Behind the Net: a grumpy sunshine hockey romance

THE BAR ROARS with drunken appreciation for Pippa, and I watch as she gives the crowd a shy smile, hands the guitar off, and makes her way off the stage.

Seeing her up there, it’s so obvious: I’m head over fucking heels for this girl, and I have been for a long time. A lot longer than I realized.

Pippa Hartley has me wrapped around her little finger. I’ll do anything for her, and I’m not even mad about it. I want to do terrible things to her, make her come with my mouth and my hands and my cock, make her scream my name and show her how fucking incredible sex can be. I know sinking into her tight, wet pussy is going to change my life.

It’s not just the sex, though. I want to wake up with her, spend free evenings watching a movie on the couch, and go for walks in the woods with Daisy.

I don’t know how, but we’re going to figure this out. All the stuff with my mom, my concerns about hurting Pippa like I hurt Erin, I’m going to deal with it. I’m going to fix it. I don’t want to be weighed down by it anymore.

I just want Pippa.

She reaches our group, and I gather her in my arms, burying my face in her hair, inhaling her warm scent.

“I’m in awe of you,” I say into her ear, and when she pulls back to smile up at me, her eyes sparkle.

“Thank you for encouraging me,” she says. “That was…” She trails off, shaking her head. “Incredible. I felt like I was flying.”

My feelings hammer against my chest, wanting out. Nerves flash through me, and I search her eyes. Christ, she’s so pretty and perfect.

She got up on stage in a packed bar even though she was scared, even though her fuckface ex tried to crush her. I’m always encouraging Pippa to be brave, and now it’s time I take a fucking page out of my own book.

“I have feelings for you, songbird.” My heart pounds, and the rest of the bar falls away. “I like you so fucking much. I don’t want to pretend I don’t anymore. I flew out here for you.” Something expands in my chest, filling every corner with an intense warmth. Our gazes are locked, and my arms are still around her, keeping her close. “I don’t want to fight this anymore.”

Her eyes are bright and full of vulnerability. “Me neither.”

“Really?”

She nods, laughing lightly like she’s relieved.

I don’t know what to do with this feeling ricocheting throughout me. It’s like there are firecrackers in my blood. Fucking finally, I can stop fighting it.

“We’re going to figure it all out together.”

She smiles, and I fall a little harder for her. “I know.”

I almost missed out on this. I tried to fight this for so long. Unbelievable.

“Ten, nine, eight,” the bar around us chants, and I realize it’s seconds to midnight. Pippa blinks, looking around, before her gaze swings back to me.

“Happy New Year, Jamie,” she whispers.

I draw her closer. Something has shifted in my chest, locked into place. This is right. This is the way it’s supposed to be. I thought about her for all those years, and we found our way back to each other.

“Three, two, one,” people count before the bar erupts in cheers again.

“Happy New Year, Pippa,” I murmur before sinking my hand into her hair and pulling her mouth to mine.