Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

Clara

Louisa and Ciaran are getting married Friday.

But today, we are celebrating the Knoxville Bears' victory. Or really, an annihilation. The Knoxville Bears swept the Hershey Bears with a display of pure domination. Elliot had the #BattleoftheBears hashtag going, but to me, there was no battle. It was the Knoxville Bears showing up to get their Cup. The games were incredible, and nothing in this world can touch the absolute satisfaction on my man's face. Don't get me wrong—he's still grumpy and doesn't smile in pictures, but he at least isn't growling at anyone.

Well, he's growling at Alex. It seems he always is, though.

They'll keep all of us entertained at family dinners for years to come.

A small smile pulls at my lips as I take in how the whole town square is decorated for the Knoxville Bears. Banners fly from all the businesses, orange and black balloons bounce in the summer breeze, big displays of the guys during the run decorate the streets. The Bears logo is painted all over the place, mainly on major streets, and the main road in front of the courthouse has even been renamed Bears Row. Huge Bears flags hang in the shop windows, and everyone has come out to celebrate our Bears.

But I'm only here for one person.

Or rather, I'm here to stalk one person.

Riggs stands with his players, his lips pressed in a line as he nurses a beer. His eyes are bright, though, more milk chocolate than dark today. He wears a nice tailored black suit with an orange tie. I know his cuff links are little Knoxville Bears logos because I had them made for him. He looks as if he's annoyed, and I know he is, but he is also very excited. I don't know why he's allowed his annoyance to come to the party, when it was his suggestion to keep our relationship under wraps until after Louisa's wedding. We don't want to distract Peepaw from the happiness of Louisa and Ciaran's day. I agreed even though I didn't want to, but I understood.

There is a chance that Peepaw will be upset by us being together, and we didn't want to ruin any of the upcoming events. I just don't like that Riggs looks like he's getting a root canal at the dentist, rather than celebrating an outstanding Cup win.

I roll my eyes as I bring my phone up to text him.

Me: Smile.

I watch as he digs his phone out, and then I see his brows come in. He looks around, his eyes searching for me, but I know he wouldn't be able to see me all the way from across the square. Plus, a fountain is blocking his view and is currently spurting orange water because Tennesseans tend to be a bit over the top when it comes to winning. I can see the frustration on his face when he can't find me before the text comes back.

Riggs: No. I want you by me. Your hand in mine. I want people to know that you are mine.

I feel as if electricity is running through my body at his words. He is so intense, and I adore that about him.

Me: It's better we wait till after the wedding.

Riggs: I have regrets about suggesting that.

Me: And I have regrets about agreeing, but it'll be all good. I'll just stand to the side and ogle you until you're able to slip away.

Riggs: What am I slipping away for?

Me: To ravish me against the nearest surface. You look so damn good today.

I glance over at him, and I can't help my smile at how his cheeks fill with color. He looks so bashful, so damn cute. So in love.

God, I love him.

Riggs: Where are you?

Me: Look ahead. By the fountain.

I look up just as he does, and when we lock eyes, my heart stops dead in my chest. His eyes are intense, shamelessly focused on mine. When he looks at me like that, like I'm the prey and he's the hunter, I feel like an exposed nerve. Like one touch and I'll explode. I lick my lips as my phone sounds in my hand.

Riggs: I want to eat you up, my love.

Me: I rather love when you eat me, snookums.

I hear his deep, rough laughter, and when I look back up, everyone is looking at him like he's lost his damn mind. His laughter always makes me hot, but watching others react to his amusement as if he's grown six heads makes giggles bubble out of me. I love who he is with me. Before I can write him back, Louisa wraps her arms around my waist. I lean back into her, cupping her wrist with my free hand as Austen wraps us both in a tight hug. I press my cheek to hers, inhaling her sweet, floral scent. Austen has always been so classically beautiful, with her little button nose and long brown hair. She reminds me of an elf from Lord of the Rings with her sharp cheekbones and stunning blue eyes.

Louisa used to mirror Austen's looks, but over the years, she's smoothed out, gained the weight she needed, and now she's all curves and softness. Being in their arms is like being taken back to when I was six and there was a storm that scared me to my core. I fully expect to be hit by the bad memories of my childhood, but thankfully, all I feel is the love my sisters give me.

"Why are you over here by yourself?" Austen whispers against my temple.

"We are telling Peepaw after the wedding. We didn't want today or the wedding to have any drama if he decides to pull his regular shit," I explain, and Louisa lets out an exasperated sigh.

"I don't like that. I want you to be happy—don't worry about me." She smiles. Though, I shake my head.

"No. I won't allow anything to ruin your day." As much as I hate the thought of going to my sister's wedding without Riggs at my side, I will do it for her. "We can wait."

She waves me off. "No. You've waited enough. I can tell how badly you want everyone to know."

I smile shyly. "Yeah."

Austen chucks my chin. "Love looks good on you, sissy."

My grin grows as a pair of huge arms wrap around Austen's waist, pulling her away. Dimitri Titov stands like a thick wall behind my sister, all gorgeous with his Top Gun mustache and blazing light-blue eyes. Eyes that are only for my sister. He kisses Austen's cheek loudly before whispering in her ear in Russian.

He may not realize I can hear him. But one thing is for sure—I'd rather not hear my sister's boyfriend tell her that his cock is weeping for her.

Instead, I wish it were Riggs telling me that.

I glance up to look for him, but I don't see him. My heart falls a bit, but then Elliot and Eliza come to stand with us. "Alex says he'll meet Ciaran at the venue tomorrow to help with the arch. I would help, but I feel like this kid is trying to escape through my belly button."

All our eyes drop to my sister's extended tummy, and I grin. "That's what you get for hiding him from us. Now he wants everyone to know he's coming."

Elliot doesn't find me funny, but everyone else grins. "I just don't understand how I didn't show for months, and now, I look like I'm carrying eight kids."

Dimitri snorts. "Not eight, maybe three."

"Thanks," she says dryly, and everyone laughs at her dismay.

Once more, though, I hear when Dimitri whispers quietly in Russian to my sister that he wants her fat and pregnant. Austen's eyes widen, but I can see the shine in her gaze. With her voice low, she tells him he has to marry her first, and he nods, determination in his eyes. With a grin, he tells her to name a date, and the look of pure happiness on my sister's face is overwhelming. I find myself looking at all my sisters, so much pride and exhilaration coursing through me from the knowledge that we made it.

We survived.

We're happy.

And all of us know what real love is.

Something I don't think any of us ever expected to happen.

A tightness gathers in my chest, but then I'm caught off guard when I hear Riggs's voice. "If I can have everyone's attention." All of us turn and look up at where Riggs stands with his team, the Cup in his hand as he looks out into the crowd.

No. He's looking right at me.

Breathless, I swallow as he continues. "I want to thank everyone for coming and for supporting us through this run. I have never in my life felt pride the way I did when I watched my boys skate with this Cup above their heads." He shakes the Cup in his hand, and the emotion on his face brings tears to my eyes. "I wanted this Cup badly this year, because not only did I know it was ours, but because this team is special. Each of these boys has the potential to go pro today. Some have already been called up and will start training in the NHL in the coming weeks, and while I'm sad to see them go, I'm glad they can go with the memory of our win."

I smile widely at him, and when I feel the wetness on my cheeks, I quickly wipe away my tears.

"This wouldn't be possible without you as our fans, and we are forever grateful for you. I want to thank my boys for fighting and trusting my coaching. I want to thank Dan Davenport for giving me the opportunity to win for the great city of Knoxville. As much as this Cup is for us, it's for this city, this town. Now, let's celebrate."

The townspeople all cheer loudly as Riggs passes the Cup over and moves out of the way so Alex can take the mic. I watch as Riggs walks to the edge of the stage, and then my phone goes off.

I bring it up to see a text from him.

Riggs: Nearest flat surface is the post office. Go now.

My heart flutters, and I don't even tell my sisters where I'm going.

I have a one-track mine when it comes to Riggs.