Page 85 of Power Pucking Play

When I finally set her down, I press the notebook and pen into her hands. "So, star reporter, where do you want to start?"

"How about at the beginning?" She clears her throat and holds the pen near my mouth. "Tell me, Mr. De Luca, when did you first realize you were falling for the nosy journalist who was making your life hell?"

I grin and lean in, my lips just inches from hers. "Oh, that's easy. It was the moment she walked into my life and rocked it to its core. And I haven't been able to get her out of my mind since."

She rolls her eyes but there's a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Cheesy, but I'll take it."

And so, we start our story, the real one this time.

No more lies or hiding behind fake personas. Just two imperfect people who fell in love despite all odds.

As we settle into a nearby booth, Lexi poised with pen in hand and me ready to bare my soul, I can't help but marvel at how we got here. From adversaries to lovers, from distrust to something that feels an awful lot like forever.

Chapter 28

Lexi

One month later

“Babe, for the last time, we are not getting a life-size cardboard cutout of you for the living room," I say, rolling my eyes as I push our overloaded shopping cart down the aisle.

My oversized hockey player of a boyfriend grins at me, that infuriatingly charming grin that makes my heart do backflips even after four weeks of being inseparable.

He groans. “Come on, Brookes. Think of how impressed our house guests will be."

"Impressed? More like terrified. I don't need your cardboard eyes following me around the house."

We're spending Gio's rare day off during the playoffs shopping for our new place.

Truth be told, it's been a whirlwind month since we officially started dating and spending every non-work waking hour together.

When people ask about us, I admit we've known each for years. I leave out the part where we hated each other's guts forthe majority of that time. No one needs to know the details of our tumultuous past.

And we've finally found a place we both love—a cozy house on the outskirts of Chicago with enough space for us and both of our raging egos.

We're slowly but surely settling into domestic bliss, even if it does involve arguments about home decor.

"Fine," Gio gives in, draping a well-developed arm over my shoulders. "Then how about a life-size cutout of you in your sexiest lingerie?" He waggles his eyebrows, and I can't help but laugh.

"Absolutely not. I am not objectifying myself for your amusement, Mr. De Luca."

"Who said anything about being amused?" he murmurs, his voice low and seductive.

I swat him with the back of my head, trying not to smile. “Stop it. We have a million things to buy for the house."

"I still say we should get that bronze hockey sculpture."

I lean into him, unable to keep the smile off my face. "We'll put it in your man cave. Along with all the other hockey paraphernalia you insist on keeping."

"Deal," he says, pressing a kiss to my temple. "See? Compromising already. We're nailing this whole moving in together thing."

As we continue our shopping adventure, my phone buzzes.

It's a text from Sophie. "OMG LEXI! The article is out and it's AMAZING! ??????"

I grin, showing the message to Gio. "Looks like your redemption arc is officially complete, De Luca."

He reads the text, a dark lock of hair falling forward. "Yeah? No more 'Gio the Goon' headlines?"

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