Page 21 of She Wolf

“I told them it was mean to make you jump like that,” she shakes her head.

“Such a pair of chuckleheads. I’ll get Knox back though, something really good that he’ll never see coming.”

That makes her laugh even more. “You Maddens are nuts.”

“You had a good day today?” I ask her. “Did you go to the firehouse?”

“Only to take them some cookies. There’s not loads for me to do there now the carnival is over, and I declined the job offer to work officially for FDNY.” she shrugs.

“I’ll always make time to visit, and they know I’m eager to help them out, but Casey’s hockey camps will take up all my time soon, so I’m just going to enjoy the next few months.”

I nod, knowing that in no time her life will revolve around kids and hockey.

“Want me to get started on dinner?” she asks, standing up.

“MeandGunnerkissed!” I blurt out and Anna gasps, her green eyes going wide, and she giggles again.

“Coralie, you did not!”

“We did,” I tell her and start giggling too.

“Oh my, my, this is huge. When? Tell me everything.” Her warm hands clasp mine and she pulls me down onto the couch.

I relive every delicious moment of last night, while Anna listens on enthralled. From me going over with no real plan or reason why—to the totally and utterly life-altering kiss we shared. The promised words Gunner uttered and how I found myself unable to sleep, unable to quell the electricity searing through my veins, completely wired.

When I’m done Anna shakes her head. “What the hell are they putting in that Gatorade?”

“Dunno, but maybe we should write them a thank you note,” I say making us both giggle again.

Squeals and shouts ring from outside drawing us out of our conversation.

“It’s nice having you around,” I say, throwing my arms around Anna.

“It’s nice to be around,” she smiles again. “I’ll go be the unofficial pool ball-girl for the boys while you go change.” She breezes away, tying her hair up, ready to fetch all the wayward balls that inevitably find their way across the yard when Jack’s in the water.

I run up the stairs two at a time, taking in the framed pictures as I go. Casey has such a huge staircase he’s been able to document what feels like our whole lives. Holiday photos, snaps of us on vacation with lots of hockey and school sprinkled through, and even though I see them multiple times a day, whenever I focus on one, I’m taken back to the exact moment it was taken.

I kick off my sensibly heeled pumps—I'm five foot ten after all—and then quickly change out of the black pencil skirt and grey blouse I’ve been wearing all day and reach for the pale blue loungewear set that’s hanging over the back of the plush cream chair I sit in to do my make up.

All cozy and ready for a night of family dinner, I make my way back downstairs just as Anna comes in through doors that lead out to the pool meeting next to the giant stove.

We decide on Chili, knowing it’s on Casey and Knox’s approved diet.

Feeding my family has always made me happy. I can pinpoint the exact moment it started…the exact date—September 11, 2001. My uncle lost his life that day and it left a scar that never heals.

For a child whose family is closer than most, it left me feeling like I needed to do something to help. Having to watch my grief-stricken aunt and parents, grieving with my cousins—who were more like brothers to me—I turned to the only comfort I could muster. Cooking.

It also gives me a two birds, one stone kind of scenario because Casey doesn’t take rent from me, so cooking is how I like to pay my way.

I watch him send a text while drying off from the pool and five minutes later, Gunner comes through to the kitchen. I should have known it was him that Casey was messaging.

Grey sweatpants, an under-armor workout tee, and a confidence that can only be

found in a pro athlete’s arsenal are my undoing. On my brothers it’s annoying—on Gunner it’s just plain hot.

I bury a gasp that tries to escape at the sight before me. It’s something that I see on a daily basis but now it feels different. Today I know what his kisses taste like. Today I know what his hands feel like and today, I know how hard—

“I heard there was chili,” he says, flashing me a bright white smile. I laugh, nervously, feeling like a schoolgirl with a crush. “There is. Grab a dish.”

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