Page 134 of Pinkie Promise

When he grinds his forehead more desolately against my skin I begin pressing kisses against his messy post-game hair.

“Hunter, I’m not mad at you, and I’m not breaking up with you,” I admit, rubbing consolingly at his shoulders as I feel his breathing become unsteady. I can only imagine how overwhelmed he is right now. “Hunter, look at me. You just captained Carter U into winning the national championship. I amsoproud of you. I’m not freaked out about what you did for me. If anything, I’m grateful.”

That makes his head lift up, so tan and strikingly handsome that butterflies flutter wildly in my belly.

“You’re not freaked out?” he asks quietly, looking behind him to check that no-one’s listening.

Which is obviously not the case, because half of his team is standing behind him, arms across their chests like we’re in a group therapy session.

“Jesus,” he exclaims, clutching me tighter. “Give us a minute, okay guys?”

Most of them back away grinning, but Tanner doesn’t. He locks his eyes in with mine and then spits out his mouth guard.

I give him a long intense glower as he gets comfortable on the seat beside us.

“I’m not freaked out,” I murmur quietly, wiggling my feet nervously. “I was a little at first, but that’s because I don’t know how to handle affection. It’s all so new to me. I left the diner last night because I was sort of in shock, and then I ended uphaving to go to a last minute cheer practice for our performance tonight… and I was just thinking about how lucky I am to know you, because you’re willing to do what’s best for me even whenIdon’t know what’s best for me. And as much as I’ve been afraid of letting people into my life, I realised that if I continue avoidinggoodpeople then I’m perpetuating my own vicious cycle. And I don’t want that. I want… this. I want you. And I’m going to want you for, like, ever, so I hope that – even after a mild freak out – you’re going to still want me, too.”

Hunter’s eyes are wide as he looks at me for a few seconds, but then his chest is heaving and he crashes his mouth down on mine, one hand firmly caressing the back of my neck and the other sliding even further up my thigh.

“Thought you were going to break up with me,” he pants. “Thought you came here out of, you know, pity or somethin’.”

I breathe out a laugh and wrap my arms tighter around the back of his neck. “Even with that big red number 9 on my back?” I ask him, grinning. “I came here to support my big, strong, sexy boyfriend, and to thank him for giving me all of the love that I’ve never had before.”

“Oh Lord,” he murmurs, hunching down to kiss me again. It’s soft and sweet, the kind of kiss thatreallyturns Hunter on, and he pulls away with a grunt before pressing his forehead against mine. His chest moves in quick pumps as he says, “Should probably stop doin’ that before I get carried away.”

I press a happy kiss against his jaw and he groans quietly.

“Yeah, we probably should. Especially considering who’s in the crowd,” I tell him, unable to hide my smile.

He looks down at me for a beat, before following the direction that I’m pointing in with his eyes. His chest almost doubles in size, his hands becoming vice-like as he realises who else is here for him.

“Baby,” he chokes out, his amazed gaze flying down to mine. “Did you do that for me?”

His eyes are shimmering dangerously, his beautiful cheekbones a ruddy red. He drops his head back into my neck and my heart tears a little as his shoulders gently shake.

“First time they’ve ever seen me play,” he says hoarsely, and I squeeze him all the tighter.

I glance down at Tanner who has been impassively watching our entire exchange, and when he meets my eyes we have a little secret of our own.

It isn’t exactly easy to get tickets to the national ice hockey championship final but Tanner has his ways, which is why Hunter’s family is in the stands, for the first time ever.

I squish my cheek against Hunter’s soft messy hair and then wiggle myself free, dropping gently to the floor as Hunter’s hands slide up to cup my ribcage.

“I love you so much,” he murmurs, after scrubbing his dampened cheeks against the shoulders of his jersey. “So fucking much, Fallon.”

I grin up at him and ask, “Enough to secretly employ me at your family’s business?”

He smirks down at me and gives my ass a rough squeeze. “Hell yeah, baby.”

I jump up so that I can press a kiss to his cheek and he breathes out the world’s most beautiful laugh.

“Well, that’s good,” I say, “because I love you so much too.”

Hunter crushes me against his chest and covers me in kisses.

“First time that you’ve ever said that to me,” he murmurs, not pulling back for air as he smothers me in his love.

“First time that I’ve ever said that toanyone,” I whisper back, giggling happily when he claims my mouth with his.

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