Page 78 of The Love You Win

I shrug, a grin tugging at the corners of my lips. “I had to stop and get my girlfriend a coffee. She needed a caffeine fix.”

Griffin’s gaze bounces between me and Isla, his face lighting up like a kid in a candy store. “So you two are finally official?”

Isla presses deeper into my side. “Yep. So no more flirting with me, Wright.”

That has Griffin laughing. He sets his beer and spatula down and wraps us both in a crushing hug. “I am so happy right now. It’s about time this grumpy bastard found someone worthy of him.” He lets us go and then turns to the crowd of our teammates, girlfriends, and even a couple puck bunnies the rookies brought with them. “Everyone shut the hell up!” he shouts. “I have an announcement to make. Our own Maddox Graves finally grew a pair and asked our favorite teacher to be his girl. So let’s give Isla the Rogues welcome she deserves!”

All the guys raise their drinks and cheer. Someone wolf-whistles and a few guys chant her name. Pink overtakes her cheeks as she covers her face with her hands.

“Oh my god, you guys. Thank you.” She’s so damned cute when she’s embarrassed. “And thank you again to all of you for helping make the assembly at my school such a huge success. You’re all amazing.” That earns another round of cheers before conversation resumes around us.

“Hotdog, hamburger, or brat?” With my arm still wrapped around Isla’s waist, I guide her over to the grill and the massive table covered with food.

“Um, hot dog, please.” She tucks a strand of hair that has escaped her ponytail behind her ear while looking at Griffin. “Can you make it a little crispy on the outside?”

Griff chuckles. “’Course. Two brats for you, Madds?”

“To start. I’m not looking forward to burning them off, but it’ll be worth it.” My phone buzzes in my pocket. I’m tempted to ignore it because I’m here with Isla and my guys, and the only people who ever call me on our days off are all here. With the exception of my mom and sister. When I dig it out of my pocket, I grin. Mira’s calling. But not just a voice call. She wants to Facetime. Hitting the green answer button, my sister’s smiling face fills the screen. Her dark hair is twisted into a messy braid that hangs over one shoulder, and her face is makeup-free and tanner than the last time I saw her. Freckles skip across her nose and cheeks, and her green eyes dance with her signature mirth.

“Big brother, hey!”

Curious, Isla peeks over my shoulder, and my sister squeals.

“Oh my god, is that her? She’s so pretty. Hi, you must be Isla. It is so nice to sort of meet you.” Mira does a little wiggle, shaking the phone screen in her excitement.

“Chill, Mi-Mi,” I say with a chuckle. “Don’t scare her away. I just got her to agree to be my girlfriend.”

Isla cocks an eyebrow at me. “Uh, excuse me? Pretty sure I asked you to be my boyfriend, not the other way around.”

That makes Mira’s day. My sister throws her head back and laughs so loudly it draws Griffin’s attention and he wanders over, forgetting about the meat on the grill. “Oh, we’re going to be good friends,” she says to Isla. “I can tell already.”

“I’m sure we will be,” Isla replies. “I’m Isla.”

“Mira.” My sister’s cheeks must be hurting with how wide she’s smiling. “I’m Maddox’s younger, smarter, and hotter little sister.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I grumble, but there’s no heat behind it. Mira and I are close. Always have been. Shit-talking is practically our love language. “You’re also a brat. When are you coming to visit?”

Mira’s smile slips. It’s slight, and she recovers quickly, but it makes my Spidey sense tingle. I’ll have to ask her about it later. “Actually, that was what I was calling about. I’m coming to your first home preseason game. I can stay with you, right?”

“You’re coming to our game?” Griffin butts into the conversation, holding his fist out to the camera. “Hell yeah, Mira. Pound it.”

My sister laughs, bumping her fist against the camera, and then pulling it away with a little explosion sound. “Hey, Wright. Good to see you.”

Griffin grins, running a hand through his blond hair. “You too, Mir. You’re looking good. I like the braid. Like a sexy milkmaid.”

I elbow my best friend. “Dude. You’re an idiot.”

But Mira and Isla just laugh. Mira flips her braid off her shoulder and onto her back. “You gonna score a goal for me to make up for that horrible line?”

At least I never have to worry about my sister with these guys. She gives as good as she gets. When you grow up surrounded by a bunch of hockey players a couple years older than you, you learn how to keep up pretty quick. They all flirt and tease her, she humors them for a few minutes, then she puts them in their place. Besides, every single guy on my team knows I’d kick their asses if they tried anything with my sister. She’s too good for all of them. Except maybe Navarro, but they’ve got nothing in common and he’s never anything but respectful to her. But Griffin? He knows I’d bury his body under the ice at the arena if he ever stepped out of line with Mira.

Wright gives her a wink. “Just one? I’ll score two for you, Little Gravesy.”

The stupid nickname earns a groan and an eye roll from my sister. I glance at the grill to see Isla’s hot dog smoking. “Dude, you’re burning the meat.”

“Shit.” Graves salutes my sister with his spatula. “Later, Mir. See you soon.”

“So, Isla.” Mira focuses her attention on my bemused girl. “Have you ever been to a hockey game?”

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