Page 74 of Safety Net
I leaned over and kissed her cheek and my favorite spot on the corner of her jaw because I couldn't resist before pulling away. "I'm kidding. I can take a punch. Hell, I can take a whole-body check."
"I would hope so."
"Give me your best shot," I dared.
"Alright. I think that guy who writes weekly 'who dun it' has a lot more to offer."
I blinked, surprised at the ease with which she shared. "You believe in me?"
"Of course, I believe in you," she said thoughtfully. There wasn’t an ounce of doubt in her dark eyes. There was a lump in my throat born from gratefulness.
"I was sad when you told me you didn't think you're worth the investment," Celeste continued. "There are so many paths for you to take, and I think all of them begin with that entertaining brain of yours."
"I'm giving hockey a fair shot," I shared. "I've been working these last few weeks to train and win back Anthony. I'm going all in."
"Lincoln, that's incredible. And that's what you want, right? Not Sam, or Henrik, or Finn. You?"
I nodded and looked down for a second with a smile on my face. It was scary admitting it, but it was the truth.
"Perfect." She squeezed my hand. "As long as it's what you want, it's perfect."
We were back at the house before we knew it, beginning the search in the living room because that was the only place she'd been.
"I don't get it." Celeste tossed a couch pillow back into place. "It's not here."
"It's here," I assured, opening the refrigerator.
Celeste let out an easy laugh. "Really?"
"Hey, one time I left a whole tablet in this thing overnight," I said. "It happens."
She kept laughing. "Could you call me? My ringer's off, but maybe we'll hear the vibration."
I nodded. As soon as the call went through, something buzzed nearby. I found her phone tucked under the cushion of the barstool she'd been sitting on.
"Thank you." Celeste smiled and hurried over.
"When did you add this?" My stomach jumped at what I saw on her screen. I turned the phone to her, pointing to the pinkheart she'd placed by my name. I couldn’t not ask when all the excitement in my body turned into a buzz far better than any I'd find at the bar tonight. Thank God I hadn't taken a shot. Being sober left enough headspace to get drunk on the shy smile she offered me.
She reached for the phone, but I didn't let go.
"It was after that first practice when I panicked and you listened," she said, leaning into our tug of war.
"So, before the kiss backstage?"
Celeste pressed her lips together for a second, trying to read my face. "You seem surprised."
"I am. I mean, I fell for you the moment I laid eyes on you, but I know it's not the same for you."
She stopped tugging, brows raised, and her eyes went big. "At the arena. You fell for me at the arena? Over a year ago?"
I laughed at the shock in her voice. "Of course."
"Lincoln." She scoffed. "Seriously? Let's be…serious."
"I'm being serious," I promised. "Come on, you know this."
"I didn't know. I thought you were exaggerating."
