But her leg doesn’t slow. Jesus.
As we merge onto the highway to head to the part of town where the arena is and where our families are staying, I decide to try to distract her a bit. “Did you and Jean have a nice lunch date?”
I love that she and Jean are friends. They’ve started having twice-weekly lunch dates. One with baby Celeste at the park and then one just the two of them.
“Yeah,” she says, and then she throws up her hands. “I brought up Dart, and she shut me down, like, automatically.”
I make a face. “So, Kirby did tell her Dart has herpes?”
She laughs, and boy, I love the sound. “No, he didn’t. She just doesn’t have time for guys. She has a lot going on with her family. Her dad is in an assisted living home.”
“Oh shit, I didn’t know.”
“Yeah, so she’s just focusing on him and her siblings. You know she has eight?”
“And I thought we had big families.”
“I know, right?” she says, and it almost feels like normal.
“Do you want a big family?”
She looks over at me. “As in, with children one day?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t know. I know I want kids, but I don’t know how many.”
I wink at her. “You know, and hopefully this doesn’t ruin my chances since it earned me a C with that crazy chick…” Her laughter makes me grin. “But twins run in my family.”
“I know, Owen. Mine too now. It doesn’t ruin anything.”
“They may come out with only one dimple,” I tease, and she laughs once more.
“See, for me, I would love that. It’d remind me of you.”
I lean toward her since we’ve stopped in the parking lot, and our lips meet. I kiss her slowly, drawing out the kiss in all its glory. I pull back for a breath. I love the color of her eyes when we kiss. They lighten just a bit with excitement and wonder. “I love you.”
Her lips brush against mine as she says, “I love you.”
“I’ll be right there beside you. Nothing to fear.”
She takes in a really big breath, letting it out in a whoosh as she nods. “Thank you.”
“Always.”
We kiss once more, and then I get out, rushing to the other side to help her out. I take her hand, and together we head inside the hotel. It’s a ritzy one with a cool-ass bar and restaurant, so we all decided it would be an easier location instead of the Paxtons having to rent a car. It’s also attached to the arena, so they just can walk over. It’s my mom’s favorite place to stay. We walk into the lobby, and instantly, I see Lucy. She’s standing with her children, but I don’t see Benji. Angie’s brothers, Max and Ryder, are so much taller than I remember, towering over Lucy and their sister Charlotte. They’re so athletically built and look very much like divers, with wide shoulders and trim waists. Charlotte is itty-bitty, but a carbon copy of her mom in looks.
I think Charlotte is the one to recognize Angie first. Her eyes widen, and she taps her mom’s arm before they all look our way. Angie goes rigid beside me, but I bring her toward them, rubbing my thumb along the back of her hand for support. Soon, she’s engulfed in their arms. I’m pushed to the side as all of them hug and love on her at once. Angie is shocked at first, I can see it on her face, but she holds everyone so tightly.
“My God, y’all are so tall now!” she gushes at the boys, and they stand proudly, grinning at their sister.
“Can’t tease us anymore that you’re taller,” Ryder throws at her, and she laughs.
“Yeah. Now we’re the tall ones, ha,” Max teases, and I smile at Lucy.
She comes over, hugging me to her side. “How are you?” I ask.
“I’m great. You?”
“Wonderful,” I say, watching as Angie jokes with the boys. “She’s stunning, isn’t she?”
Lucy looks over at her eldest, and I see tears filling her eyes. “Always has been.”
“She sure has.”
Angie comes back to me, patting my chest. “Ryder, Char, Max, y’all remember Owen? He’s my boyfriend.”
Max and Ryder each shake my hand as Charlotte flashes me a grin. “I used to wonder if you two would end up together. He always had a thing for you.”
I nod. “Yeah, but she played me, making me think she didn’t like me.”
“I didn’t play. I really didn’t like you,” she teases, and we all laugh. But I know the truth.
She’s always been mine. We just had some growing up to do.
Charlotte grins at her sister. “You look way better now. Like, healthy.”
Angie scoffs, and I almost tell her to watch it, but she doesn’t seem offended. “No way. I’m huge now.”
Now, I’m offended.
Max and Ryder make a face, and Ryder says, “You’re not huge. You’re thicc, with two Cs.”
I grin as she looks back at me. But it’s not for help. It’s with excitement in her eyes. “I call her chubby sexy,” I say with a wink, and her cheeks flush as everyone laughs.
“Please God, don’t when I’m around.”
Of course, Benji walks up at that moment. He wraps his daughter in his arms, kissing her hard on the cheek. He picks her up off the floor, and she laughs as she holds him close. “Hey, Dad.”
“Look at you. So damn beautiful,” he says, holding her. “I missed you. Don’t do this again, okay?”
She swallows hard. “Okay.”
Benji sets her on her feet and looks back at me. “Adler.”
I hold back my laughter. “Mr. Paxton.”
Lucy rolls her eyes, and Angie’s siblings chuckle to themselves. Benji wraps his arm around Angie and points to the restaurant. “They’re ready for us.”
Since Benji has taken my girlfriend, I walk with her mom. “How are things? How’s she doing?”
“Good,” I answer. “We’re moving her out on Monday.”
“In with you?”
Has Angie not told her mom yet? Coyly, I say, “Yes, if she told you. No, if not.”
She chuckles. “She told me a while back, but she hasn’t said anything since.”
“Yeah, things have been busy for her with school and her internship. Then I’ve been on road trips.”
“You’re still incredibly awesome, I have to say,” she admits, tapping my arm. Before I can thank her, she goes on, “Yeah, Angie told me y’all have been on the go since the relationship started.”
“Unfortunately. But I want to plan a vacation once we get her new schedule for the mental health department.”
“Hopefully it will involve a stop in Nashville.”
“For sure.”
She smiles a thanks as I sit down between her and Angie. I glance over to her siblings. “You guys ready for the game tomorrow?” They all nod eagerly as Angie threads her fingers through mine. “I keep trying to get Angie on the ice with me, but I think she hates hockey after her injury and all.”
Angie nods. “It’s not only that. I just know I can’t beat you anymore. I’m too competitive.”
We share a grin as Benji says, “You could if you wanted. We all know how resilient you are.”