Page 76 of Jesse and the Ice Princess
A throat clearing broke them apart as her parents strode in with two little boys behind them. Will and Eli talked about the game as they took turns hugging Jesse. He smiled at Charlotte over their shoulders.
"All right, boys." Mrs. Morrison put her hands on her hips. "Out. I need to take a look at Charlotte's leg."
Jesse filed out behind the others and shut the door. He leaned back against the wall, avoiding Coach's eye.
"Carrigan." Coach grunted. "This team has rules."
Here we go.Jesse straightened and finally faced the man who'd kept Charlotte from him in the first place. "I know, sir. But you don't understand. I don't just like your daughter, I—"
"Son, stop." He rubbed the back of his neck. "If there's one thing my wife and I have learned from all this, it's that we have a strong-willed daughter who deserves some control over her own life."
Jesse nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"So, my rule has changed. You will make my daughter happy."
"Yes, sir."
"For every time you hurt her, the entire team will do line-skates until their legs give out."
Jesse swallowed. "Really?"
"Of course, not." He cracked a smile. "You won't be able to do line-skates when you're dead."
"That's a joke, right?"
"Is it?"
"Coach." He stared at him.
Coach put a hand on his shoulder. "All right kid, I'm about to share the secret to life—which happens to also be the secret to women. Don't. Be. An. Idiot."
Will snorted. "That'll be kind of hard for you, Jesse."
Jesse locked an arm around his brother's neck while Eli and Coach laughed.
By the time Mrs. Morrison came out, most of the team had passed them on their way out of the rink.
Jesse kicked away from the wall. "She okay?"
"She'll live." She turned to her husband. "Ready to head home?"
He nodded. "The custodial staff will lock up. Jesse, get my daughter home, please. I'm sure she'd rather ride with you."
As they walked away, Jesse threw a look to his brothers. "Go wait for us out front." They scurried off.
He entered Coach's office to find Charlotte collapsed in a chair in her long shorts and Under-Armor shirt that clung to her. She lifted her head and smiled.
"They tell me you'll live."
"That's good." She laughed. "I wasn't so sure after we kissed in front of them."
"Hey, you kissed me. I had no part in that."
"Then I guess you'd be opposed to me doing it again? If you want..." She looked down at her nails. "We can just forget about it."
"Not a chance." He bent over her, taking advantage of the fact he no longer had to hide his feelings.
A laugh burst free of him.
