Page 51 of Love in Overtime

She places her hand on my cheek. “You don’t give yourself enough credit.”

Man, I’m going to miss her so much.

We’re talking about the Wolves upcoming game schedule when the gate agent announces they will start boarding Blair’s flight in a few minutes. She looks at me and forces a smile.

“I’m excited for you to come to Tennessee,” I say, trying to lighten the mood.

“Me too,” she says. “I can’t wait to see Cooper Montgomery in his own territory.”

I chuckle. “Are you sure about that?”

The agent comes back to the intercom with several instructions and then invites first class passengers to board first.

“That’s me,” Blair says.

This is it. I have to say goodbye to the woman I love, and I’m dreading every second of it.

As Blair’s eyes fill with tears again, I wrap my arms around her and kiss the top of her head.

“We can do this,” I whisper.

She nods. “I know.”

“Hey,” I say, placing my hands on her cheeks. “This—you and me, we’re end game.”

She grins. “Good.”

“I love you,” I remind her.

“I love you too.”

I place a gentle kiss on her lips. “I’ll see you next week.”

She turns and waves one last time before walking into the jetway.

Next week can’t get here soon enough.

CHAPTER 16

BLAIR

“Icalled it,” Sophie squeals. “Didn’t I say you’d fall in love in Maple Falls? You can’t take off to a small town during the fall and not meet a man. It would be a crime.”

I laugh. “Actually, you said I’d fall in love with a hot local firefighter. That didn’t happen.”

She shrugs. “Hot firefighter, hot hockey player—either works. I’m not picky.”

Sophie and I are having coffee, and I’m catching her up on everything that transpired before leaving Maple Falls. Our conversation is interrupted when I get a text from Cooper.

I finally received my fruit basket. It’s about time.

I smile to myself. I had to do it.

“So what’s next for you and Cooper?” Sophie asks after I explain the whole fruit basket thing.

I think about what he said before I got on my flight. He told me we were end game, and I believe him.

“Well, Cooper’s season with the Wolves is just beginning, so it’s going to be months of games, travel,and interviews.”

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