Page 75 of Pucking my Enemy Boss

Ethan’s arms tighten slightly, his voice low, almost vulnerable. “Same here. I wasn’t looking for anything like this.”

Turning slightly to see his face, the soft glow of the candles cast shadows across his features. “And yet, here we are. A grumpy hockey star and an annoying event planner, sitting in Ibiza, of all places.”

Ethan chuckles, the sound rumbling through his chest. “Yeah. Here we are.”

There’s a pause, the weight of the moment settling between us, heavy but comforting. Ethan’s eyes, usually so guarded, are softer now, open in a way I’ve never seen before.

“You’ve changed me,” he says quietly, his voice almost a whisper. “I didn’t think I needed anyone. But with you, I feel like I’m finally starting to heal.”

The words hit straight in my heart, warming me from the inside out. Managing a smile, I reach up to brush a strand of hair from his forehead. “You’ve changed me, too, you know. I’ve always depended on others. I didn’t think I could find joyandindependence, but you’ve shown me that I can. With you.”

We sit in silence for a moment, the weight of the words sinking in, the future stretching out before me like the endless ocean. It’s not perfect—nothing ever is—but it’sours, and that’s what matters. Ethan presses a kiss to my temple, his lips soft and warm.

“We’ll make this work,” he murmurs. “No matter what.”

My heart swells, a smile tugging my lips. “Yeah. We will.”

We sit there, wrapped in each other, watching as the stars continue to light up the sky, the world around us fading into the background. There’s an energy still buzzing inside me despite the late hour.

“Reluctant to go back to reality?” he asks, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

I pause for a bit, my gaze drifting toward the view below, where the ocean stretches out in the moonlight. “A little,” I admit, my voice soft. “But, at the same time, I’m more ready than ever.”

Ethan raises an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Yeah. I think I’m ready to start telling people. About us.”

Ethan’s smile widens, a slow, satisfied grin spreading across his face. “Yeah?”

I nod, sitting up in front of him, hands resting on his chest. “Yeah. I mean, we can start with our closest friends, see how that goes. Then, eventually ... the world.”

Ethan’s eyes soften, his hand reaching up to cup my cheek. “I like that plan.”

I lean in to press a soft kiss to his lips. “Good. Because I’m all in.”

24

ETHAN

Suits and tiesare definitely not my thing—they are awkward, stiff, and about as comfortable as wearing a straitjacket. Whoever invented tuxedos clearly wasn’t imagining a guy who’s more at home on a sheet of ice than on a red carpet. But tonight, there’s no getting out of it. The Blizzards end-of-year awards event awaits.

My car rolls into the driveway of the tall building dripping in twinkling lights and holiday decor like someone let Christmas explode all over the place—that will be Holly’s handiwork.

I shift in my seat, loosening the bow tie that’s currently threatening my ability to breathe. This party’s been the main event on Holly’s calendar for weeks, and it comes at the time the regular season’s hitting pause for the holiday break—even though we still have a couple of important charity games over the holidays.

A reduced schedulemeans my attention is permanently tethered to Holly while she has a whole lot of organizing to do. Two of the biggest are this night and theplayer-fans gala eventcoming up later.

My knuckles tighten on the wheel as I pull up to the massive hall, decked out with more wreaths, lights, and candy-cane decorations than any one building has a right to hold. There’s only one way to get through it: get in, find Holly, and attempt to have a decent night without losing my mind.

Because if being forced into a tux isn’t bad enough, Holly’s been missing from my side for days, locked away in “planning mode,” which, by my calculations, ranks right above “voluntary hibernation.” Holly’s promised to give me her full attention—whenever she finds a free second between event planning—that might be worth all this buttoned-up suffering.

In the meantime, I have been stuck hanging out with Ryan and Liam more than usual.

A car honks nearby, and two grinning faces appear.Speak of the devils.

Ryan and Liam are dressed to the nines in tuxes, predictably looking like extras from some lostGQshoot and somehow managing to look like they actuallybelongin them.

As soon as I step out of my car, Liam raises a brow, letting out a low whistle.

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