Page 90 of The Break Out

“Do you want kids?” He asks.

I look down at her as I think about how to answer. I’ve wanted a family for as long as I can remember, but that hasn’t necessarily included kids of my own.

“I don’t know,” I say softly. I may want to foster or adopt to help kids have a safe space unlike I did growing up. “Do you?”

Colton reaches out, running his knuckle along my cheek. “I want whatever you want.”

My jaw drops at the simple words that have so much moremeaning behind them. A meaning that I’m not going to think too much about because I’m sure he’s just saying it. He’s just trying to ruffle my feathers again.

“You should go back downstairs,” I tell him, looking back down at Evie.

His hand slides to the back of my neck, gripping me, forcing me to look up at him again. The sincerity written on his face is something new, and scary.

“I will, but only if you promise to spend midnight with me.”

“I promise.”

He smiles, giving my neck one final squeeze before letting go and leaving me alone with Evie. Looking down at her again, her eyes are open looking up at me, so sweet and innocent.

“God help anyone who tries to date you one day, baby girl.”

40

The whole night I’m aware of where Brynn is while keeping my distance. I don’t talk much to anyone, but I’m aware of the looks I’m getting from Collee and McQuaid. Dumont, Colver and Mann are the only ones that don’t seem to have an issue with me at this moment.

It’s a lot with practically the whole team and their wives and girlfriends here, but it’ll only make it easier to sneak off with Brynn later.

She’s been spending most of the night with Spencer, Audrey, and Chandler, and keeping her distance from me. It’s now ten minutes to midnight and that’s about to change because she made a promise and I know she’ll keep her promise.

I finish the last of my one and only beer as my eyes lock on her again. She throws her head back laughing at something that was said and I watch the length of her throat, and even though she’s across the room I can hear her over all the noise. It’s like every part of my body is aware of every partof hers and as I stand here staring at her it hits me harder than any hit I’ve taken on the ice.

I’m so fucking in love with Brynn Collee.

“It’s almost midnight,” someone announces, and everyone migrates toward the large TV where the countdown is about to start.

My eyes don’t leave Brynn as she starts searching for me. The second she sees me I nod my head to the side, signaling her to join me in another area of the house.

I make my way down a hallway where the lights are off, and I lean against the wall as I hear the announcement of the last minute before the new year.

Her silhouette appears and she walks closer. Once she’s within arm’s reach I grab her around the waist, pulling her against me.

“Have you been having a good night, Princess?”

“Yeah, it’s been fun. What about you?”

“Yes, I’ve liked watching you be so happy.”

Thirty seconds.

“You’ve just been watching me? Creepy,” she jokes.

“Not creepy, I just like looking at pretty things.”

“Gee thanks,” she scoffs. “That’s all I am, a pretty thing?”

I chuckle. “No, but if I told you everything else you were to me, you’d run away.”

Ten seconds.

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