“Why? We’re about to become family.” Jax shrugs and looks at me as if I’m the one who’s being unreasonable.
“Good to know,” I hear a feminine voice that belongs to my future bride.
When our eyes connect across the locker room, my chest tightens as I take in the sight of her, Gemma, and Gunner each in my jersey. The three of them standing there together look like everything I want to fight to hold onto—and for a hell of a lot longer than three years.
That sounds an awful lot like forever kind of talk.
“I hope you don’t mind, they wanted to see you before they go with our grandparents—” Scar starts, but stops when she sees me squat down and open my arms.
“There he is, come here, Champ.” I wave to Gunner before he takes off and runs into my arms. Scooping him up, he gives me a big squeeze. “How did you like your first game?”
“That. Was. Awesome!” Gunner squeals, throwing his fists above his head.
When he throws his arms around my neck again, I squeeze him to my chest as I look over his little head to find Gemma and a stunned Scarlett watching us.
“Hey, Gems. How’d you like the game?” I ask her once I’ve shortened the distance between us.
“It was great. I was able to meet up with a few friends of mine from school,” she tells me as she takes in the locker room atmosphere.
“Really? Small world.”
“Yeah, they’re actually the younger siblings of your rookie.” Gemma’s cheeks heat when she tells me that tidbit, and as if summoned, Connelly walks over to pat me on the back.
“We still on for tomorrow?” he asks me.
“Yeah, but I moved back our ice time a bit. Let me know if that doesn’t work for you,” I tell him, though I don’t mention that it’s because Scar told me she’d be staying the night tonight.
“Sounds good,” he nods before locking his gaze on Gemma. “Wait a minute, I know you,” Connelly says, snapping his fingers before pointing at her.
Gemma’s eyes widen and I think I see a slight shake of her head.
“No?” he questions her with a quirk of his brow.
“Not unless you’ve seen me hanging out with your brother and sister,” she tells him in a shaky voice.
“Hmm,” he hums, though a wide grin spreads across his face. “I don’t think that’s it,” he pauses to scratch at his jaw. “Ah, I remember, you’re the twirl girl I saw on the ice.”
If I didn’t know better, I’d think Gemma’s expression was briefly panic-stricken before she schools her features.
My eyes bounce back and forth between the two of them. “You’re probably thinking of the family and friends skate. Gemma, this is Nathan Connelly. Connelly, this is GemmaCarlisle.” I emphasize her last name as a bit of a warning, but it doesn’t seem to register with him.
“Not sure if that was it, but I guess that’s what we’re going with,” he says, eyes alight with something I can’t read as he smirks at Gemma’s narrowed eyes.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,rookie,” I say, dismissing him. This time, he takes the not-so-subtle hint and leaves the locker room with an impish grin I’d like to smack right off of him.
“What’s his deal?” Scar asks as she wraps an arm around Gemma’s shoulder.
Gemma shrugs out of her grasp, and a look of hurt spreads across Scar’s face. “Not sure. Seems to me like he’d benefit from a few of those etiquette classes we were forced to take.”
“I’ll look into that,” I quip, smirking at her quick wit that reminds me of Scar.
“Did you like my presents?” Gunner thankfully interrupts.
That turns my smirk into a full-blown grin. “Of course I did. Why do you think we won?”
“My good luck crystal!” he bellows in a voice I’ve never heard from him that has the three of us chuckling.
“The crystal, and don’t forget the awesome picture. Thanks for writing that note on the back, Champ.” He nods at me like a bobble-head before squeezing my neck again, causing my chest to tighten and my throat to swell with emotion. This kid—he’s turning me into a fucking softy.
