Page 55 of Perfect Boy

“Cade is having a baby. With my sister. You’re someone’s husband. No, my girlfriend’s best friend’s husband.” He huffs. “Everything is changing.”

I hit him on the shoulder. “Sorry, Thompson. But I promise, if we’d had a big wedding, the flower girl position would have been yours. You probably would have had to fight Cade for it. But y’all would have been cute in your white dresses and shit.” I jerk my chin toward the ice. “Go warm up and leave me alone, would ya? We’ve got a game to win.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He rolls his eyes. “This conversation isn’t over though.”

He skates away, and I look up to where Ryann is seated next to Sutton. It’s good to see Hunter’s fake-girlfriend-turned-real-girlfriend back in the stands after she was in the hospital for so long.

Hunter’s relationship with Sutton started off as fake, and now, I see how happy they are. Maybe that can happen for Ryann and me too. She definitely doesn’t hate me. I just don’t know where she stands right now. And that scares me.

If only she wasn’t so damn stubborn.

But the other night, in the back room at Peaches and then at the hot tub…something between us shifted. Well, I guess something inside her shifted.

I’ve wanted her since I saw her in class for the first time. But she’s finally catching up to me.

And it’s about fucking time.

I can’t help the stupid-ass grin that spreads across my entire face like a moron when I see her in my jersey. And when she smiles at me, before spinning around to show me the back, my heart does some crazy squeezy thing, and my knees feel weird. Which would be fine, but we’re minutes away from game time. I need to get it together.

When she turns back around to face me, she blows me a kiss. And I wish I knew if she did it for show, in case someone was watching, or if she did it just for me.

I’m falling in love with my wife. And I know that wasn’t part of her plan.

Ryann

“I could literally punch you right now. I’m so mad,” Sutton growls. “Who drops a bomb like this at a hockey game? I mean, are you trying to give me another asthma attack? Because, if so, I’ll send your ass my medical bills.”

I wince. I know this wasn’t the right time to tell her about the wedding, but after Watson and I talked last night, we decided we needed to. I’m going to need proof that I actually married Watson for the right reasons—even if that’s bullshit. And time is of the essence. Besides, I couldn’t keep it from her anymore. It was eating me up inside, and I felt like a terrible friend.

“I’m sorry,” I grumble before side-hugging her because it’s all our seats will allow us to do. “Forgive me? It just happened so fast.”

Being the feisty chick that she is, she shoves me off of her. “Why did it happen so fast, huh? I don’t get it. Are you pregnant? Jesus, what is in the water? Remind me to stop drinking it.”

“No, I’m not pregnant, I swear,” I grumble.

She narrows her eyes to slits. “Something fishy is going on here, and I don’t like it. Not one bit.” She turns toward the ice before spinning back toward me. “And how’d you get married without witnesses?”

This makes me squirm even more. “Um…we did have witnesses.”

Her mouth hangs open. “What?! Who?”

“You remember my friend Zoey, who I used to work with?” I gulp. “And Watson’s brother Carson.”

“Zoey. The girl who you only hang out with once every few months. She got to be there instead of me? Your best friend.” She shakes her head in disapproval. “You’re a bitch.”

“I know,” I whisper. “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t forgive you,” she sasses, ignoring me for a moment. “I will. Maybe. But not right now.”

“Okay,” I say, nodding. “I understand.”

The game starts, and only five minutes later, she’s stealing my popcorn and asking for my Sour Patch Kids. Smiling, I gladly hand them over, just happy that she’s talking to me at all. I found a friendship in her that I’d really never had before. I love that girl.

I can’t tear my eyes from Watson. There he is, completely in his element, blocking shots and dominating as goalie. Handling the pressure like it’s absolutely nothing.

I’ve watched his games before. But now that we’re closer, I’m noticing more. Admiring more.

And maybe liking him more too.

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