue with it. But me? I’m loving every second. There is something special about falling asleep in his arms and waking up either sprawled across him or with his large body tangled with mine. Each day, something new of his invades my space. Razors and a toothbrush have been added to my bathroom. He has a mug in the kitchen, and his shoes are by the door. One of his hoodies is on the back of the chair in the kitchen, and his charger is plugged into the wall on his side of the bed. His nightstand has a few books, his reading glasses, and his water tumbler.

It all happened so quickly, effortlessly, and I wouldn’t change a damn thing. I love it. I love him in my space. Eliza isn’t a fan of the noise, but I ordered her noise-canceling headphones the day she came home, so she hasn’t complained much since they arrived. Mostly, I think she’s too happy for me to really be annoyed by us. Also, it isn’t like Ciaran bothers her. When he isn’t with me, he reads or watches TV with her. They get along fantastically and love to team up against me and tell me how messy I am.

Of course I’m dating the one guy who is a clean freak like my sister.

A wide smile pulls at my lips as that thought comes to mind. As much as I bristle at the teaming up they do against me, I also love it. They like each other, and that’s all I could truly ask for. For my sister, my best friend, to adore the guy that I love. Not that I’ve told him that, or that he has said it to me, but sometimes I feel like he wants to. But then I remind myself it’s been like ten days and only my dumb self falls as quickly as I have. Either way, I’ve fallen deeply for him, and it’s time to own up to that.

I pull into the player and staff entrance of Davenport Arena and park near where I know my peepaw will be. I haven’t been to the arena much the last couple weeks, but it isn’t like I’m expected to be here. I only came for the food when my peepaw was showing off the arena to all the developers and team owners. To make an appearance. Peepaw loves showing off his granddaughters, says we make him look approachable. I don’t know how—Clara, Elliot, and I have really bad resting bitch faces, but I guess Eliza is all sweet and lovely.

After parking, I head in, using my keycard to enter the back way that is reserved for executive staff. I greet security as I go through and then head toward my peepaw’s office. Davenport Arena is huge—and a huge addition to this town. I wish more people would realize that. Tennessee wants to be a hockey state… Well, here we are, providing an enormous building for hockey to be played in. I adjust Ciaran’s jersey on my shoulders before tucking my hands in the sleeves since it’s chilly in here. I can’t wait for the game tonight. I’m excited for Davenport Arena to put on its first-ever game for the Knoxville Bears, but also, I’m ready to see Ciaran play. I’ve watched videos of him on YouTube, and he’s damn good. I’m ready to cheer him on and then let him score when he gets home.

“Louisa!”

I startle at my name being called before I turn to see my peepaw coming down the hall toward his office that I was just about to enter. I smile brightly at him as he envelops me in a huge hug. “Darling, you know the game isn’t for another four hours, right?”

I nod, hugging him back. “Yeah, I wanted to see you before.”

He beams, his bushy white eyebrows rising. “Little ole me? What do you wanna see me for?” He wraps an arm around my shoulders, tucking me into his side. He’s a big man, over six foot, over two hundred pounds, with an even bigger personality. I love this man, the father I never had. He’d searched for and found us, over and over, since I was born. He would beg my mom, his daughter, to leave and he’d help her restart her life, but she never wanted to. She didn’t want to leave my father and then, when he passed, the Grandmaster. Meanwhile, my sisters and I ran to Peepaw. Without a second thought, he gave us a home and helped us build our dreams.

He saved us just as much as we saved ourselves.

Peepaw pulls at my jersey. “Look at you in your Bears gear. I like it.” He pushes the door open and lets me go in first. “Oh, it’s a Carter jersey. Good guy. He’ll be in the big leagues soon enough. You a fan?”

I sit down and look up at him as he walks around his desk. “You could say that.”

Peepaw’s crooked grin is on full display as he settles in his big chair. It groans with his weight as he leans back. “I hadn’t realized you’d had the opportunity to meet him.”

“He’s a reader, has been coming to my shop since it opened.”

Peepaw seems surprised. “I think I knew that. All the guys will be on their phones or the game consoles, and he’d be in a chair, reading. He’s a shy kid. I’m curious how he’ll handle the captain role.”

“He was born for it,” I find myself saying, and of course, I have that stupid dreamy grin on my face that only Ciaran draws out of me. Peepaw’s grin drops instantly. Fear creeps its way into my chest at the sight, and he leans on his elbows. He presses his thumbs into his eye sockets and groans.

“You’re seeing him?”

I press my lips together as I nod. “I do see him. A lot.”

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