Page 67 of Offside Angel

“Or whenever Dante shows up,” she mutters. “Whichever comes first.”

She doesn’t mention her brother directly very often. It feels a bit like Voldemort or Beetlejuice. If we say his name, we might summon him.

Mira’s cheeks flush despite the chill of the arena. She tips her chin towards the ice. “Aiden looks steady out there. Way better than kids out there twice his age. He really must take after you.”

I want to push, to promise Mira that Dante isn’t going to get anywhere close to her. But I decide to let it go.

For now.

Aiden finishes his first lap and waves up at me as he starts in on the second. “God help our future kids,” I mutter.

She snaps narrowed eyes to me. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“You know what I mean. Half of their DNA is going to be yours and balance is not a guarantee.”

“This is not a good way to convince me to have your babies, Zane Whitaker!” She swats at me between every other word.

I can perfectly imagine Mira pregnant with my babies. Our family. That gooey warmth is back and filling up my chest. “You know it’s true.”

“Yeah, but only I can say it,” she argues. “You’re supposed to lie and tell me I looked like a swan out there.”

“You did,” I agree. Then I add, “A dying swan. With one wing. And no feet.”

She puts those flailing limbs to good use, but I fend her off, eventually capturing her gloved hands and cradling them against my chest. “If I tell you you looked graceful, will you be convinced?”

“Convinced of what?” Her eyes rove across my face, and I can tell when she finds the answer to her question. Her smile slips. “I thought you wanted me to take my time to think about it.”

“I do, but that doesn’t mean I won’t try to persuade you in the meantime.”

Her full mouth tilts into a smirk. “Telling me I looked graceful is a start.”

“Mira, you looked extraordinarily graceful out there.” I dip my chin, holding her gaze. “Especially when you tripped over your own skates and almost crushed that little girl and her mom.”

She shoves away from me, laughing despite herself. “You’re terrible at this.”

“I guess so. I’ve never been good with words. I prefer to use my mouth for other things.”

She casts a sidelong glance my way, but it’s not until her teeth sink into her lower lip that I know I’ve got her. “Like what?”

“I’ll show you tonight.” I lean in, my lips brushing against her cheek. “I’ll convince you again and again… and again…”

25

ZANE

While Mira is putting Aiden to bed, I get a text from the P.I.

Word is the brother is back in town. I don’t have eyes on him yet, but tell your girl to watch her back.

Fuck.

It was stupid to hope that Dante would move on. He’s been after Mira for seven years; what’s a few more months of waiting compared to that?

But, stupid as it seems, I’d let myself start hoping. Every day with Mira and our little family makes me believe that life really might work out for us. I pulled myself out of hell when I got sober four years ago. This life with her could be my reward.

But life likes to remind me that nothing is ever that easy.

I text Evan. P.I. says Dante might be back in town. Have you seen anything?

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