Chapter 41
CHAPTER
FORTY-ONE
brUCE
We won our fourth game in round three yesterday, officially moving us forward to the final round of playoffs. So tonight, we’re celebrating at Remy and Amber’s.
Jackson is with me, of course; he’s part of the gang now. And Farrah is feeling much better from her procedure. Her mom and sister stayed with her until we got back from Thunder Bay.
Walking up to Remy’s front door with Jackson right beside me, I’ve never felt happier. When the door opens, my stomach does a flip. Just knowing I’ll see Farrah soon does that to me. That, and knowing we don’t have to hide. I can hug her and kiss her and give her attention all night, and no one can say a word—I’ll also save a lot of money not having to pay Noah to keep his mouth shut.
Farrah opens the tall front door with a smile on her gorgeous face. Her makeup is done nicely, and she’s wearing a blue top that makes her eyes pop with little denim shorts with fashionable holes worn in them. They show off her thighs in a very sexy way. It’s the beginning of June now, and her skin already looks slightly tanned.
She grins up at me, and I know I’m smiling just as big. My hands itch to touch her.
Jackson groans and slips past us into the house. “You guys are gross; I’m out of here.”
Farrah covers her mouth to stifle a laugh, but I take advantage of our brief moment of alone time and slip my arms around her waist, pulling her close until our bodies are pressed together.
Her arms slide around my neck and then into the back of my hair, which is longer than usual since we all stopped cutting our hair or shaving our faces a few weeks ago. It’s a playoff thing.
I kiss her, fusing our mouths together in a dance of lips and tongues and passion. A dance that makes me want more. She grunts in a way that makes me pull back. “You okay?”
“Yes,” she whispers with a laugh. “I’m still a little sore, but not too bad.”
“Sorry, I got carried away.”
“So did I,” she says, looking up at me through her dark lashes.
I loosen my grip on her and place one more kiss on her lips. The clearing of a throat has us looking up to see Noah standing awkwardly behind us in the entry way. “They sent me to tell you guys dinner is ready.”
“Sorry, Noah,” Farrah says. “We’re coming!”
I reach into my wallet and pull out a fifty, and when I pass Noah, I shake his hand and leave the money behind. “For old time’s sake.” I wink.
Noah shrugs and follows us into the open concept living space.
“Ahh,” Colby says when he spots us. “There are the lovebirds.”
I’m holding Farrah’s hand and use the contact to draw her closer to me. She’s blushing and all I want to do is kiss her again, but I don’t have a death wish. I’m not about to push Remy too far.
Andie squeals and claps her hands. “Oh, my gosh. You guys are so cute. I’ve been waiting for this moment forever.”
“ You’ve been waiting forever?” I roll my eyes. “You’re ridiculous, Andie Anderson.” I pause and narrow my eyes at her. “Or should I say…Mandie Banderson?”
She gasps, and Mitch, who’s standing next to her, whips his head in her direction. “What’s he talking about?”
She grimaces. “It’s nothing, I just have an online persona where I troll the fans that are trolling you guys.”
Mitch sighs heavily, bringing his hand to his face and massaging his temples with his thumb and index finger.
“But wait!” she says. “How’d you know?” She stares at me, waiting for my answer.
I crinkle my nose, trying unsuccessfully to hide a smile. “I troll them, too. I’m Harry Johnson.”
Andie’s head falls back as she cackles. Not laughs, cackles.
Remy shakes his head. “Really? Harry Johnson?”
I shrug. “So, Noah tells me the food is ready?”
“Changing the subject…nice tactic,” Farrah says, keeping her voice low.
“Your brother is great, but he can be scary when he wants, and I don’t want him to tell coach,” I whisper back.
She stands on her tippy toes and plants a kiss on my lips. Right in front of everyone. I’m stunned and have to blink a few times. Farrah bites her bottom lip and strides into the kitchen, leaving me unable to speak in her wake.
When Mitch passes by me, he slaps me hard on the back. “Glad you finally met someone who stuns you into silence.”
“Ha, ha, very funny.”
Remy and Amber have dinner arranged on the table tonight. The table is set with pretty, white dishes and there’s a big bowl of whole wheat pasta and grilled salmon. There’s a large platter of steamed broccoli as well, and then one more dish with fried chicken for the non-hockey players. My mouth waters at the sight of breading, but we’re too close to being done with playoffs to ruin my diet now.
I notice Farrah’s in the kitchen fussing over whatever dessert she made for tonight and sneak in there while everyone else is getting seated around the table—I note that they squeezed in two extra chairs so the younger boys can sit at the table with us—Jackson sits by Noah and the two of them start chatting. I smile.
“Do you need help?” I ask Farrah, trailing one hand down her spine then settling it on her hip.
She finishes spooning a thin frosting on what looks like sweet buns. I whimper. “Sticky buns?”
“Sorry,” she says, her voice apologetic. “But all the girls requested them.”
I nuzzle my nose into her neck, and she giggles. “It’s okay, those aren’t the sticky buns I really want anyway.”
Farrah laughs, ducking to get out of my grasp. “Noah is going to walk in here when you’re doing that.”
She’s standing in front of the oven now; I’d almost forgotten about the La Cornue. She looks perfect standing in front of it, a true baker with a top-of-the-line oven. She notices what I’m staring at and grins. “I love this thing. It’s the best gift I’ve ever received.”
“The best gift you’ve ever received yet .”
“Would you two get in here?” Remy yells from the dining room.
“We better sit down,” Farrah says, grabbing onto my hand and pulling me into the dining room, even though I’d rather flirt with her in the kitchen all night.
Once we’re seated, Amber stands up, clutching her glass of wine and raising it in the air. “To the final round of the playoffs!” she says.
Everyone makes a ruckus, cheering and standing up to clink their glasses together—wine for the ladies and water for the rest of us.
Remy slowly stands, holding his water glass up for his own toast. We all watch him in surprise since he’s not one to draw attention to himself. He clears his throat, looking mildly uncomfortable with all eyes on him, then he turns to look at me. “I’d also like to toast to Bruce and Farrah. I know I wasn’t encouraging of you two getting together, and for that I’m sorry.” He rolls his lips inside his mouth as he considers his next words. “But I saw how you took care of her, Bruce. You’re one of the best men I know, and I shouldn’t have doubted you.” He lifts his water glass higher. “So, to Bruce and Farrah.”
The group of friends, now a little teary, clinks their glasses again. Farrah lays her head on my shoulder, and I kiss the top of her head.
Everything feels right as we start eating, passing food around and filling our plates. I notice Rose noses her way in between Noah and Jackson, and the two of them feed her small bites of their chicken.
Nella is in her highchair between Amber and the two boys, she squeals with glee at the dog and drops a piece of her own chicken for Rose.
I don’t say anything, letting them have their fun.
“So,” Colby says. “Not sure if anyone noticed…but the house two down from me in the cul-de-sac has a for sale sign in the yard.”
I perk up. “Really?”
“Yeah,” Noel says, looking at her fingernails like she’s bored, but I see the twinkle in her eyes. “It’ll go fast. Hope someone jumps on it soon.”
Slowly, I turn my head to look at Farrah. I find her grinning at me. “You think it’ll fit the La Cornue?” I whisper.
“There’s only one way to find out,” she whispers back.