Page 106 of Restricted List

Ella squeals and claps. “This is amazing!”

“Why are you more concerned about us?” I ask. “You literally just got married yesterday.”

Ella waves me off. “I already got to enjoy Josh last night.”

“And this morning,” Josh snickers, throwing an arm around his wife. “And we’ve got an entire honeymoon coming up.”

“He also knows I wouldn’t have shut up about this during our trip if you didn’t say anything now.”

“You guys are all creepily invested in our relationship,” Rory says. “It’s weird.”

Harlow crosses her arms and stares at us. “Do you not remember how fucking weird all of you were after Knox and I went on our first date? You were blowing up our phones.”

“I had nothing to do with that,” I chide. “In fact, I said I didn’t want to be part of that conversation because I didn’t want to hear details about how my best friend defiled my little sister.”

“I wouldn’t say defiled,” Knox smirks. “She’s quite willing.”

“Knox!” she screeches, burying her face in his chest to hide her embarrassment. It doesn’t work because we can see the blush across her neck, but she tries anyway.

Rory teases her fingers up my arm. “And now you’re defiling your sister’s best friend.”

“You’re quite willing, too, baby girl,” I growl against her ear. “I didn’t have to ask you to jump on me this morning. That was all you.”

She bites her lip and smiles mischievously. I know she’s thinking about this morning. And with everyone here, I have to fight the temptation to shove my hand under her panties to find out how wet she is while she does.

“Okay, I’d rather not watch you two jump each other’s bones while we’re here,” Harlow groans, “so let’s move on. How are you doing this?”

Rory sighs. “We have to keep it secret. You guys can’t tellanyone. If this gets back to my dad, Cole is fucked.”

“I’m going to tell my friend Ari, too, but that’s it. He may be signing with the Stars soon. But no one else on the team can know. It will be way too easy for Skip to find out.”

The room collectively lets out a breath.

Rory and I know better than anyone how difficult this is going to be, but our friends know, too. From our conversations with them before, I know we have their support, and they’ll do everything they can to help us keep it hidden.

I hate that we have to do this.

I’d shout that I’m dating Rory Fisher from the fucking rooftops if I could.

But I can’t.

And it’s going to be absolute torture not telling everyone I know.

thirty-three

Cole

Once we checked outof the hotel yesterday, Rory came to my apartment, and we spent the entire day together.

We ordered some Italian takeout.

We watched a couple Christmas movies—Christmas Vacation,my favorite, andA Christmas Story,her favorite.

We baked some chocolate chip cookies with the dough that Rorydidn’teat first.

What we didn’t do, though, was spend time in my bed.

Partially because we just used the couch but also because I just wanted to spend time with her. I know her well enough, but now she’s my girlfriend—I want to knoweverything.

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