Page 52 of The Rebound Play
“I guess then … that would make me your girlfriend,” I say, my voice trembling.
“My girlfriend,” he repeats, a smile teasing his deeply, deeply kissable lips. “Yeah. I like the sound of that. For now, anyway.”
Oh, my. Is he really insinuating what I think he’s insinuating? Because that would be beyond all things amazing. In a burst of euphoria, I loop my hands behind his neck, get up on my tippy toes, and press my lips against his, not caring we’re in the middle of a party, surrounded by people.
He responds by pulling me closer, his big hands spanning across my back, his kiss full of want for me, need for me. Love for me.
“Sealed with a kiss, girlfriend,” he murmurs.
“Break it up, you two. This is a family show,” a deep voice says, and I blink at Dan’s teammate, Dawson, who slaps Dan on the back, a broad grin on his face.
“Can’t a guy celebrate a big win with his girl?” Dan replies, and I swear, my heart doubles in size.
His girl.
“Your girl, huh?” Emmy asks, appearing at Dawson’s side. “Is there something you need to tell me, brother?”
“Like it isn’t obvious,” Dawson says on a laugh. “The guy blows a kiss to her from the ice every time he so much as makes contact with the puck.”
Emmy points between us. “He’s right. If you’re trying to fly under the radar, you failed. Big time.”
“You look like a big heart-shaped blob on a radar,” Dawson says.
“A heart-shaped blob?” Dan asks, shaking his head. “Where do you come up with these things?”
Dawson shrugs. “I’ve got a reference book with great one-liners.”
Both Dan and I turn to Emmy.
“Why are you looking at me?” she asks.
“You’re the one with the bookstore,” I reply.
Emmy laughs. “I would never sell a book with one-liners describing a couple as a heart-shaped blob on a radar.”
“You should definitely stock a book like that. They would fly off the shelves,” Dan tells her.
“I’ll look into it,” Emmy replies, clearly not intending to ever get a book with one-liners that describe people as heart-shaped blobs. “Right now, I need the ladies.’ Wanna come with me, Keira?” she asks, but she doesn’t wait for a reply, instead taking me by the hand and leading me across the room.
I glance back at Dan. He is watching us with a goofy grin on his handsome face, and I feel a surge of happiness fill my blood stream.
Dan and I official. We are girlfriend and boyfriend once more.
Talk about life turning out in the most unexpected—and most hoped for—way.
Once safely inside the ladies,’ Emmy leans against the basin, her arms crossed. “You and my brother, huh? Talk about déjà vu. This is giving me total high school vibes.”
I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face if I wanted to.
“I guess it does.”
Her face breaks into a smile. “I cannot tell you how happy I am. I mean, everyone knows you guys have been seeing each other, but I didn’t know how serious you were.”
“I guess I’ve never forgotten him, and it turns out, he’s never forgotten me, either.”
“I know he’s my brother, so it’s kind of weird to think of him being in a romantic relationship and all that, but the fact it’s with you. Well, that makes me so happy.”
“It makes me happy, too,” I reply, and she pulls me in for a hug.