Page 119 of The Roommate Remodel

She squeaks between our chests. “I prefer to breathe!”

When we finally let go, she steps back and crosses her arms, pinning me with a look. “Were you going to tell me you were dating my best friend? Or just let me hear about it on the internet?”

I glance at Jaz for help.

She shrugs.

Mia pokes me in the shoulder. “It’s good to see you turn red. But at least contact me before you propose, okay?”

I frown. “I thought you didn’t want us to date?”

She tilts her head. “Jaz is my best friend, and I was scared if you hurt her, it would ruin our relationship. There was also thequestion about whether you’d ever settle down. You’ve always been married to hockey.”

“You didn’t think I’d change my mind?” I ask.

“A MacPherson brother canchange?” She lifts an eyebrow. “Only the right woman could do that.”

“The right woman was always in front of me,” I admit, my gaze swinging over to Jazlyn, who’s beaming now. “I just had to discover her for myself.”

Coach Thompson bursts through the door, and everyone snaps to attention. His eyes flick around the room as he looks over our new jerseys. “You guys clean up well.”

“Thank you, Coach,” Rourke says, looking proud of the fact he’s not sporting any recent purple bruises from fights.

We settle on the bench as Coach stands in the middle of the locker room. “I’m really proud of this team. The work you’ve done has paid off, and you finally play like a team. So no matter what happens tonight, this teamwillgo on.”

“Let’s do it!” Dawson roars as he pounds the air with his fist. We all rush toward Coach for a team huddle on the count of three. The electricity in the air feels like we’re ready to head into a championship. But this isn’t a game, and we may not even be a team anymore.

What we’re about to do is the craziest, most insane thing ever.

As I head out the door, Jaz grabs my arm to pull me aside.

“Break a leg, Mac,” she murmurs. Then she spins around and shows that she’s wearing my jersey again.

“You look good in my name,” I murmur.

When she turns back, she grabs my shirt and pulls my body toward her, kissing me so hard, it takes my breath away.

After a sendoff like that, I’m finally ready.

We’re waiting in the tunnel just outside the rink when the lights dim and the crowd roars in response.

“Remember, we get into a semicircle position first,” Tate whispers. Like we’d forget the choreography after Jaz and Brendan drilled it into us hundreds of times.

“Shut up, Tate!” Leo whisper-yells. “We know what we’re supposed to do.”

Skating onto the ice is the part I’m actually comfortable with.

“Oh, great. The Ice Queen is here,” Lucian growls in a low voice.

“In the audience?” Dawson asks, craning his neck to see.

“No, behind us.” Lucian points at his target.

We all turn at the same time and watch as Alex stops in the tunnel.

“If it isn’t the ridiculous dancing monkeys,” she says in a mocking voice.

“Not ridiculous to our fans,” Dawson argues. “They love us.”

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