Page 142 of Of Pucking Course

Sophie’s crystal blue eyes are wide. “So, like, is he into cuffs and whips and chains?”

I smile at my adorably sweet best friend. “Cuffs, yes. Whips and chains, no.” I take another sip of my coffee. “And that’s all I want to say about that part of it because I want to respect Sam’s privacy.”

They all say they understand.

Maya, who’s sitting on the other side of me, bumps my shoulder with hers as she smiles at me. “You should have had him eavesdrop on you sooner. He could have been rocking your world in bed for years,” she teases.

“I don’t think it would have worked out that way,” I say. “I was the one who brought up the idea of us hooking up. He wasn’t into it at first.”

Sophie frowns, confused. “Really? He’s had a crush on you forever.”

“Yeah, but he didn’t want to pursue anything because of his friendship with Del.”

I tell them about what Sam did in college to get kicked off the hockey team and how Del helped him, and the rule Del had with all of his friends and teammates that I was forever off limits.

Sophie blinks, her expression shocked. “That makes total sense now why he never asked you out. He didn’t want to betray his best friend.”

“Yeah. But it’s all good now,” I say. “Del and I talked it out. Sam and Del talked it out. Del is okay with us being together. Not like we need my brother’s permission to be in a relationship, but knowing that he respects our relationship means a lot.”

I look at all of them. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you guys about us sooner, but I wanted to take things slowly after everything that happened with Jake. I didn’t want to rush into something and have it all ruined, like every other relationship I’ve had.”

“We get it,” Ingrid says. Maya and Bella nod. Sophie squeezes my hand.

“Sam was amazing. He went at my pace. He was so patient and understanding about everything. And when I was ready to make things official between us, he was ready too. It’s honestly been so easy and so perfect.Heis perfect.”

There’s a warm and gooey feeling in my chest just thinking about him. I’ve never been happier than I am now with Sam.

My friends gaze at me with warmth in their expressions.

“We’re so happy for you, Dakota,” Sophie says.

That warmth inside of me intensifies.

“It feels like everything in my life is finally good,” I say. “I have amazing friends, a job I love, and now I have the most incredible boyfriend.”

Sophie pulls me into a hug. “You deserve it, Dakota.”

“You really do,” Ingrid says.

“More than anyone,” Bella says.

Maya grabs my hand and smiles.

Sophie looks at me. “Has Sam seen you in his jersey yet?”

I shake my head. “Tonight’s game will be the first time.”

I’ve worn his t-shirts around the house tons of times, but never his jersey.

Bella smiles at me. “Your guy is gonna lose his mind.”

Chapter 50

Dakota

Butterflies swarm my tummy as I sit in the stands at the arena in downtown Denver, waiting for the teams to hit the ice for warmup.

I can’t wait to see the look on Sam’s face when he sees me in his jersey.

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