Page 121 of If You Claim Me
“It doesn’t have to be elaborate.” She flips the puck on her stick before sending it back to me. “Sometimes small and thoughtful can mean more than something extravagant.”
“Noted.”
“You care about her,” Coach says softly.
“Does that surprise you?”
“Just because this started as something else doesn’t mean it can’t change, Connor. Roman and I are proof of that. So are Hemi and Dallas, and Hollis and Hammer, and Rix and Tristan. Where we end up doesn’t have to be defined by where we began.”
I open my mouth, but then Coach Vander Zee skates over, ending that conversation. Still, it hits where it’s meant to. After practice, I check my phone and see that I have new messages.
Meems
You need to take your wife shopping.
Connor
Sure.
Meems
Her pants have holes in them.
On purpose.
Connor
That’s fashionable these days, Meems.
But I do love the idea of spending time with her, watching her try on clothes, dressing her in beautiful things.
Connor
I’ll take her when I get back.
CHAPTER 32
DRED
Hemi
Watering Hole in an hour?
Rix
I can make it!
Hammer
Obviously you know I can make it.
Apicture of the two of them standing in the office together follows.
Shilpa
Please enjoy each other while I enjoy my sleeping nugget.
A photo of a tired but happy Shilpa snuggling her passed out baby follows.
