Page 44 of My Best Bet

“I bet I could do it,” Piper announced.

Kap’s eyebrows drew together. “And I bet you couldn’t.”

“Guess we should see next week,” Piper said with a shrug. “What’s the wager?”

I took in the faces around the fire. We were a little family, and I appreciated every one of them. But Ilovedthe girl sitting between my legs, leaning back on my chest.

“One day, I’ll be in the NHL, and you’ll be in the Olympics,” I whispered, kissing her temple.

She craned her neck to look up at me and smiled wistfully. “And then what?”

I frowned. “What do you mean?” I pulled the blanket higher and snuggled closer to her.

She shrugged. “Sometimes I can’t wait for skating to be over so I can start my life.”

I held her jaw. “My life started when I met you.”

Grinning, she turned and swatted at my chest. I fell back on the snow in exaggeration, and she laid on top of me. “That was such a line, Colt.”

The group laughed at something, but we were in our own little world together.

“But did you like it?” I wagged my eyebrows at her.

That cute upside-down smile of hers slid on her face. “Yes.”

“Good.” I leaned up to kiss her before falling back down on the snow. “She wants to know about after,” I mused, making her giggle. “How about in the after,” I locked eyes with her and traced her delicate jaw, “I give you a big ring.”

“Really?” She grinned. “How big are we talking?”

“Big,”I announced.

“What else?”

“We’ll get abighouse, one like that old one.” I pointed across the lake at a large wooden cabin lined with Christmas lights.

“I do like that one. It needs a bigger porch though.” She bit her lip. “What else?”

I cocked an eyebrow. “And then we’ll make babies.” I squeezed her side. “Simple.”

“Those better not bebig.” She laughed lightly against me, then looked pensive. “Babies? Plural?”

I shrugged. “If you want.”

She shook her head and laughed at me like I was crazy.

“You don’t want all that?” I asked in mock-shock. I was trying to keep it cool, but anxiety spiked in my chest that she didn’t see a future with me. Somewhere along the way, all my goals and dreams for the future became intertwined with her.

“No, I do,” she said, leaning her chin on my chest.

My anxiety eased and I hugged her tighter. “Good, because it’s all I think about.”

“You’re not serious?” she deadpanned.

“I am.”

She traced under my eye with her gloved finger. I closed my eyes, loving her touch. “Sometimes when you say this stuff, I'm afraid I take it seriously and you’re just joking. Like in actuality, you’ll go to juniors and have a bunch of girlfriends in different cities, and you’ll break my heart and make me cry for a hundred years.” She sighed dramatically.

I could totally tell she added the last part to mask her vulnerability with humor.

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