Chapter 16

I hold on to Rocket, whose claws are digging into my sweater out of fear. I knew Ted was intimidating for me, but for Rocket, she’s downright terrifying.

We got back home late last night from our short but needed getaway, and I’m more exhausted than ever. I’m emotionally drained, and I know we have a lot of work to do to figure out our future.

When we got back, Ted was sleeping in one of her weird spots, so we didn’t really know where she was, which meant Rocket was in harm’s way. So, I decided to use caution and lock him in the guest bedroom with me and closed the door, so Ted couldn’t attempt to murder him.

Now, it’s morning, and the two are finally being forced to get acquainted. To put it lightly, Ted isn’t being all that nice. If this were a playground, Ted would be the bully who didn’t want anyone else to touch the slide, even though she wasn’t using the slide and had no interest in it, and poor Rocket would be the kid who really, really loved freaking slides.

“They’ll be fine,” Kolt says coolly from the kitchen, as if his cat hasn’t tried to slaughter mine numerous times. “You worry too much.”

My mouth snaps open, and I glance over at him. “Excuse me, your cat literally attacked him. The poor bastard is already missing a leg. Can she show him just, like, a little grace? Maybe give him a pass?” I shrug. “Is that too much to ask?”

“If I were missing a nut, would you give me grace?” he drawls, clearly entertained.

“You get plenty of grace, asshole,” I utter before glancing at Ted, who’s glaring at my poor, innocent Rocket from across the room. “Ted is terrifying.”

“Ted’s protecting what’s hers. The ol’ bitty fought her way into this house; she’s probably afraid you’re going to kick her out,” he tosses back. “They’ll get used to each other. They are cats. Everyone knows cats are bitchy and fucking weird.”

“No, your cat is bitchy and weird. Mine is a sweetheart.” I carefully set Rocket down and watch Ted to make sure she doesn’t jump him.

“And missing a leg,” he adds. “Tomayto, tomahto,” he mumbles right before his phone vibrates.

“Oh fuck. It’s Sterns. I just wanted a lazy day. Now, he’ll probably try to show up here and give me a pep talk to get me ready for tomorrow,” he continues to complain to himself. “It’s bullshit really.”

I know, deep down, Kolt is nervous about going to practice tomorrow. I think he feels like an outcast, or maybe he’s afraid of seeing something he doesn’t want to see. Like one of the other defensemen taking his spot, even though the coach has already assured him that won’t happen.

“Just answer, would you? It could be something urgent.”

“With Sterns?” he says, raising his eyebrows. “It’s probably a new dad joke he learned.”

“What’s wrong with dad jokes? How bad can they be?” I scoff at him before petting Rocket’s fur tenderly. “Just answer. Don’t be a dick.” I widen my eyes. “Hurry up! It’s going to go to voice mail.”

“Fine,” he groans and slides his finger across the screen.

“Hello?” he says, completely unimpressed, and puts it on speakerphone. “If it’s a dad joke, I gotta say, I don’t really give a—”

“Well, hello to you too, asshole,” Logan singsongs—totally on-brand. “No dad jokes for you today. Sorry. My dad-a-base is low.”

“Dude, don’t make me hang up.”

“You need to eat a fucking rainbow cupcake with extra sprinkles. That would make you more cheerful,” Logan tosses back before moving on to the next subject. “Hey … so, look, I’m kind of in a pickle. I have a thing I need to go to tonight, and Maci had to go out of town at the last minute. I really need someone to watch Amy for a few hours later.”

He frowns, snapping his gaze to me and signaling like he’s asking me what to do.

Shrugging my shoulders, I tilt my head from side to side before nodding. Sure , I mouth. Might be fun.

“Uh, Kolt, you there?” Logan asks.

“Hang on a second,” Kolt says quickly before setting the phone down and walking toward me.

“Are you sure?” he whispers. “I know everything is supposed to be about us. I was going to see if you wanted me to cook you a nice dinner or something.”

Cupping his cheeks, I smile. “You love Amelia. And I want to get to know her better now that she’s getting older.” I surprise him when I press a kiss to his lips before pulling back. “It will be fun. I need to put in a grocery order anyway. We can get stuff for homemade pizza.”

“You just want to go to Starbucks, is what you’re saying.” He gives me a look, telling me he knows me all too well.

“I mean, Starbs is on the way. It wouldn’t make sense not to stop,” I say with a shrug before darting around him and grabbing his phone.

“Hey, Logan?” I say sweetly. “We would love to watch Amelia. It’ll be fun.”

“Really?” He genuinely sounds surprised. “I owe you guys big time! I’ll drop her off at five. She’ll be so excited to hang out with you and grumpy Uncle Kolty.”

Kolt rolls his eyes before taking a few steps toward me. Stepping behind me, he pushes my hair over and starts kissing my neck.

“Yay!” I choke out through laughter while also growing insanely turned on. “All right, see you then.” I end the call quickly.

“Did you hang up on Sterns?” he murmurs, working his lips against my neck.

When I spin to face him, my nipples are painfully hard from his touch. Since I just woke up and it’s Sunday, I have no bra on, and he instantly notices.

“You seem rather … excited this morning, Buttercup,” he coos, pushing my back against the countertop. “Is it cold in here, or are you just happy to see me?”

“Definitely a tad drafty in here,” I deadpan before I stand on my tiptoes and drag my tongue up his neck, pushing him to give me what I want, knowing he’s not going to.

He’s the most stubborn person I know. If his mind is set on not having sex, we aren’t going to be having any sex.

He hisses, digging his fingers into my hips and pulling my body against his.

I curse that he’s making me wait. While I want nothing more than to tell him everything is fine and we’re going to be together forever, there’s a lot that needs to be said. Not to mention, I have a physical therapy office that’s been running without me there for weeks. Even though I’m going in tomorrow and the rest of the week to work in the mornings, at some point, I need to return to reality.

I mean, I sadly had to build a life without Kolt in it. And I think the most painful part about that is, he didn’t move on at all. In some ways, I’m happy about that. In others … it’s sad that, for all this time, he was just waiting around for me to possibly return.

I peeked into our bedroom; even the bedding was exactly how we had left it.

At the thought of our bed and the memories from it, I feel my chest tightening. I imagine what it would be like if we went in there after all this time. Together.

And now, between my legs is throbbing.

I think about the full-length mirror that’s next to the plush chair in there. And how he got them both because he knew I liked watching us. That I enjoyed seeing him slide inside of me.

Moving my hand between us, I take my time when I glide my palm over the bulge in his sweatpants. I know he isn’t going to have sex with me yet, but we can do other things.

He’s good at all the things.

Whether he’s eating me out on a teacher’s desk or making me ride the arm of a chair with his dick in my mouth … he’s a good time.

Just as my hand stretches his waistband, the sounds of hissing and wrestling come from the living room, snapping us both out of the desperate trance we were in.

Ducking away from him, I rush toward the commotion to see Ted beating the shit out of my poor Rocket.

“Those fucking cats,” he hisses from behind me.

“Cut it out,” I yell, stomping my feet and sending Ted running behind the couch. I reach down and grab Rocket, pulling him against me. “I’m sorry, bubba boy.” I kiss the top of his head, checking him over. “I should have been paying more attention. Forgive me?”

“You realize that’s a cat, right?” Kolt grumbles. “Not sure he understands you.”

I want to tell him to shut up, but I can’t stop the laugh that comes out when I notice the huge-ass bulge in his sweatpants as he looks behind the couch.

As I head toward the guest bedroom, Rocket in my arms, Kolt calls behind me, “I thought for sure I was getting my dick sucked. You had the look in your eyes. I was positive that it was fucking on.”

“Moment’s over, superstar,” I toss back before looking behind me. I watch him pick up Ted, who seems to be clawing at him.

“Fucking cats,” he utters, shaking his head, “ruin everything.”