Page 67 of Falling for You

“Granny, give me back my baby!” Kaylah shouts, and we all turn to see Crissy making a run for it upstairs with Hudson. Kaylah follows, and the tension in the room breaks as we all laugh while Taylor moves, leaving my back cold to hug his brother.

“I don’t know about this, Taylor,” I say two hours later, my eyes looking over the ice. “I mean, why don’t you skate, and I'll watch from here,” I try, and he grins as he skates my way effortlessly.

When Crissy practically begged to have Hudson for the night, I was skeptical, but when Taylor said he wanted to take me on our first date, I wanted to say yes, only I didn’t have enough milk bottles or clothes, but Taylor, being Taylor, already thought of all of that.

He packed an overnight back for our son, so I gladly accepted, but now I regret it.

I’ve never skated before, and honestly, I’m terrified I’m going to break something.

“I promise you, I will never let you fall, Firecracker,” Taylor says as he stops near me and holds his hand out. I look at it and then at him, and he smiles softly and asks, “Do you trust me?”

And I smile back because I do, with everything that I am so without replying, I put my hand in his, making him grin as he gently guides me onto the ice.

My legs wobble, and I gasp when I struggle to stay up as Taylor lets go of my hand but as soon as he lets go he quickly wraps hisarms around my waist and begins to skate backward, pulling me with him as I grip his shirt. I’m trying to steady my shaking legs but as soon as we lock eyes, I forget that we’re on the ice, and he’s all I see.

For over an hour, Taylor skates with me while I cling to him and we talk about everything and nothing. We enjoy being in each other’s company and all those feelings I had when we first met, they pull at me, and I know I’m making the right decision to be with him.

He’s my one, just like I’m his, and I am one lucky girl to have found it and I’ll never let it go.

Chapter 28

Taylor – Two Months Later

“How’s Dylan doing?” Liam asks as he sits beside me and puts his boots on while the team cheers and celebrates behind us.

We won against the Rebels, meaning we’re one game away from holding the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row, and I can feel it with the tip of my fucking fingers and the fact Penelope and Hudson will be in the family box for that game, fuck, the feeling is all-consuming.

So much fucking happiness fills me that I can’t even be disappointed that she wasn’t here today. A large part of me is kind of glad she’s not here because I need to get shit ready while trying to hold off my anxiety, worried that she’ll refuse.

“He’s doing good,” I admit as I stand, “the divorce has actually gone through. Xanthe didn’t dispute anything or request anything and moved back in with her mom, who tried to disputeit, claiming she was forced to sign until the lawyer showed all the evidence of her misdeeds,” I look at him, “Turns out she was paying her mom’s mortgage and instead of working like she claimed, she spent the time at her mother’s painting nails and doing online clothes shopping.”

Liam snorts and mumbles, “Once a gold digger, always a gold digger,” and I nod.

Dylan found several messages between them about how much they could try to transfer without him noticing and managed at least $100,000 in their relationship. Dylan threatened to sue her if she didn’t transfer the money back, knowing she’d still have it. In the end, she transferred around $90,000 to him and had to prove that the $10,000 was indeed gone. That is the last communication they have had. She’s left the state, and he is finally free.

“Are you ready for tonight?” Liam asks, and I wince.

Fuck I’m so nervous, and I haven’t even convinced her to meet me yet. She’s just had a shift, so she’ll be tired and want a hot bath and takeout.

“What if she says no?” I ask, sounding like a pussy, and instead of bull-shitting, he smiles and states, “She won’t because that girl looks at you like you walk on water.”

I take a deep breath and nod, knowing he’s right. Since she finally told me that she loves me, we’ve been close. But since she was hurt, I’ve been attached to her hip as much as I can. Every day I fall deeper and deeper in love with her. And every day she proves every day that the feelings are mutual.

She fits in with my family and my team, despite the crap her sister said, Pen and I have become inseparable.

I fucking love her so much.

“And the Bull, is it the right place, or should I change it and make it more romantic?” I express, and Liam chuckles as he stands.

We should be celebrating, fuck, he should be celebrating for stopping five shots, but here we are.

“It’s where you both met, Tay. The place is perfect,” he confirms, and I sigh, running a hand through my hair.

“Okay, I think I might be nervous,” I admit, and he chuckles back and says, “No shit,” making me grin as my phone rings, and my grin widens, knowing exactly who it is.

Without looking at the screen, I answer, “Hey, Firecracker,” and Liam grins wide before he pats my back and whispers, “I’ll get everyone moving,” I nod as my girl speaks.

“Congratulations, Tay! You did so well. I’m so proud of you, and I’m sorry I missed the game,” she says as our son babbles in the background, making me melt.

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