Page 49 of Charming Crosschecks

Just as their lips were about to meet, the unmistakablepopof a cork echoed through the air. The sound startled them both, breaking the spell as they flinched in unison, their near-kiss interrupted. They froze for a moment, wide-eyed, staring at each other in disbelief. The corners of his mouth twitched, caught between amusement and exasperation, before their gazes instinctively swung toward the source of the sound.

Standing in the doorway were their mothers, side by side like an unexpected yet perfectly timed comedic duo. Both women were grinning, and next to them stood the butler, Peter, holding a freshly opened bottle of champagne. The room suddenly felt alive with an energy that was both chaotic and oddly heartwarming.

“Welcome to the family, sweetheart,” his mother said, her voice warm and tinged with emotion. The look she gave them was a surprising contrast to the composed, almost aloof demeanor she’d shown earlier. Her eyes shone with a rare openness, a glimmer of approval that caught Molly off guard. For a moment, she couldn’t find her voice, overwhelmed by the unexpected acceptance.

Before Molly could respond, his mother clapped her hands together with a burst of enthusiasm. “How about we ditch this stuffy scenery and head into the basement where the game room is? Sandy,” she turned to Molly’s mother, her tone light and teasing, “you want to play table hockey with me? I despise playing with Gerry because he starts quoting rules and regulations every two minutes…”

“Because youcheat, Mom,” Gerry interrupted with a laugh, his hand sliding protectively to Molly’s waist as he pulled her closer. His grin was boyish and affectionate, his laugh rich with the kind of joy Molly hadn’t seen in him in a long time.

“I don’t cheat,” his mother retorted, eyes narrowing in playful defiance. “It’s calledstrategic improvisation.”

“You broke the rules,” he countered, shaking his head.

“Subtly sidestepped them,” she corrected, lifting her chin with mock pride as Peter, ever the picture of composure, raised an eyebrow. The subtle quirk of his expression, coupled with a soft, almost imperceptible noise of disapproval, sent them all into peals of laughter.

Molly found herself laughing along with them, the tension in her shoulders melting away. She leaned into Gerry, feeling the strength and warmth of his embrace, and for the first time that evening, she realized something she hadn’t dared to hope for: she was home. Not just in a place but with people who were messy, complicated, and beautifully imperfect—just like her.

CHAPTER 15

MOLLY

Monday was here much too soon,Molly thought, smiling to herself as she walked into her office and spotted Gerry’s handiwork. A dozen red roses were waiting on her desk – along with a large cup of coffee, turned strategically so she’d see it.

WIFE

Bold House Coffee – extra shot

sprinkle of cinnamon

splash of soy milk

Molly chuckled softly, the sound carrying the warmth of a secret shared between just the two of them. He knew her so well, understood her quirks, her quiet fears, her joys—and he wasn’t afraid to show it. Her heart skipped as she glanced at the travel mug in her hand, the bold wordWIFEemblazoned on it for the world to see. There was no hesitation in his claim on her, no coy pretense. It was as if he had declared, unapologetically, that she was his and he was hers.

She tracedthe lettering with her finger, smiling like a fool, her cheeks warm with a mixture of giddiness and awe. Lifting the cup closer, her gaze caught the sparkling diamond on her ring finger—a glittering promise of forever—and the sight sent a happy flutter through her chest. With a soft sigh, she tucked her purse into the drawer of her desk, savoring the moment.

The bliss, however, was short-lived.

“Are you clocked in? Good. We need to have a quick discussion about next season, and I’m not exactly a happy camper right now. Locker room—immediately!”

The gruff voice of Coach Mike boomed from the doorway, snapping her back to reality. Molly whipped her head around, startled to see him standing there, his face set in a grim expression that sent a jolt of unease through her.

Before she could respond, he turned on his heel and stormed off, leaving her frozen in place. Horrified and shocked, she stared at the now-empty doorway, her mind racing. Was it because of the borrowed jet? The engagement? She knew it wouldn’t remain a secret for long, but surely it couldn’t be that—or was it? Or maybe… was it something else entirely?

Her stomach was knotted with apprehension as she stepped into the hallway, the familiar sound of Coach’s bark reverberating through the adjoining offices.

“Move it! Let’s go! Locker room! Everyone—RIGHT NOW!”

His tone brooked no argument, and his presence was as forceful as a storm barreling down a narrow pass. Molly’s heart pounded harder. Something was definitely wrong.

She caught Gerry’s eye as he emerged from one of the rooms, his posture tense. She raised her eyebrows at him, her expression asking a silent question:Are we in trouble?

Gerry mether gaze, his lips twitching into a half-smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He gave a small shake of his head, then shrugged, his body language conveying an unspokenI don’t know either.

The shared moment of uncertainty did little to soothe Molly’s nerves. Coach Mike’s voice continued to echo down the hall, urgency dripping from every syllable. Molly’s steps quickened, her thoughts swirling in a storm of possibilities as she headed toward the locker room, bracing herself for whatever awaited them.

As she stepped inside the locker room, sliding to the back as quickly as possible to make room for everyone who was filing inside, she hesitated. The team was sitting around the benches, not looking at each other, and she knew.

Her stomach soured as she met Gerry’s eyes and saw his tight expression in understanding. She put her hand up to her head, mimicking a phone and mouthing,‘Did you call Bob?’and he shook his head, tapping his wrist. He hadn’t called yet, so, did Bob spill the news about Calgary to the coach? Surely not… maybe someone on the other team got word?

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