Page 21 of The Bro-code

Bay is smart, funny, kind, compassionate, driven. She’s everything I never knew I wanted until I got to know her.

“Cole!”

The way she smiles when she sees me makes my heart beat faster. Faster than after a stretch on the ice.

“Baby,” I open my arms and shamelessly inhale the subtle floral scent of her shampoo. “You look incredible, that tan suits you.”

She giggles, pulling slightly back in my arms so that she can look at me. “Why thank you, you don’t look bad yourself. Look at those muscles, have they gotten bigger while I was away?”

Heat rises to my face, under her scrutiny.

This is the thing, my relationship with Bay might be purely platonic, but we flirt constantly. It’s the way we’ve always been with each other.

“Maybe,” I wink. “If I thought college coaches were hard on us, NHL training taught me that I was wrong. At the end of the first day I discovered muscles I never knew I had because they hurt like hell.”

Bay places a soft, lingering kiss on my cheek. “I’m just glad you’re here, Cole. I missed you.”

“Why wouldn’t I be here?” I ask, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

Her smile fades, her expression suddenly serious. “I was afraid that you would be asked to play in an exhibition game or something like that. Training is one thing, but even a promotional game with a pro team would have made you ineligible for NCAA hockey. I was worried that you wouldn’t come back.”

I would have come back, just for you.

I don’t say the words that tingle on the tip of my tongue. Bay doesn’t need to know that I was given the option to stay with the team or to play another year of college hockey.

The fact that this year will be the last year for one of their main D-men was definitely a factor that influenced my decision to wait. I’ll have a better chance of getting real ice time next year, with Terrell off the roster.

But I would be lying if I said that Bay wasn’t a huge factor in my decision. I missed her way more than I had any business to this summer. I knew that after what happened between her and Topher, she’d need me in her corner. Especially with Lakyn gone, three whole hours away in Bridgeport.

“Nah,” I smile, keeping all that shit buried in the recesses of my heart. “The team wants me to get more experience at the collegiate level, but the good news is that they offered me a contract. So I know I’m going to Hartford next year, no farm team but directly on the team’s roster.”

Bay beams at me. “Cole! That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you. Does it make me a bad friend that I’m also happy that you didn’t stay because I’d miss you too much?”

God, this woman is the best and the worst thing for my heart. “No, it just makes you the best friend I’ve ever had.”

And the only woman I’ve ever been in love with.

She surrounds my waist with her arms, squeezing me tight. “I love you, Cole.”

I wish she loved me, but things aren’t like that between us. “I love you too, baby. Are you ready to come home?”

Her smile fades, doubt clouding her blue eyes. “I thought spending the whole summer licking my wounds would prepare me for coming back, but I was obviously fooling myself. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be, let’s put it that way.”

I release her after one final squeeze. “I’ve got you, Bay. Let’s go home.”

She walks ahead of me, insisting that she can push the luggage cart.

“Ehm, Bay?” I call out, rushing behind her and grabbing the metal bar she’s pushing, effectively trapping her between the cart and my body.

She turns her head to look at me. Our noses are almost touching, her fresh breath warms my lips.

I’m momentarily distracted by the fact that it would take the smallest of movements to touch my lips to hers.

“What’s up?” she whispers, her soft voice making my heart respond in earnest.

I don’t know how to tell her, so I just push out the words. “Your skirt is tucked inside your panties.”

She blinks, obviously confused. “Come again?”

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