Page 89 of The Enemy Face Off

I'm cheering next to him on the ice when he pulls away from the team and finds Evie in the stands. She is jumping up and down like a pogo stick on caffeine, losing her freaking mind.

My eyes only notice the black-haired beauty standing next to her.

Beth is smiling, beaming with pride. She gives me one of her cute awkward waves, and as I wave back, my heart melts into a pool of gushing gushiness.

My feelings for her have never made sense.

She ignores me when we first meet, and what happens? I can't stop thinking about her.

She makes fun of everything about me, and my infatuation for her only grows.

She acts immune to my charms, and my feelings only intensify.

And as we slowly open up to each other over the past year and progress from a tightly regulated kiss regime to an uncertain future that hangs on the thread of a possibility of there being anus…I'm already gone.

Done for.

We're not even officially dating, but as I stare at Beth through the plexiglass panels, I know with all my heart and soul—I'm completely in love with her.

17

Beth

I pick up the pace on my early morning walk.

"Don't expect me to take it easy on you, mister," I say, accelerating my stride. "You've had two days to recover from basking in the glory of winning the Stanley Cup."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Milo mutters, catching up to me.

With his long hair tied up in a neat man bun, he looks great in a light blue athletic shirt and black shorts. The material is light and breathable and clings to his muscular frame. I am definitely not checking him out any chance I get.

We hike up the trail to Cuddle Cove Cliff briskly.

And quietly.

I've got a lot on my mind.

Actually, no, that's not true.

I've got one thing and one thing only on my mind—Milo, and specifically, what his plans for the future are.

Because I'll be honest, I don't know how Evie does it with Fraser being away for so long. I have even more respect for her now because I've experienced how hard and lonely it can be. These past few months since the earthquake at Evie and Fraser's second wedding havedraaagged.

Milo and the kids have only been to Comfort Bay three times, and even though we hung out, it was never long enough. Last time they were back, Jonah proudly showed me he could count to ten, and Josie talked about the "Berenstain Bears" series I recommended Milo buy her. Then, they were off again way too quickly.

I've become attached to Josie and Jonah faster than I thought I would, and I miss them so much when they're gone. I've managed to catch a few games in LA, but the time we spend together is never enough. And if it's this difficult when Milo andI aren't even officially together, what will it be like if—when?—we are?

I like him a lot.

I trust him a lot.

But his career is…a lot, too.

And as strong as my feelings for him are, I'm not sure if that's something I can handle. I know hockey players have relationships, but I don't know ifI'mcut out for the long-distance thing.

It's different with Evie and Fraser, and even Hannah and Culver because they all had a history before they started dating. Yes, Milo and I have only known each other for almost a year, but most of that time was spent apart, and the time we had together I was busy trying to keep distance between us because I was scared to let anyone in.

But Milo isn't justsome guy.

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