“I can make sure you get yours, too. Don’t worry,” I shot back.
“Geez,” Frankie muttered. “You’d think getting some would have put you in a better mood.”
I flipped them both off as I guided Sutton past.
“I’m never going to be able to look them in the eye again,” she said into my chest.
I just chuckled. “Trust me, they’ve done way worse.”
Sutton stole a look up at me, her cheeks pink. “Not in front of me, they haven’t.”
I kissed the tip of her nose. “You’re cute when you’re embarrassed.”
“This isn’t funny, Copeland!”
I just grinned wider. “Warrior, never going to mind that people know we can’t keep our hands off each other.”
She let out a little huff of air.
“What?” I asked.
“Why do you have to be sweet when I’m annoyed?”
My grin widened. “I could always fuck you again to help with that.”
Sutton shoved at my chest. “Men!”
I laughed as she went in search of Luca, and God, that felt good. The release of the stress I’d been carrying around for the last few hours. But more than that, knowing we could hit bumps in the road and make it through every damn time.
49
SUTTON
The week of the Sparks’camp flew by in a mix of practices and mock games, ending with a scrimmage today where professionals and kids mixed to form two teams. The kids had the time of their lives playing like they were in the professional league themselves, and thankfully, Marcus and Cope hadn’t gotten into any more scuffles.
All in all, it was a huge win for the team, the kids, and my little family. Because with no new drama coming to the surface, all but a couple of reporters had vanished from Sparrow Falls. So, we planned to celebrate it all with a barbeque to end all barbeques. The Sparks, the kids and their families, and, of course, the whole Colson crew.
But something was off with Cope. He’d been edgy since we left the rink, tapping his foot and drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. As we came to a stop in front of his house with two large catering vans parked to the side of us, he didn’t turn off the engine right away.
I twisted slightly to face him. “Okay, what the heck is going on with you?”
His gaze flicked to the rearview mirror, checking on Luca, who was currently engrossed in a game on his tablet. A fresh wave of nerves slid through me, and I pitched my voice even lower. “Cope. Are you okay?”
He muttered a curse under his breath. “I wanted it all to be a surprise, but now I’m realizing I should’ve asked first.”
I reached over, pulling his hand from the wheel and linking our fingers together. “Hey, together, remember?”
One corner of Cope’s mouth pulled up. “Together.” His fingers squeezed mine. “Are you ready to tell Speedy about us? That you guys are staying?”
That wave of nerves turned into a tsunami, but I knew it was time. Luca would be overjoyed. And he deserved to know that this was more than a friendship between Cope and me. “I’m ready.”
“What are you guys whispering about?” Luca asked from the back seat, lowering his tablet. His eyes narrowed on us as Gretzky panted in the seat next to him.
Cope chuckled. “Can’t sneak anything past this one.”
I twisted in my seat to face my son. “Cope and I have something we want to tell you.”
That got Luca to set his tablet on the seat next to him. “What?” There was suspicion and a little bit of hope in his tone.
