Page 69 of Icy Pucking Play

Natalia:Are you here yet??? I need help with fractions before dinner!!!

I guess Natalia got a ride with Julia rather than riding with Evan.

Followed by Julia:Mom's already asked three times when you're arriving.

And finally, Evan:Ready when you are. No rush.

But I can picture him down there in his truck, his fingers carving a path through his brown hair the way they do when he's nervous.

Because he is nervous. Because this means something…I think.

"Go," Cynthia pushes me toward the door. "Before you change your outfit again."

I take one last look in the mirror, smoothing my dress.

"How do I look?"

"Like someone who's about to meet the family of the man she’s crazy about."

"Not helping!"

She laughs. "You look perfect. Now go get your grumpy goalie."

The drive to Evan's parents' house is quiet, but not uncomfortably so. He keeps reaching for my hand at stop lights, thumb brushing over my knuckles like he's reassuring himself I'm really here.

"You okay?" he asks as we turn onto a tree-lined street.

"Fine! Great! Totally not nervous at all!"

He laughs. "You're a terrible liar."

"I am not…" I stop at his look. "Okay, fine. I'm terrified."

"Of my family?"

"Of..." I gesture vaguely. "Everything? This feels...real."

He's quiet for a moment, then: "Is that bad?"

"No! Just..." I bite my lip. "Different. From what we've been doing."

"You mean sneaking around like teenagers?"

"It was kind of fun though." I grin at him. "Very romantic."

He laughs again, and some of my nervousness eases. Because this is still us. Still the easy banter and shared jokes and…

"We're here."

Oh God.

The house is beautiful, a big Victorian with a wraparound porch and carefully tended gardens. Very much not what I expected from a hockey family.

"Mom likes projects," Evan explains, reading my expression. "The garden's her latest."

"It's gorgeous."

"Like you." He leans over to kiss me, then freezes as the front door opens.

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