Page 36 of The Roommate Remodel

I lean against a wall decorated with friendly monsters holding the alphabet.

Before Brax can begin, a girl in pigtails asks, “Are you a giant?”

“Uh, nope. Just tall,” Brax answers, straight-faced.

“Can you fly?” a boy with freckles asks.

A corner of Brax’s mouth tilts up. “Only across the ice when I’m going for a goal.”

“You play hockey?” asks the same boy, his eyes widening.

“Yep,” Brax answers. “For the Carolina Crushers.”

“Are you famous?” a girl missing her front tooth asks.

“No,” he says, shaking his head. “But I get to do what I love, and that’s what matters.”

“Have you ever fought a dragon?” the girl continues.

“Only on video games,” he replies, and a few kids nod, as if this makes perfect sense.

The pigtailed girl raises her hand. “Is she your girlfriend?” She points across the room to me.

My cheeks heat as Brax hesitates. “We, uh, work together.”

Another boy looks me over. “She plays hockey?”

“No, I’m terrible on the ice,” I admit with a shrug.

“I didn’t think you were on the team,” the boy replies, then points at Brax. “He looks like he could crush you pretty easily.”

My gaze flicks over to Brax, who has an amused smirk on his face.

“He probably could,” I laugh.

As our eyes meet, something flickers across his face. Brax might be tough on the ice, but underneath, he’s playful and kind, and I realize with a pang of disappointment that this is the guy I’ve missed. The one who brought me food at the reception, crowned me with a prom tiara, and danced with me in the hall.

“Read the book!” a girl pleads.

Brax breaks our staring contest and turns to the story. He flips to a brightly colored picture of a cat dressed in armor. “Once upon a time, in an enchanted forest, there was a cat named Sir Whiskers...”

His voice is shy and awkward, and it’s such a contrast to the confident man who slams into opponents on the ice.

“Look!” A tiny finger points at the illustration. “He’s like you!”

Brax turns the book to study the picture. “How so?”

“Because he’s got big muscles!” the boy exclaims, and the class erupts in giggles.

“Does the knight fall in love with a princess?” the pigtailed girl asks very seriously.

“I don’t know,” Brax says. “I think he’s more focused on fighting dragons than finding a wife.”

“Like you?” she asks.

Brax smiles. “Something like that.”

I bite back a laugh.

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