CHAPTER TEN

RYAN

“...contentment twines around my heart…”

“Coach?”

“What's he doing here?”

The quickfire murmurs between Levi and Gage bring me fully awake. Shit. I overslept. And now Paige's little brothers just caught the two of us in bed together. At least we're mostly clothed and only sleeping but still…

Rolling to my side, I spare a glance toward Paige before staring at the doorway where two boys study me with varying degrees of interest.

“Hey,” I whisper, bending low to grab my pants and slip them on. “Why don't we let your sister sleep and talk outside?”

I carefully close the bedroom door and gesture to the living room, so I can collect the rest of my things. A short glance at my phone shows that it’s almost noon, which explains why the boys were checking on their sister. I doubt Paige usually sleeps through breakfast.

Motioning to the barstools by the kitchen island, I wait for the boys to sit then start removing items from the fridge for omelets.

“I’m sorry you guys found us like that. It’s my fault for ignoring my alarm.” I forgot to set one, but either way, I should’ve woken up earlier to avoid this awkward situation.

“Do you love Paige?” Levi asks, stunning me into silence.

Gage elbows his brother but doesn’t berate him for the question. He’s curious about the answer, too.

The sound of eggs cracking forms a backdrop to my rushing thoughts. I’m not going to admit to loving Paige to her brothers before I even say the words aloud to her.

Digging into old media training from my hockey days, I avoid a direct answer. “I care about your sister very much. We’re in a serious relationship that I’m hopeful will lead to marriage.”

Levi’s eyes widen as Gage nods approvingly at his side.

“Is that so?” A sleep-roughened voice calls from the kitchen doorway. Paige covers a yawn, her body now fully encased in sweatpants and a hoodie.

“Morning.” She ruffles Levi’s hair and gives Gage a side hug. “Sounds like you guys are in the middle of an important discussion.”

“He was in your bed,” Gage deadpans, chin jutting out. He knows we've been dating for a while, but we've been discreet.

This is the first time it's really been thrown in his face.

Paige blushes as she rounds the kitchen island. “I apologize for the surprise. But just so you know, it could happen again. Because I really care about Ryan, too.”

Her youngest brother shrugs. “Whatever. I don’t care if he hangs out here.”

I’m guessing that’s as much of a ringing endorsement as we’ll get out of an eleven-year-old.

Paige shoots a shy smile my way and scoots closer while I wait for the pan to heat before pouring in the egg mixture.

“Now that we’re all clear on what’s going on. Who’s hungry?”

Three hands are raised, and contentment twines around my heart, cocooning it in a sense of belonging. The Hornby siblings have had a rough go of it with the abandonment of their parents, but I’m here now, and I intend to protect and care for them just like I do Brooke.

Wrapping an arm around Paige, I kiss her temple and sigh.

This is where I’m meant to be.