34. Hello, Mr. Incredible #2
Cara snorts. “Liv. Look at that man. I’ve never seen such a lovesick loser.”
My gaze sweeps the ice, looking for the man in question, only to find his eyes already locked on me as he plays with a puck, chatting with a few other players. His grin is electric as he lifts one gloved hand and waves.
“ Hi, pumpkin !” he hollers before firing off a shot on Adam.
My cheeks flame. “Did he just call me pumpkin in front of fifteen thousand people?”
“No. It’s still warm-ups. People are still buying snacks and beer.” Cara shovels a handful of popcorn into her mouth. “You’re probably looking at more like twelve thousand.”
But Carter’s dead set on embarrassing me in front of the entire fifteen, because when he scores six minutes into the first period, he skates by the bench and yells, “ That was for you, pumpkin !” When he scores in the third period and dedicates it to his princess, he points up at my red face lighting the jumbotron, places his gloved hands over his heart, and then pretends to faint.
He’s way too ostentatious, and yet when he emerges from the change room and strolls right by the reporters when he spots me, butterflies still erupt in my stomach.
By the time we get home, the sinking sun paints the sky in stunning hues of pink and orange, splashes of lavender, the dark pines and towering mountains a striking contrast to the beautiful backdrop.
Carter leads me to the kitchen island and sets a small tray of cheese, cured meats, cashews, and grapes in front of me.
“Dinner will be late tonight, so munch on this for now.” He kisses my forehead. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
His footsteps thud on the stairs, my legs swinging happily from my stool as I hum around my snack. When he returns ten minutes later, he’s wearing the most adorable smile, maybe a little shy, and he’s swapped his suit for track pants and a T-shirt.
His fingers thread through mine, tugging with his timid request. “Come with me.”
He’s vibrating with excitement, and I can tell it’s taking everything in him to be gentle, to accommodate my short legs and not yank me along behind him as he leads me into his bedroom.
The bathroom is dimly lit by the warm flame of the candles decorating the edge of the bath, the glow of the stars pouring through the skylight.
John Mayer plays softly through the speakers, the book I’m currently reading sitting on the stool next to the large soaker tub.
The water is sparkling, a beautiful hue of magenta, littered with rose petals, and Carter’s quite literally bouncing on his toes.
“There’s a bath bomb in there. That’s why the water’s pink. Jennie picked it.” He scratches his head. “Um, it’s got, um…”
I inhale deeply as the scent hits my nose. “Lavender?”
Carter’s face lights up. “Yeah! Lavender. It’s for relaxing and all that shit.”
I stifle a giggle. This is utterly adorable.
“But the rose petals were all me. And the candles.” He couldn’t look prouder.
“For me?”
“For you.” He touches his lips to mine before wiggling my jeans over my hips, bringing my panties and socks with them.
He pulls my shirt over my head, removes my bra much more gently than he ever has, and helps me step into the steamy water.
“I want you to relax while I get us some dinner and get set up downstairs, okay? You have to stay in here for forty-five minutes.”
“Forty-five minutes? That’s awfully specific. What if I miss you?”
“Then you can touch yourself thinking about me.” He snickers, then his gaze hardens. “If you do, I need it on video. Add it to the holy bible of jerk-off material hiding in my phone.”
“Carter—”
“Get in the water, Liv.”
With a smile and a sigh, I sink into heaven, hands floating over the water, skimming the petals. I don’t last long after he leaves, forgoing the book and humming along to the music as my eyes drift closed. Before I know it, Carter’s warm hands are on my face, coaxing me awake.
“Sleepy Ollie girl,” he whispers. “I knew I had to come get you when I hit the forty-sixth minute.”
My arms fly overhead with my yawn as Carter holds out a fluffy towel.
He wraps me up and ushers me into the bathroom, pointing to one of his T-shirts and a clean pair of underwear from my bag, all while draining the tub, scooping up the petals, and blowing out the candles.
He does so much for me, his dedication and compassion unmatched.
When he returns, I wind my arms around him, snuggling close.
“Thank you, Carter. I’m so happy with you, and I can’t wait to grow together.”
“We’re gonna have the biggest glow-up.” His brows furrow. “Emotional glow-up. ’Cause we’re both already hot as fuck.” He smooshes his lips to my forehead, pulling back with a loud muah . “Come on. I can’t wait to show you what I did.”
He doesn’t give me a chance to come on , instead lifting me into his arms and carting me down the stairs.
He stops at the edge of the living room, and if it hasn’t already, my heart implodes.
I can feel his beating away, strumming steadily next to where my ear rests on his chest, and I press my palm there, as if I might be able to touch it, feel the way it races.
I wiggle in his hold, sliding down his body, fingers at my mouth as I move into the room.
The TV is on, open to Disney+ and showcasing all the classics.
The couch is…destroyed. The cushions are gone, though I have an idea where they might be.
I round the white sheets that decorate the room, set up like a tent, and I find the cushions inside, buried under bundles of blankets and more pillows than I’ve ever seen.
Twinkly lights line the inside of the tent, and the coffee table is littered with boxes of Chinese food.
My eyes settle on the amazing man I’m beyond blessed to call mine. He reaches for me before seeming to second guess himself, palming the back of his neck.
“I thought we could have a movie night. Do you…do you like it?”
Do I like it?
I leap across the room, jump into his arms, and crush my lips down on his.
Carter laughs. “I’ll take that as a hell yes.
Fuck, I’m killin’ it at this boyfriend stuff.
” Together, we cuddle up in the makeshift tent, settling on The Lion King first, and Carter sings every single word while we eat.
When it’s over, he disappears into the kitchen and returns with brownies, and I swear I’m going to burst but eat two anyway.
“ Frozen ?” He licks the frosting off his thumb as he sifts through the movies. “Or Moana ? I can sing them both, in case you’re wondering.”
Tugging the blankets up, I snuggle into his side. “ Frozen . I wanna hear you sing ‘Let it Go.’”
Carter looks down at me as he presses Play. “You gonna stay awake long enough to hear it?”
“Pfft. I’m wide awake. Had a catnap in the tub.”
The corner of his mouth lifts before he kisses me. “Mhmm. Well, just in case…” He scoops me into his arms, settling me against his chest, resting his chin on my head as he threads his fingers through my hair.
We’re only ten minutes in when he runs his palm over my back and whispers my name. When I meet his gaze, it’s tender and warm.
“My mom always told me that these things don’t come easily, that you have to work for the love and the life you want. The hard parts are challenging, but we get through them, and everything else with you feels natural, and I…I want to work with you. I want to build a life we love.”
With those words replaying in my mind, I don’t make it long enough to hear him sing his song, and I’m not sure what time it is when I feel him lay me down on the cushions, his body molding around mine.
The heat of his palm warms my belly when it slips beneath my shirt, and soft lips touch my jaw, drawing up to my ear.
“You’re my favorite everything, Ollie.”