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“Hi,” he murmurs.
The others angle away and start talking among themselves to give us a semblance of privacy.
My skin tingles with anticipation that he’s so close, but not touching me yet.
“Hi,” I whisper back.
Everyone else fades until there’s no one standing there besides him and me even though we’re still surrounded by the group. It’s been more than a month since we’ve seen each other. Ollie had a packed hockey schedule, and I had final exams.
His gaze leisurely scans my body with satisfaction, taking in his jersey, where his number sits across my back. It’s the same way I felt when I slipped it on earlier.
“That was quite a game, superstar,” I say, tilting my head.
I can’t hold back from touching him any longer, and my palm lands on his chest.
He steps in until I’m engulfed inside his arms. I sigh as my cheek hits his torso and turn until my nose is buried in his shirt so I can inhale his familiar scent.
“I’m glad you were here. I’ve missed you,” he murmurs.
“Did you pull out all the big moves just for us tonight?” I ask.
He chuckles, and I feel the vibrations deep inside his chest.
He leans down until his lips are next to my ear. “I saved all the big moves just for you. I plan to show you later.”
My skin flushes even though no one can hear him but me. “Behave,” I whisper, though that’s the last thing I want him to do.
He kisses me, but it’s brief, leaving me wanting more. I ignore the knowing looks exchanged between his family as they try not to watch us together. He pulls back, winding our fingers until we’re connected and standing side by side, facing the group.
“Are you hungry?” his dad asks.
“Starving,” Ollie admits.
Collectively, as a group, we decide to eat at a pizza place Ollie loves close to his apartment and not far from the hotel where most of the group is staying tonight. Chase chimes in with his approval as well. Apparently, it’s one of the spots they ate at during his visit to the city.
The night is cold, and the wind is fierce as we make our way across Chicago. Despite the chilly temperature, I pause just outside of the restaurant when I see all the familiar faces inside as we arrive twenty minutes later. The restaurant is glowing like a lighthouse across dark waters. There’s a fire roaring on the far wall and thick wood tables strewn throughout. Pizza ovens can be seen along the back, and I can smell the cheese and garlic and bread emanating through the exterior. Tables are pushed together, and everyone is sitting around them, waiting for us to arrive. The scene creates a warmth inside my chest. I have a sudden sense of belonging and family that I have been missing for most of my life, even when I didn’t know it. The feeling overwhelms me.
As I gaze inside the large front window, Ollie buries his lips in the hair near my temple, stirring even more emotion.
“What?” he asks softly.
I glance at him, my throat thick. His eyes soften when he sees the moisture in mine. I swallow hard while trying to memorize this feeling and the shadows on his face.
“I just love you,” I choke out.
One tear escapes, and he wipes it away.
“Why are you crying?” I can hear the concern in his voice.
“I’m so happy.”
He chuckles, brushing his lips across mine affectionately. “People don’t generally cry when they’re happy.”
“That’s not true,” I say, realizing I’m not so different from his mom and sister. I grab both sides of his face with my hands. My palms feel cold against the warmth of his skin. “Thank you for giving me this.”
“Giving you what?” he asks, his eyes shifting between both of mine.
“Giving me you. Your family. This.” I glance into the restaurant, my gaze centering on his parents, Chase, and Oakley as they laugh together. “I never really knew what I was missing.”
