Page 35 of Dream Girl Drama

“Of course.”

“I’m nervous about the changes that’ll need to be made.”

“Like... you taking over as captain?”

Sig grunted. Hesitated before nodding.

As much as she hated how unsettled Sig was clearly feeling, she couldn’t help but soak in the fact that he was confiding in her. No one had ever chosen her to be the keeper of their worries and concerns and fears. It was just another reason she treasured this person above all others. How could she not? He’d worked his way up to the highest level of his profession. He wasn’t just born with a heap of talent, like her. No, he’d honed it with his blood, sweat, and tears, day after day. And while she crowed to anyone who would listen that Sig was the best player on the ice, he never said it himself. He just... showed it. Showed up.

Sig Gauthieralwaysshowed up.

Chloe thought carefully before speaking. Thought about what he’d said to her in the car. Wanted to say the exact best thing, likehealways did. “Burgess is ready. And you’re ready. You’re each ready for different things and you’re both well prepared for them.”

He cut her a sideways look. Swallowed. “They’re not going to love me the way they love him.”

I’ll love you enough for this whole city.

She firmed her chin. “Oh yes, they will. They love players who sacrifice everything for the W, so they’ll love you most of all.” Throat aching, she inched closer, close enough that she could lift onto her tiptoes and press her lips against his shoulder through the padding of his sweatshirt. “Give them a chance. More importantly, give yourself a chance.”

His throat worked for several seconds, before he rasped a chuckle. “When did you start saying shit like, ‘sacrifice everything for the W’?” Amusement lightened his eyes. “Didn’t I find you at a freaking country club?”

A genuine smile exploded across her face. “I’ve evolved!”

He straightened from his lean against the counter and faced Chloe, taking her by the wrists and walking her backward through the kitchen, then into the dining area, his heat already making contact with her skin, straight through their clothes. “Next you’re going to be spouting off my stats for the season and quoting Gretzky.”

“You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”

“Oh my God.” Sig threw his head back and laughed. “Ididn’t even know he was the one who coined that phrase. How didyouknow?”

“It’s common knowledge!” They were in the hallway now. The one that led to her bedroom and Chloe’s heart rate was bouncing like a rubber ball in her veins. “Also, it’s written on the beer koozie of the man who sits behind me at the games.” She gave a solemn nod. “He has season tickets, so I see that beer kooziea lot.”

Sig slowed them to a stop, right on the threshold of her bedroom, searching her face with an expression she couldn’t name. Somehow like... bewilderment? “What the hell am I going to do about you being so cute? Huh?”

Words spoken earlier that night came back to her in a wave.

The connection between you two is... blatant, for lack of a better term. It’s palpable, like, at all times. And I guess I’m wondering if you two could get it out of your systems now. Before it is technically wrong to sleep together.

You know, just to avoid a lifetime of wondering.

A lifetime? Of never knowing what if felt like to be consumed by this man?

Was she delusional to ever have thought such a thing was possible?

“Maybe you should listen to Gretzky...” With her conversation with Tallulah ringing in her ears, Chloe went up on her toes and whispered against Sig’s chin, “And take a shot.”

Strained surprise rippled at the corners of his mouth, his thumbs digging into the pulses of her inner wrists. “Chloe.”

She gave him several beats to accept the invitation, but his restraint only seemed to intensify. Hiding her disappointment with a blithe smile, Chloe extricated her wrists from his hands, though it took him a few seconds to release her—and even then, she could feel him struggling not to snatch them back. That struggle allowed her to hope.

Hope for what, though?

What are you doing?

Unclear. She only knew the phraseget it out of your systemshadcontinued to circle her thoughts until it unleashed a sort of... permission. A dangerous sort of bravery.

“So, I’m a little bummed...” Chloe said, turning and opening the door of her walk-in closet.

Seconds ticked by. “Why?”

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