Page 28 of Well Played

I pulled back from Seth and stook in the team who were all smiling at us.

Yep. I have finally found my place.

7

One monthlater

I couldn't stop smilingas I sat at my parents' dining room table for our weekly Sunday lunch. So much had changed in the past month, and I was bursting with excitement to share the news with my family.

Beside me, Seth reached over and squeezed my hand under the table. We had grown even closer since that fateful game when the team "hunted" me as the mascot. Now that my secret with him and being the mascot as out, it was like we could just be ourselves now that there was no guilt about what we were doing.

My smile widened as I spotted Josie helping my mom bring in the last of the food from the kitchen. She had become a regular fixture at these family meals, and I had a sneaking suspicion that my brother Mason was the reason why. The "accidental" brushes of hands between them weren't lost on me. I was happy for her and made a mental note to grill Josie for details later.

As everyone took their seats and began passing around the heaped platters, I cleared my throat. All eyes turned to me.Under the table, Seth's fingers were drawing circles in my palm, trying to calm me down before the announcement.

"We have an announcement to make," I began as dad stopped is fork midway to his mouth.

“Please don’t tell me your pregnant,” he said to me as he lowered his fork and mum patted his arm.

"No dad. Something better.” I took a deep breath. “Seth and I have decided to move in together!"

There was a thank God from dad and mum smiled, along with a "finally!" from Josie and a slightly pained but genuinely happy smile from Mason.

"That's wonderful news, honey," my dad said warmly. "Maybe don’t scare me next time.”

"There's more," I continued, squeezing Seth's hand. "I've decided to open my own bookshop and café!" Another round of congratulations followed, with Josie starting to throw questions out about my plans.

"Look, I’m combining my love of books with my love of hockey. I've always dreamed of creating a space where people can browse for books, enjoy a coffee, attend author events, and a shared love of reading," I explained. "I even have a location picked out near the arena, and will stay open after the games so people might want to come in and have a drink and a chat. I’ll have a huge range of books about hockey, and the best bit – the team have said they will sign some gear and sell there also."

"Any thoughts on a name?" my mom asked.

"I'm torn betweenBetween the Lines,The Penalty Box,andSudden Death by Chocolate," I said. "I’m really struggling to find a name that would fit. I want a subtle nod to hockey without being too over-the-top."

"I vote for The Penalty Box." Mason said. "It suits you, Sprout."

"And the chocolate in that last one would definitely get me in the door," Josie added with a wink.

As the conversation flowed to names and events that could be held there, I leaned into Seth's side. In the span of a few short months, I had taken risks, followed my heart, and ended up happier than I ever could have imagined.

I watched as Mason attempted to sneak a dinner roll from Josie's plate, earning himself a playful smack on the hand. Yep. Definitely something there. At this rate, mum and dad might need to start to prepare for another moving-in announcement soon.

Seth leaned in close. "Have I told you how proud I am of you?" he murmured.

I turned my head to face him, our noses nearly touching. "Once or twice," I replied softly, "but I don't mind hearing it again."

"I'm proud of you, Hazel," he said, eyes crinkling with his warm smile. "And I can't wait to show you just how much.”

My happy place warmed up at the thought.

Lunch finally wound down and we all pitched in to clear the table. I pulled Josie aside, wanting some one-on-one girl talk with her.

"So," I began, my eyebrows raised suggestively, "you and Mason seem to be getting pretty close lately."

Josie's cheeks flushed pink, and she glanced over to where Mason was helping Seth carry dishes into the kitchen. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said, but her grin told a different story.

I nudged her with my elbow. "Come on, spill! Is it serious?”

Josie bit her lip, failing to suppress a smile. "Okay, fine. We've been texting a lot, and he may have asked me out for coffee a few times, so not serious. Yet."

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