“Since we are all together, I’d like for you all to meet Emma Cooper.My much better and way more attractive half.”
I could feel him watching me as he introduced me.I smiled and nodded to everyone.Each of them had questions, I could see it, and right now I wasn’t sure I could handle them.
“Emma, it’s wonderful to meet you,” Dylan said.
“Yeah, we were wondering about this mysterious girl,” Aurora said, smiling as she held her hand out for me to shake.It surprised me when I slid my hand into hers and she pulled me in for a hug instead.
“Yeah, the big guy kept quiet about having a significant other, so you can imagine how much of a shock it is to us,” Clay added.
“Cut the crap, this is no more shocking than finding out your little sister was impregnated by a teammate.We all, apparently, keep secrets,” Knox said, bumping into him.
“Here we go,” Dylan muttered, glancing at Colton.
“Yep, here we go,” Colton agreed, chuckling.
“Are you still on that, Knox?”Lucas questioned.
“He’ll always be on it.I’d have figured finding out Colton had a secret girlfriend would have pulled his attention elsewhere, but I guess I was wrong.”Clay chuckled.
“Well, surprise, here she is,” Colton said, pulling me against him, pressing a kiss to my cheek.
I could feel the tension in my body as everyone looked at us, particularly Aurora and Lorelai.It was as if they were trying to read the situation, and that was when I realized that the look that was on my face was probably not one of adoration.I’d have to work on that, I thought to myself.
“I’m sorry that we shocked all of you.I’m sure he only kept things on the quiet side because of the move and us trying to figure out the long-distance thing for a while.It’s been hard, but we’ve finally worked things out, and I couldn’t be happier to be back here with him,” I said, resting my head on his shoulder.
“I’m sure.Long distances can be hell,” Clay said.“Peyton and I were long distance until she moved out here.It was tough being away from her when all I wanted to do was be with her.”
“Oh, quit putting on a show for the new girl,” Knox added once again, punching him in the shoulder.
“It’s not a show.It’s the truth,” Clay added.
“Uh-huh.Secretly he was happy I didn’t know, because that way, I couldn’t kill him.”Knox winked.
Lorelai elbowed Knox in the ribs and then shook her head and stepped in front of Knox and Clay, holding out her hand to me, which I shook as well.
“We are glad you are here, and we look forward to welcoming you with open arms after you complete your move.Well, and before that, of course.Which reminds me, we were talking, and we thought it would be nice to have you both over for a barbecue sometime next week.”
I glanced at Colton, who looked at me and nodded.
“That would be lovely,” I answered, my mind racing.
“We just thought it would be the easiest way for all of us to meet you and get to know you instead of trying to get to know you in at one of these silly events, or a game where you can barely hear yourself think.”
“For sure.”I smiled.“I like that idea.What do you think, sweetie?”I said, turning to Colton.
Colton shifted uncomfortably and then cleared his throat.“Well, why don’t we talk about it and see what we can work out after the set of away games this weekend?”
“Guys, he wants to have her all to himself.I can see it.Let’s not push,” Dylan said, smacking Colton on the arm, which caused Colton to chuckle.
“No, it’s not that,” I said, placing my free hand on his chest, pulling his attention to me.
“Let’s not lie to my teammates, Emma.You know how much I’ve loved having you to myself, and I recall you saying something similar last night as I was between your legs,” he said, leaning in and placing a soft kiss just beside my ear.
Heat flooded my body as I looked at him, the entire room falling away at the same time.What the hell was he doing?
“Looks like we might have some competition, Knox,” Dylan said as both the boys laughed.
“Not another one,” Aurora said, her and Lorelai giggling.
