Chapter Six

Emma

It had been a whirlwind few days since my unforgettable date with Leo. The memory of that night at the planetarium, with the stars twinkling above us and his arms wrapped around me, lingered in my mind, bringing a smile to my face and a rush of heat through my body every time I thought about it. We had been talking nonstop since then, and each conversation only deepened my feelings for him. It surprised me how quickly I was falling for him, and I knew I should probably be more cautious, but I couldn't help myself. I'd never felt so close to anyone before, and I didn't want it to stop.

Sawyer had been a bit of a nuisance, hovering around and making comments about Leo whenever he got the chance. He hadn"t done anything overtly disruptive, but his constant warnings and overprotectiveness were getting under my skin. Still, I chose to focus on the positive and let myself enjoy the growing connection with Leo. Hopefully now that those two were teammates, they'd eventually figure out how to let bygones be bygones.

I was getting into bed after a particularly long day in which it seemed that none of the children managed to get along more than fifteen minutes before a fight ensued over some toy or other. The sheets were nice and cool against my skin, and I was just beginning to drift off when my phone buzzed with a call from Leo. My heart skipped a beat as I answered, the sound of his deep voice instantly bringing a smile to my face.

"Hey, you," I greeted him, snuggling into my pillows.

"Hey, Emma," Leo"s voice was warm and comforting. "I just wanted to hear your voice before I went to sleep."

I felt a flutter of happiness at his words. "I"m glad you called. I"ve been thinking about you."

"I"ve been thinking about you too," he replied, and I could hear the sincerity in his voice. "How was your day?"

"You don't want to know," I groaned.

Leo chuckled. "Let me guess. Meltdown Central?"

"Exactly," I sighed.

"You certainly have an incredible amount of patience," he said. "I don't know if I could handle twenty preschoolers more than an hour or two before having a meltdown myself."

"Thank you," I replied, feeling a warm glow at his compliment. "Luckily, they forgive and forget easily and tomorrow will probably be all laughter and hugs."

Leo"s tone shifted slightly, and I could sense a hint of curiosity in his voice. "Emma, can I ask you something about Sawyer?"

I hesitated for a moment, wondering why he was bringing up my brother. "Sure, what do you want to know?"

"It"s just... I"ve noticed he"s been a bit overprotective of you," Leo said carefully. "Is it really just because of the beef he has with me, or does he always act like that?"

"Yeah, he does," I admitted with a sigh. "Sawyer has always been the protective big brother, especially since our dad"s accident. He feels like he has to look out for me."

Leo was silent for a moment, and I could almost hear him thinking. "Emma, I just want to make sure everything"s okay between you and Sawyer. I know he cares about you a lot."

I frowned slightly, feeling a twinge of unease. "Why are you so interested in my relationship with Sawyer, Leo? Does this have anything to do with what happened last year?"

Leo"s breath hitched. "It"s in the past, Emma. I was only asking because he"s my teammate now, and I want to make sure things are good between us for the game's sake."

I considered his words, feeling the tension in my chest ease slightly. "Okay, I believe you. It"s just that all these questions about Sawyer are making me a little uneasy. He"s been telling me to stay away from you, saying I"m going to get hurt, and to be honest I've been avoiding him lately because I don't want to get into an argument."

Leo"s voice softened, and I could hear the concern in it. "Emma, I would never hurt you. I care about you a lot. Please don"t let Sawyer"s warnings get between us."

I sighed, feeling the weight of my brother"s protectiveness pressing down on me. "I know. I want to focus on us too and see where this goes."

"That"s all I want too, Emma," Leo replied. "I want to be with you."

We talked a little longer, our conversation drifting back to lighter topics. But the questions about Sawyer lingered in my mind, casting a shadow over my thoughts. As much as I wanted to trust Leo completely, a part of me couldn"t shake the feeling that there was something more to his interest in my brother.

Eventually, we said our goodnights, and I hung up, staring at the ceiling as I lay in bed. I wished Leo was here with me, his presence comforting and reassuring. I imagined what it would be like to have him beside me, holding me close as we drifted off to sleep together. I closed my eyes, letting my thoughts wander to the possibility of a real future with Leo. I dreamed of the life we could build together, filled with love, laughter, and shared dreams. Despite the uncertainties and the lingering doubts, I felt a deep sense of hope and longing for what could be. As sleep began to take over, I held onto that hope, wishing with all my heart that Leo and I could overcome whatever obstacles lay ahead and find our way to each other. The connection we shared was undeniable, and I was willing to fight for it, no matter what. I just hoped Sawyer would come around once he saw that what Leo and I shared was real.

School and evening parent-teacher meetings plus Leo's busy training schedule kept us from being able to see each other again during the next week, but we continued to talk and text even more frequently. I found myself looking forward to every message, every FaceTime, and every moment we spent together, even if it was just virtually for now.

Finally, Friday came and as I was getting ready for bed, my phone buzzed with a text from Leo. "Hey, beautiful. How was your day?"

I smiled at the screen, feeling a warmth spread through me. "Hi, Leo. It was good. The kids were extra energetic today, but we had a lot of fun. How about you?"

His response came quickly. "Training was tough, but I got through it. Thinking about you kept me going."

My heart skipped a beat at his words. "You"re sweet. I"ve been thinking about you too. Can I call you in a few minutes after I've gotten into bed?"

"Of course," he replied.

I finished washing my face and changed into a soft nightshirt. After getting under the covers and clicking off my bedside light, I hit the speed dial to call Leo back.

"Does Sawyer know about us?" Leo asked after we'd chatted more about our activities during the day. "I mean, I know he"s your brother and he"s protective, but does he know how serious we are about each other?"

I paused, considering his question. "Well, I haven"t told him all the details if that's what you're asking. He"s still being... difficult about it."

Leo"s sigh was audible. I appreciated his concern, but it also made me wonder. "Leo, why are you so worried about Sawyer? Is there something you"re not telling me?"

There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. "Emma, I just want to make sure we"re good and your brother doesn't come between us. Last year, when Sawyer and I had that incident on the ice, it was intense. I'm trying to let it go, but it doesn't sound like he is."

"I know," I replied. "I think it will just take time. He's only just returned to Denver and last time we lived in the same town I was still in college and living with our parents."

"That makes sense," Leo said. "I really hope everything smooths out, because I want to be with you." I smiled at the tenderness of his words.

The next morning, I woke up with a sense of determination. I wouldn"t let any lingering doubts come between Leo and me. I wanted to explore what we had, and I was willing to give it my all, even if that meant I had to sacrifice my relationship with my brother.