Page 58 of Jesse and the Ice Princess
They looked to each other. Coach sighed while his wife's lips curved into a hesitant smile. "Charlotte has a competition to prepare for. As long as you don't interfere with her training, she can spend time with you." Coach put a hand on his shoulder. "I trust you, son."
Hearing that meant more than Jesse would ever admit.
Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Jesse turned to find Charlotte in the same relaxed outfit she'd worn when he arrived. He grinned up at her. "Have I told you I like your hair yet?" She had it pulled back into a half ponytail.
Her eyes drifted to her parents, but they stayed quiet. He took that as a good sign. "Want to come over to my house?"
She nodded, her shyness returning. It was hard reconciling the shy version of Charlotte Morrison with the one who shrieked as they wrestled in the ocean, or the one who fought with him in the halls of Gulf City High.
But she wasn't just one thing. Shy and feisty. Strong and vulnerable. A figure skater and a hockey player.
Well, he still had to convince her of the last thing.
With a wave goodbye to her parents, they stepped out into the sun and climbed into his jeep. When he turned on the car, Ed Sheeran blared from the speakers.
Charlotte sent Jesse a smirk before rolling down her window and gazing out at the passing palm trees.
Cold wind whipped through the car, but neither of them seemed to care. There was no need to talk as the music pumped through them. She tore her eyes from the window, looking back at him with a small smile playing on her lips.
She averted her eyes when he caught her looking.
Yeah... friends. That was such a great idea.
All he had to do was not fall in love.
Easy, right?
* * *
When they gotto Jesse's house, Will and Eli were nowhere to be found.
Cassie appeared from her room. "Dad took them to the park after Mary dropped them off."
A coughing fit had Jesse doubling over. "Dad?" He couldn't remember the last time his dad did anything fun with his kids.
Cassie shrugged, eyeing Charlotte.
Charlotte smiled at her, and Cassie frowned.
Jesse led Charlotte into the living room. Toys scattered around the floor along with bits of food. Saturdays were normally reserved for cleaning, but he hadn't been able to keep himself inside. "Just kick stuff out of the way. I'll be right back." He ran up the stairs to change.
By the time he returned, Charlotte and Cassie sat on the oversized leather couch, laughing about something.
Cassie rarely laughed except with her brothers.
"What's so funny?" Jesse asked, hopping onto the massive beanbag chair in the corner.
Charlotte shrugged. "Nothing you need to concern yourself with."
Cassie smirked.
Shaking his head, Jesse reached for the remote and flipped to the Saturday afternoon game. It wasn't the hometown Lightning playing, but the Capitols and Penguins would do.
"Ugh my eyes." Charlotte slapped a hand over her face. She lunged off the couch, landing on the other half of the beanbag as she reached for the remote. "You can't make me watch the Penguins."
Jesse held the remote above his head. "What if I like them?"
"No one likes the Penguins except Penguins fans." She tackled him.
