Chapter 42
FORTY-TWO
The final buzzer sounded and I barely heard it. We’d won—I knew that much from the eruption of cheers around me and the way my teammates were piling onto each other near the goal. But I wasn’t thinking about the score or the game at all.
I was thinking about Ava.
I’d been thinking about her all fucking day. It had only gotten worse since the moment that asshole in the Montana Tech shirt had slid into the seat beside her like he had any right to be there.
Like she wasn’t already claimed.
Like she wasn’t already mine.
The possessiveness that had surged through me when I’d skated over to the boards wasn’t something I’d experienced before. I’d spent my entire adult life avoiding exactly this feeling—this desperate, clawing need to mark my territory. To make sure everyone knew who she belonged to.
Because that kind of feeling was dangerous. That kind of feeling led to broken promises and shattered hearts and becoming exactly the kind of man I’d sworn I’d never be.
But watching another guy lean into her space, watching him smile at her like he had a chance—something had snapped inside me. And instead of running from that feeling, I’d embraced it.
Yes, the fuck I am. Now get the fuck away from my girl.
The words had come out before I could stop them, and the moment they’d left my mouth, I’d felt something shift in my chest. Like a lock clicking open on a door I’d kept barricaded for years and it had finally swung wide open.
Foster skated over, grinning like an idiot, and clapped me on the shoulder. “Hell of a game, Farrell.”
“Thanks, man.” But I was already moving toward the locker room, my legs carrying me faster than they had all night.
“Where’s the fire?” Gordy called after me.
I didn’t answer and didn’t have time to explain. I just needed to get to her, which meant getting out of this gear.
In the locker room, I stripped faster than I ever had in my life, not bothering with the usual post-game ritual of savoring the win.
“Dude, slow down,” Foster said, watching me yank a clean shirt over my head as the rest of the team filtered in. “The party’s not going anywhere.”
“Not going to the party.”
He raised an eyebrow, then understanding dawned. “Ah. Going to find a certain someone?”
I didn’t answer. Just shoved my feet into my shoes and headed for the door.
Drew was across the room, still in his pads, talking to Coach. Our eyes met for just a second. His jaw tightened, but he didn’t look away and didn’t glare. I’d take it as another win.
I pushed through the locker room door and into the corridor where families and friends always gathered after games. The crowd was thick with people, and there, hovering at the edge of it all, was Ava.
She was standing with Sam, Abby, and Harper, that lush lip of hers trapped between her teeth. When her gaze landed on me, she froze.
I didn’t hesitate or give myself time to second-guess.
I walked straight to her, cupped her face in my hands, and kissed her.
Not a gentle kiss or a tentative kiss. It was a claiming kiss—the kind that left no room for doubt or interpretation. The kind that said you’re mine and I’m yours and I’m done pretending otherwise.
Her hands fisted in my shirt as she melted against me, and I heard cheers from the people around us. Let them watch. Let them all watch. I was done hiding.
When I finally pulled back, we were both breathing hard. Her eyes were wide, searching my face like she was looking for the catch. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips swollen and she’d never looked more beautiful.
“You’re wearing my backup jersey for all future games,” I said, my voice rough. “Just FYI.”
She blinked. “What?”
“My jersey. Number twenty-seven. I’ll bring it to you before the next game.” I traced my thumb along her cheekbone, unable to stop touching her even for a second. “Apparently I’m a jealous bastard, because I can’t stand seeing other guys hit on you when you’re taken.”
“Am I?” she asked quietly. “Taken?”
I leaned my forehead against hers, close enough that my next words were just for her.
“Yes, you’re taken. I love you, Ava.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. “But…the list is done. I thought—” Her voice cracked. “Last night, you were just holding me, and I thought that meant you were done. That you were putting me back in the friend box.”
My chest ached at the fear in her voice. At the realization that she’d spent all day thinking I didn’t want her anymore.
When that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Sunshine.” I pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. “I didn’t want to have sex last night because I didn’t want you to think that’s all this was. I wanted to just hold you. To show you that I’m here for more than just the physical stuff.”
“I thought I hallucinated what you said on the ice. During the fight. I convinced myself I just heard what I wanted to hear.”
“You heard right. I have been yours since the moment I kissed you in your dorm room.” The words came easier than I expected, flowing out of me like they’d been waiting years to be spoken.
“Probably before that, if I’m being honest. Probably since we were kids and you smiled at me like I was worth something even when I was convinced I wasn’t. ”
Her breath caught, but I kept going. I needed her to understand. Needed everyone to understand.
“I spent years telling myself I couldn’t do this. That I was my father’s son and that meant I’d end up hurting anyone I let myself love.” My accent was thickening, but I didn’t try to hide it. “But the thing I’ve been best at is loyalty. And there’s no one—no one—I’m more loyal to than you.”
I was vaguely aware of the crowd around us, but I didn’t care who heard this. This moment was for Ava.
“So yes.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead, then her nose, then each of her cheeks. “You’re taken. Completely. Irrevocably. I’m off the market, Sunshine. Have been for months. And I don’t plan on that changing. Not tomorrow. Not next year. Not ever.”
A tear slipped down her cheek, and I caught it with my thumb.
“I love you,” I said, loud enough that everyone nearby could hear. “I’m in love with you. And I don’t care who knows it. I want everyone to know it. I want—” I laughed, the sound light and free. “I want to shout it from the fucking rafters if that’s what it takes to make you believe me.”
“Liam…” Her voice cracked.
“You’re not a secret, Ava. You should’ve never been a secret. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’m sorry it took me so long to stop being afraid of that.”
Her lower lip trembled. “I love you too. I’ve been so scared to say it because every time I’ve put my heart on the line before—”
“I know.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I know. But I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me now.”
She let out a watery laugh. “Promise?”
“Promise.” I pulled her against my chest, wrapping my arms around her like I could shield her from every doubt she’d ever had. “You’re not a secret anymore, Sunshine. Never again. I want to love you out loud for the whole world to see.”
Over her head, I saw Harper, Sam, and Abby watching from a few feet away. Sam was practically bouncing with excitement. Harper had tears in her eyes. Even some of my teammates had filtered out of the locker room and were standing in the doorway, grinning like idiots.
And behind them, hanging back near the wall, was Drew.
He was watching us with an expression I couldn’t quite read. It wasn’t angry or happy, but looked like something in between—like he was still trying to figure out how he felt about all of this.
But he wasn’t storming over and pulling us apart. He wasn’t demanding I get my hands off his sister.
It was a start.
Ava pulled back and looked up at me. The smile that spread across her face—that smile that had earned her the nickname Sunshine—was worth every second of fear and uncertainty it had taken to get here.
I kissed her again, softer this time, because I could.
Because she was mine.