7. Eva

Seven

Eva

The next morning, I wake to sunlight streaming through the windows, painting the room in soft gold. The fire I left crackling last night has long since burned out, leaving a faint chill in the air. I pull the covers tighter around me, briefly wondering if I can just stay in bed all day.

But, of course, Emily has other plans.

A sharp knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. “Eva, get up! We’re going sledding!”

I groan, dragging myself out of bed and wrapping a thick cardigan around me before shuffling to the door. Emily stands there in full winter gear—knit hat, scarf, and a puffer jacket that’s way too cute for just a day in the snow.

“Sledding?” I echo, blinking at her like she’s lost her damn mind. “Aren’t we supposed to be sipping hot cocoa by the fire or something?”

“Oh, we’re doing that later,” she says with a grin. “But first, sledding. Trust me, it’ll be fun.”

* * *

Half an hour later, I’m bundled in layers and trudging through the snow with a group of players, WAGs, and staff. The fresh air is invigorating, the kind that makes your cheeks sting but clears your head.

Emily, of course, is leading the charge, dragging Liam up the steepest hill with the energy of a kid on Christmas morning. I hang back, watching the chaos unfold as grown men wrestle sleds out of a pile.

“Don’t tell me you’re sitting this one out.”

The deep, familiar voice sends a shiver down my spine, and I turn to find Eli standing behind me, a sled slung casually over one massive shoulder. He’s wearing a black coat that does nothing to hide his broad form, and the beanie pulled low over his ears only makes him look more rugged. My poor ovaries.

“I might,” I say, crossing my arms. “Not really my thing.”

“You’ve never gone sledding?”

“Of course I have. Just not recently.”

“Then you’re overdue.” His tempting lips curve into that tiny ghost of a smirk that drives me fucking crazy, and before I can protest, he nods to the top of the hill. “Come on.”

I hesitate, but the challenging glint in his eyes is impossible to resist. With a resigned sigh, I follow him.

* * *

“Okay,” I say, eyeing the sled like it’s a death trap. “How does this work again?”

Eli chuckles, the deep rumble traveling like a caress all over my body. Then he crouches to adjust the sled. “You sit, hold on, and scream if you need to. Simple.”

“Fuck my life,” I mutter, but before I can sit, he grabs my arm.

“Wait.”

His large hands are warm, even through my coat, and his dark eyes lock on mine. “You’re wearing too many layers,” Eli says, his voice dropping by another octave.

I blink, my cheeks heating. “Excuse me?”

“The scarf,” he replies, smirking full-on now. “It’s too long. You’ll choke if it gets caught.”

“Oh.” Embarrassed, I tug it loose and stuff it into my pocket. “Thanks.”

For a brief moment, he doesn’t move, his gaze lingering on me in a way that makes my breath hitch. Then he steps back, his face softening. “All set.”

I sit awkwardly on the sled, gripping the handles tightly. Eli crouches behind me, his huge hands bracketing mine. “Lean with me,” he instructs, his breath warm against my ear.

Before I can argue, we’re flying down the hill. The wind whips past us, carrying my startled laugh as the sled veers wildly from side to side. Eli’s massive body behind me keeps us steady, and by the time we reach the bottom, I’m breathless with excitment.

“Not bad, Carter,” he compliments me in a teasing voice.

“Not bad?” I glare up at him, still catching my breath. “That was terrifying.”

“You were laughing the whole way.”

I roll my eyes, but the grin tugging at my lips betrays me.

* * *

As we climb back up the hill, I feel a snowball smack my shoulder. I whip around to find Eli standing a few feet away, looking infuriatingly smug.

“Did you just—”

“Yup.”

“Oh, it’s on, hockey boy.”

What follows is an all-out snowball war. I’m outmatched, obviously—Eli’s strength and precision are completely unfair—but I hold my own, ducking behind trees and getting him whenever I get the chance.

By the time it’s over, I’m breathless, soaked, and laughing harder than I have in ages.

“You fight dirty,” Eli says, shaking snow from his hair.

“Only when necessary,” I shoot back, still grinning.

He steps closer, his expression shifting from playful to something darker, more intense. The laughter dies in my throat as he closes the distance between us, his towering frame casting a shadow over me.

“You’re full of surprises, Carter,” he murmurs in a low voice.

I swallow hard, my heart hammering in my chest. “So are you, Jackson.”

For a moment, we just stand there, the world around us quiet except for the faint sound of the others on the hill. His gaze drops to my lips, and my breath catches.

Before he can do anything—or before I can figure out if I want him to—Emily calls my name from the top of the hill.

“Eva! You coming or what?”

I take a step back, breaking the spell. “I should—”

“Go,” he says, his voice softer now. But the heat in his eyes doesn’t fade as I turn and walk away.