I shake my head. “I didn’t, but I’m not surprised.”
“I grew up playing but stopped when I was thirteen. Soccer and tennis took over at that point.”
Placing a hand over my chest, I feign offence. “Soccer over hockey? You sound a lot like my cousin Manu.”
“What can I say? It was more my thing back then. But if I’m being honest, deep inside I wanted something that wasn’t tied to my family legacy.”
“Makes sense. I never had the pressure of doing things only because of my family. But now that my cousin is older, he has the pressure to succeed because I did at his age. I hate it for him, but I can’t do anything other than help him to get there.”
“Tell me more about Manu. He seems important to you.”
Mentions of Manu brings a genuine smile to my face. “He’s a high school senior living near Mexico City with my tía Marisol. He breathes soccer and wants to play at college level next year.”
Haisley whistles. “Impressive. You two close?”
“Yeah. Once I moved across the pond for college, it was cheaper and easier to fly down to see them. My Abuela passed away when I was a senior in high school, so I had no reason to return to Uppsala,” I admit. “Anyway, we grew close because I spent all my holidays in Mexico. He’s more of a little brother than a cousin.”
“I hope I get to meet him one day.”
“You will,” I say, meaning it. “He’ll be excited about the baby, too, once I tell them about the pregnancy.”
“What if we call them together after this?”
Her suggestion makes me feel all happy inside. “I would love that.”
For a while, we skate around, enjoying the sunny winter afternoon. Then, out of nowhere, Haisley circles me, a spark igniting in her light green eyes.
“Catch me if you can.”
I smirk her way. “Sure you want to race?”
She tilts her head in mock defiance. “What’s wrong? Afraid you’ll lose?” She flaps her arms to drive her point home, imitating a chicken.
“Oh, you just wait.”
She takes off, and I let her think she has a real chance, that she’s fast enough to leave a professional hockey player in the dust. There’s no chance in hell.
When she least expects it, I close the gap between us in the blink of an eye. I reach out and catch her around the waist, pulling her against me. She shrieks, squirming in my arms, laughter spilling from her lips.
“You really thought I wasn’t going to catch you?” I murmur against her ear. “Think again.”
She stills in my hold, breathing heavily. Her gaze lifts to mine. “I should’ve known. You always find a way to catch me.”
“Damn right.”
Something shifts between us. The teasing fades into something heavier, more dangerous. Her hands slide up, curling behind my neck. Our lips hover centimeters apart, our breaths mingling in the frigid winter air.
“I regretted stopping our kiss last night so much,” she admits softly. “But I don’t know if crossing lines is smart.”
I exhale sharply, my jaw tightening. “Be sure, sweetness. Because I don’t know if I can resist you the next time.”
Every instinct in me screams to close the distance, to claim her lips and erase whatever hesitation she still has. But instead, I press a kiss on her forehead, lingering longer than I should.
Then I pull back and skate away. If she wants me, she’ll have to make the first move and stick to her decision.
25
MAYBE THAT’S HOW YOU KNOW IT’S MEANT TO BE
