Page 81 of Goalie's Obsession

“Okay,” he says seriously. “I brought you three things. First—hydration.” He hands me a glass of water like a nurse in triage. “Second, sugar.” A mini chocolate bar appears, already unwrapped at one corner. “And third, cleansing vibes.”

He holds up the bar of soap with a hopeful expression. It smells like eucalyptus.

“What am I supposed to do with that?”

“No idea. I think I was going for emotionally cleansing shower?”

I let out a choked laugh and take the chocolate, curling up on the edge of the bed.

“God,” I mutter. “And he toldyouto keepmesafe.”

Connor’s gaze sharpens. “Yeah. That part caught my attention. He's still not real bright, is he?”

“Connor…"

I try to keep it light, to absorb Connor's amazingly steady calm right now, but the weight of my brother’s voice is still echoing in my ears.

"What if someone’s threatening him? What if—” My throat tightens. “He said something about losing it all.”

“Then we get answers,” Connor says, his voice steel now. “He’s in trouble. We’ll figure it out. He's family, and family is supposed to help each other.”

I study him for a second, my heart twisting. “You’d really do that? Even after everything?”

He looks me dead in the eye.

“Lucy, your brother could burn my car, punch me in the face, and name his dog after my worst playoff performance—and I’d still protect him if it meant keeping you safe.”

I blink. “You havegotto stop saying things that make me fall in love with you during a crisis.”

Something flickers across his face.

His smile fades, but not in a bad way. It softens, grows more tender as the silent seconds pass between us. Like the words have hit him somewhere he wasn’t expecting, but maybe always hoped for.

He steps over closer and brushes hair back from my face, his fingers lingering ever so gently on my cheek.

“Say that again.”

I swallow, my heart racing. “Which part?”

“The part where I'm making you fall more in love with me.”

My cheeks burn as I realize what I just blurted out.

The L-word.

Connor's eyes dance with amusement. "Do you know how adorable you are when you're flustered?"

"I'm not flustered," I protest, but my voice comes out squeaky. "I'm... strategically overwhelmed."

He laughs deeply before pulling my face to his. His lips brush mine, soft and sweet, completely at odds with the chaos of the entire fucking world swirling around us.

"Don't worry, Lucy Lou." His forehead rests against mine. "Because I love you too."

My heart stops, then starts again double-time. "You do?"

"Obviously." He kisses the tip of my nose. "Why else would I let you drag me on a death march up Runyon Canyon?"

"That was a team activity!"

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