Page 31 of Might as Well

“But I do,” I remind her. She looks way more nervous than I thought she’d be. “Do you trust me?” Violet nearly knocks me on my ass when she nods. Considering the conversation over, I kneel in front of her and lace her up, surprised at how well I did picking out a pair of rentals to fit her.

She wobbles as she takes my hands and stands. We make it to the ice and Violet clutches to me as if she’ll fall at any moment. Iloosen her grip and skate until I’m standing behind her, not once letting go of her.

“I didn’t bring you here to skate exactly. Just let me do the moving and you do the looking,” I say as I slowly push her and skate around the arena. “Imagine every single one of the seats filled. Fans screaming, booing sometimes, but best of all, cheering. Music blasting to celebrate after the horn sounds to confirm a goal.” Feeling as if I make no sense, I sigh. “I just wanted you to glimpse, from my point of view, why I love this place. Even if it was just me with a stick and a puck, I’d still be living the dream. This is…it’s…”

“It’s your happy place,” she supplies.

I press my face into her neck, grinning when she tilts her head to make it easier for me. After giving her neck a kiss, I say, “No, babe.Youare my happy place. This is just an opportunity I’m so happy to have, a dream I get to live, but it’s gonna end one day, Violet.” I groan, annoyed the words aren’t coming out the way I want them to. “You showed me your office and I got it. I saw what you saw.”

“I see it too,” she whispers. “Thanks for showing me.”

Thank goodness, she understands. I just want her to see this part of me too. I know Sydney invited her to a game, but I don’t know if she ever plans to come. She only came once so far because Cassie wanted her to.

Violet peppers me about hockey more than she has up to this point in our relationship. I answer all her questions as we skate together around the rink.

“Hungry?” I ask later as I remove her skates for her.

“Starved.”

But when I glance up at her, her gaze is hungry and something tells me it’s not for dinner.

CHAPTER 9

VIOLET

“Itake what I said back.”

“What’s that?” Zane asks as he trails kisses over my tired, spent, but undeniably satisfied body.

“I don’t mind that you leave. It’s somehow better when you come back.” This moment right here is one I could live in forever. My muscles are completely lax. My skin hums from Zane’s many, constant caresses. His lips and hands leave a blazing trail in their wake. My entire being is wrapped in a cocoon of happiness and love.

He chuckles but continues to lazily kiss me with his hands roaming wherever he pleases. I swear, the man has endless stamina. Even after fucking me crazy, he’s still ready to go again if I want. And boy, do I, but I need a moment to recover. I’ve been wound so tight over how things with Graham have gone lately, that it feels ridiculously good to be so loose and relaxed. That’s what Zane does to me, though. He takes my tangled emotions and unravels them until I have no choice but to relax.

“I’ve got some time tomorrow,” Zane says as he continues to blaze a trail upward on my chest. “Wanna go shopping for a Christmas tree with me?” He lifts his head.

His question causes my heart to stutter, and my lungs to malfunction. He wants to spend Christmas with me? Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday and I’ve missed it so much. My grandma went all out for Christmas and since she passed, it’s just another day. Graham refuses to celebrate with me and usually hunkers down in his room until the new year.

Is it too much to hope that this Christmas will finally be a good one? That I won’t be alone? Is this the start of a happily ever after?

“Babe?” He lifts until he’s towering directly above me, one hand reaching up to wipe away a tear.

“Might as well,” I squeak, causing him to smile a little.

“Want to talk about it?”

When I shake my head, I’m grateful he lets it go. We can get into that another day. I’m so emotionally drained all I want to do is absorb the comfort and strength Zane always offers me when he’s around.

A vibrating sound pulls my attention away. Zane gets up, finds my phone amongst the heap of our clothes, and brings it to me with a tight jaw.

Graham.

“Hey,” I answer.

My baby brother sighs. “Just wanted you to know I was going to a friend’s house, so I’m not gonna be home tomorrow.”

My heart seizes. “Thank you,” I whisper. “Be safe.”

“Yeah,” he replies and silence greets me as he disconnects.

---