His hand drops from my shoulder, and he shrugs. “Had some time off. Wanted to see my little brother do his thing.”
I laugh, dryly, cocking my head. “You flew in to watch a college game?”
“No,” he says. “I flew in to watchyourgame.”
I freeze.
His lips twitch. “I’m glad I did. You played like a beast out there.”
I let out a breath, rubbing the back of my neck. “Took your advice. I put all that aggression on the ice.”
Connor gives me a once-over, his eyes lingering on my face for a beat longer than usual. “Glad to hear it. Your shoulder feeling better?”
I roll it, the ache gone now. “Yeah. It’s good.”
He nods, but then before he can say anything else, I hear the sound of my girl’s laugh and turn to see her running toward me.
“I told you you’d do amazing,” she says, grinning so brightly that it almost knocks the air from my lungs. She throws her arms around my neck before I even have the chance to react, she pulls me in close.
I close my eyes as I feel the warmth of her body pressed against mine, her familiar scent filling my senses. I can’t help but sink into the feeling, one hand instinctively reaching to her head, my fingers getting tangled in those gorgeous curls of hers.
I breathe her in, the familiar scent of her shampoo making the stupid flip in my chest happen all over again. The world could burn down around us, and I wouldn’t care.
I just want to hold her.
“It was all you, Curls,” I murmur as I pull back to look at her. “Your strategy kicked ass.”
She chuckles, and my gaze drops to her lips, lingering for a second too long, the urge to kiss her overwhelming.
Fuck.
But then, I hear a throat clear, and I glance at my brother, and realizing we’re in the middle of a room full of people. Coaches, players, and of course—her dad and brother.
I swallow as I shift away from her.
I clear my throat and force a smile. “This is Isabella. My… friend,” I say, though the word feels awkward on my tongue.
That word doesn’t belong beside her name.
Because Isabella is so much more than a friend.
But I can’t say that right now. Not with everyone surrounding us.
Connor looks between us, his expression unreadable for a beat, before he finally shifts his focus to her. “Nice to meet you.”
She grins at him. “Yeah, you too. You’re amazing, by the way. I grew up watching your games.”
My brother chuckles, but a groan leaves my lips. “Bels. Can you not fawn over my brother? Please?”
She laughs, shrugging innocently. “Hockey legend, Ryan. What do you expect?”
I roll my eyes. “He gets enough of that.” Part of me doesn’t like how easy it is for her to gush over Connor. Another part of me knows it’s just how it goes—he’s been a pro for years, and I’m just… me.
“Izzy!”
At the sound of Nathan’s voice, Isabella’s face lights up, and she grins before waving goodbye to me. Then she rushes toward him, and he pulls her into a quick hug.
A grin pulls at my lips as I watch them. They have the kind of sibling relationship I’ve always envied.
