Page 68 of Getting the Grinder
“Home?” she practically yells. “Are you two living together? You know how your father and I feel about that.”
My day of relaxing and recovering has taken a stressful turn. I turn on the TV, open the YouTube app, and search for a video of a doorbell ringing.
“No, we aren’t living together. He’s at a team meeting and I’m at his house with his dog. That’s all I meant.”
“Why aren’t you at work?”
“I have a day off.” I play a video, turning up the volume. “Mom, there’s someone at the door. I have to answer it. I’ll let you know later today about Christmas.”
“Don’t open it. I just watched a show about a rapist who dresses like a delivery driver.”
“It’s someone I know. I have to go, Mom. Love you.”
“Love you too, honey.”
“Check this out.” Leo tosses his keys on the kitchen counter when he gets back a couple of hours later, looking excited.
He bends his knee and lifts it up, then puts his foot back on the ground and gets into a squatting position. “I couldn’t do that without pain before.”
“That’s great!”
“The rest and ice are helping.”
“I’m so glad.”
He’s following all the doctor’s instructions for rehab, hoping to avoid surgery and be back on the ice in as little as four weeks. Surgery would mean a much longer absence from playing hockey.
I give him a quick kiss and he wraps me in a hug, his clean, masculine scent and strong arms calming me.
“My parents got the check,” I say, pulling away to look into his eyes. “They’re so grateful. You didn’t have to do that.”
His lips pull up in a smile. “I did it because I wanted to.”
“It means the world to me. You changed their lives.”
“It was a small thank you for raising the woman I love.”
My lips part with surprise. It’s soon, but I’m feeling it, too. I was just too afraid to say the words in case he’s not there yet.
“Really?” Tears well in my eyes.
He kisses me. “Really.”
“I love you, too, Leo. I know we just got together, but ... I never get tired of you. That’s never happened to me before.”
The corners of his eyes crinkle when he smiles. “I’m sure you’ll get tired of me at some point. But that doesn’t mean we’re not great together.”
“I’m easily annoyed,” I admit.
“I’m aware. I used to annoy you by existing.”
He puts his hands on my hips, pulling me close. I put my palms on his chest, a smile tugging at my lips.
“I used to annoy you pretty easily, too.”
“Now you’re my girl, though. It was worth all the fighting, wasn’t it?”
I never thought I wanted to be any man’s girl. But I love the sound of him calling me that.
