Page 56 of Inside the Penalty Box

“Morning beautiful,” I whispered.

“Morning,” she whispered, giggling as I playfully gripped her side, tickling her.

She shifted positions and wrapped her arm around me, kissing me.

When our lips parted, I looked down into her face. Those gorgeous green eyes of hers stared back at me in question.

“What’s on your mind?” I questioned.

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s something, I can tell,” I said, rubbing the tip of her nose with mine.

“Are you going to let your father have his way regarding us?”

I looked into her eyes and brought my hand to her cheek, then brought my lips to hers. “Not a fucking chance.”

“What if he forces it?”

“Let him try. There isn’t much one can do to force two people apart when it comes to love.”

Her eyes flew to mine, shock lining them. The word had slipped from my mouth. Not that I doubted what it was I was feeling, it was more that I wasn’t sure she was ready to hear it.

“Are you saying that you’re…um…in love…”

I brought my forefinger to her lips and looked into her eyes.

“I think I’m falling for you,” I whispered. “Actually, I’m pretty damn sure I have.”

The look in her eyes was nothing but shock. I was afraid that I may have blown this entire thing with her with that admission.

“You don’t need to say anything back. It slipped,” I said quietly.

She looked up at me, then put her hand behind my head and brought her lips to mine. When we parted, she said nothing. She just snuggled up closer to me and closed her eyes while I held her in my arms.

“I think I’m falling too,” she whispered.

Chapter 16

Aurora - One Week Later

I walked down the university’s steps and out into the fresh summer air. I took a seat on the stairs and waited for Lorelai, who was inside speaking with another student. It was our last day; we were finally free, having just written our last exam.

I pulled my phone from my pocket to see a message from Dylan congratulating us on our last day. I was about to reply when the doors opened, and I heard Lorelai behind me.

“Thank god!”

I couldn’t help but laugh as she sat down beside me, looking lighter than I’d seen her in the past few years. She also looked completely exhausted.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you I heard from the condo board. We can go by tonight if you want and see the place in Vancouver,” Lorelai said, opening the email she’d received and sharing it with me.

I had mentioned nothing to Lorelai yet, but Dylan had already asked me to move in with him now that we were out of school. Since I wasn’t sure of the answer myself, I knew if I moved in with him, I’d have to tell Lorelai before she signed the agreement. She wouldn’t be able to afford the place on her own, especially if we didn’t get the job with the Dominators, which we were still waiting to hear from.

“Sure, I guess we can go check it out.”

“Is something wrong?” she questioned. “Did you want to look for something else? This one is higher priced.”

I shook my head. “No, the place is fine. Guess I’m just tired. I was up late getting some study time in.” I half smiled, knowing the truth was I was on the phone with Dylan for half the night when I should have been studying.

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