Page 72 of The Game Changer

“Hello.” Connor smiles down at her.

When the hell did he get here?

He’s looking her over like he wants to make her his personal popsicle.

I growl, stepping out of the kitchen and staking my claim pretty damn obviously. My arm goes around her shoulders as I narrow my eyes at Connor.

He raises his eyebrows at me and looks like he’s trying not to laugh. “So… who’s this?”

I can’t help another short growl before loudly telling the room, “This is Caroline, my girlfriend.”

There’s a collective gasp before Ray lets out this little squeal thing, clapping her hands and jumping up on her tiptoes.

“Girlfriend? Oh my gosh, I can’t believe someone actually got Casey to use the g-word!”

Mick starts laughing along with Ethan and Liam while Caroline fights a grin.

“You totally have to stay for dinner now.” Ray winks at her before gliding into the kitchen and opening the fridge.

Liam follows her, disinfecting the counter while she goes on about what to make for dinner. I stay with my arm around Caroline, listening to her and Mick start up a conversation. I can’t help sharing a look with Ethan, who grins at me, shaking his head before joining in the chat.

Soon all eight of us—Baxter showed up and actually stayed for a change—are sitting around the dining table, talking shit and hassling each other about school and hockey and anything else that comes to mind. As usual, ol’ Bax doesn’t say much, just sits there with this quiet look that’s impossible to read. I think he’s drinking it all in. I catch his eye at one point, and he smirks at me, then darts a look at Caroline.

Yes, that’s right, Bax. I got myself a girl.

I rest my hand on Caroline’s back, enjoying my place by her side while Connor spins his fairytale about the time he won in the last ten seconds of his high school championship with a Datsyuk deke.

We all groan and laugh.

“I swear, it happened!” He voices cracks and we laugh some more.

Caroline shares a look with me and I grin back before pulling her against me and kissing her head.

So this is what it’s like having a girlfriend.

I can’t help this giddy jump in my belly.

It’s not so bad.

CHAPTER 27

CAROLINE

After an evening where I gorged myself on too much delicious food and serious amounts of laughter, I’m feeling both euphoric and sick. I rub my belly with a little whimper as Casey drives me back to my dorm.

He laughs. “Rachel’s cooking is too good, right?”

“So good.” I sit up a little, swiveling to face him. “And she’s so nice too. Like the sweetest person ever.”

“I know.” He grins.

“No wonder Liam’s so protective of her. She’s got this…” I wiggle my fingers in the air while I hunt for the right word. “I don’t know, like a vulnerability about her. With those big, haunted eyes, you know?”

“Yeah.” He nods, his expression going serious. “She’s had to deal with some rough stuff in the past, but she’s stronger than she looks.”

My curiosity is piqued, and I open my mouth to ask for more deets, but he shakes his head.

“You’ll have to ask her, sorry. But… I can tell you that Liam has been teaching her how to kickbox, and she whooped Asher’s ass a few weeks back. The girl’s getting good.”

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