“I’m almost afraid to ask.” Jase snakes a hand under the wide sleeve of my jersey, tracing patterns down to my elbow and back.
“Afraid to ask what?” It takes a moment to focus on his words and not the tingles his touch makes me feel.
“If you still want to be my girlfriend after tonight.”
Used to his exaggerating nature, I can’t help but tease him a little. “You mean because you lost to your brother?” I feign a disappointed pout.
A veil falls over his hazel eyes, but it disappears so quickly I can’t tell if it was real or a trick of the light. Teasing him over a loss is a staple of our banter—hello, proud Boston fan, remember?—so I don’t know why this would be any different.
I think maybe my guilty conscience is starting to play tricks on me.
“No.” His lips quirk, and there’s my cocky boyfriend. “I just want to make sure you weren’t scared away by my crazy family.”
I cast a quick glance at Gemma across the table, but she and Ella are lost in their own conversation.
“No way. I love them.” His eyes flash at the words, and it takes considerable effort not to tell him they aren’t the only ones I love. It’s not fair to say it before revealing my secret.
I tell him all about my time in the suite, from Sean and Carlee’s antics to how absolutely adorable his nieces are. He playfully shudders when Gemma chimes in to say they officially made me a member of The Coven, but the look of pride reflected on his face is unmistakable.
This weekend has been a fairytale. Too bad my secret feels like the Evil Queen’s poison apple.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
BROADWAY BABY: Question.
THE BIG HAMMER: You forgot your question mark.
BROADWAY BABY: Funny. But for reals. I need to know…how committed are you to me?
THE BIG HAMMER: I feel like this is a trick question, Sweet Potato.
BROADWAY BABY: I promise it’s not.
THE BIG HAMMER: If you’re asking if I’m seeing anyone else, the answer is a big HELL NO.
THE BIG HAMMER: And if this your roundabout way of asking me if I’m okay with you seeing other people, the answer would be an even bigger HELL FUCKING NO.
BROADWAY BABY: Relax there, All-Star. You’re the only guy for me.
BROADWAY BABY: Well…
BROADWAY BABY: At least…
BROADWAY BABY: Until…
THE BIG HAMMER: I knew you getting added to the Coven Conversations wasn’t going to be good for me. You’re over here texting me like Becky about a topic that is ruining my Tim Hortons experience, baby.
BROADWAY BABY: Sorry, babe. Ooo, now I want a donut *donut emoji*
THE BIG HAMMER: Mels…
BROADWAY BABY: Sorry. Okay, so I’m not trying to jump the gun at all and assume things.
BROADWAY BABY: And I don’t want you to feel pressured at all or think I’ve turned into some stage-5 clinger or anything.
BROADWAY BABY: I’m just curious, and…
THE BIG HAMMER: Wow. I didn’t think it was possible to ramble in text form, but look at you totally pulling it off.
BROADWAY BABY: Sorry again. Okay, so say we are together for a while, like for years…
THE BIG HAMMER: Okay, this is more along the lines of what I like to hear. Keep going.
BROADWAY BABY: Well, okay good. So say we are together for years—would it make you mad if I left you in, say, about 9 years?
THE BIG HAMMER: Excuse me? **rubs eyes** Hold on. I HAD to have heard that wrong.
BROADWAY BABY: Read, All-Star. Remember you can’t hear a text.
THE BIG HAMMER: Mels…
BROADWAY BABY: Oh wow, this is so much more fun than I thought.
THE BIG HAMMER: You are in so much trouble when we get back from this road trip. I’m going to spank your ass for torturing me.
BROADWAY BABY: Ooo, Loverboy, that’s hot.
THE BIG HAMMER: Hey, Zoey.
BROADWAY BABY: Hey there, hot stuff.
THE BIG HAMMER: Normally I wouldn’t like you cutting in on my time talking to my girl, but since she’s not really telling me anything, do you think you could tell me why Mels would say she wants to commit to being with me for years only to break up?
BROADWAY BABY: Oh. That’s easy. She wants your brother.
THE BIG HAMMER: Come again?
BROADWAY BABY: Now, now. Save the dirty talk for when I haven’t stolen your girlfriend’s phone. I’m just saying your bro has hella game.
THE BIG HAMMER: If that’s really the case, why wait 9 years? Ryan is single and clearly the better of the two of us.
BROADWAY BABY: Ryan?
THE BIG HAMMER: Yeah, Ryan. You know, my older brother, plays for the Blizzards? Mr. Captain America himself.
THE BIG HAMMER: *GIF of Marvel’s Captain America pulling apart firewood with his hands*
BROADWAY BABY: *GIF of woman spitting out water*
BROADWAY BABY: She doesn’t want Ryan.
THE BIG HAMMER: Okay, now I’m really confused. And I room with Cali, so that’s saying something.
BROADWAY BABY: She has to wait 9 years until it’s legal. Then she and Sean are going to ride off into the sunset together.
THE BIG HAMMER: I’m officially done with this conversation.
THE BIG HAMMER: How’s the forbidden romance going?
BROADWAY BABY: ??
THE BIG HAMMER: Sean.
BROADWAY BABY: Oh! There’s nothing forbidden about our relationship. I’m not pursuing him for another 9 years.
THE BIG HAMMER: So what do you call all the screenshots he’s been sending me of your conversations?
BROADWAY BABY: Oh. That.
THE BIG HAMMER: Yeah. That.
BROADWAY BABY: We call that laying the foundation.
THE BIG HAMMER: No wonder Maddey has us reading an age-gap romance for book club, even though I guess technically yours is a reverse age gap.