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“Make sure it’s not a sales guy,” Mom calls after her. “Those solar panel people are relentless.”

Shutting the refrigerator, I say, “To answer your earlier question, I think I’m going to head back to school in the morning.”

Mom’s eyebrow raises. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah, but thanks for letting me come home and figure things out.”

She throws her arm around me and squeezes me. “Any time.”

“Twy!” Ruby shouts, her voice carrying from the front door.

“Oh my god,” I grumble, stepping out of the kitchen, “if you think I’m going to argue with the Jehovah’s Witnesses again—”

I stop short. He takes up so much room in the doorway that she doesn’t even have to move for me to see him. “It’s for you.”

My heart lurches and I look from my sister, who looks utterly shocked, to Reese. His eyes are pinned on me, assessing me in that way that makes me sweat. Neither of us say anything and my sister is not one to miss an opportunity to run her mouth.

“Hi,” Ruby says, thrusting out her hand. “I’m Ruby. Twyler’s sister.”

“Nice to meet you, Ruby.” He shakes her hand, but never takes his gaze off me. “I’m Reese.”

“Yes,” she says. “I’m familiar with your work.”

He drags his eyes away from me to her. “My work?”

“On the ice,” she says quickly. “Big fan. Would you like to come in?”

I snap out of it and blurt, “No!”

Reese’s expression falls, and Ruby hisses, “Twy!”

“No,” I say again, swallowing. “I’ll come outside.”

Pushing past my sister, I walk past Reese and out the front door. He follows me and I shoot my sister a look, telling her to shut the door to give us some privacy.

Once it’s closed, I turn to him. “What are you doing here?” Then I look at my watch. “You have practice. And a game tomorrow night!”

“I don’t give a shit about either of those things.” He reaches for me, and when his hand cups my face, and those gray eyes hold mine, my insides melt. “Just tell me you’re okay.”

“I’m okay.” Better now that he’s here. “But you shouldn’t be here. The first game—”

“Doesn’t matter.” His hand skims down my arm and his fingers twine with mine. “Not more than you do. When you didn’t show up to practice, I was worried, and then when I found out there was a substitute trainer assigned, well, that’s when I panicked. You scared the shit out of me, Twy.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I was terrified you would do something dangerous—like when you and Ethan broke up. The last thing I wanted was to be another guy that hurt you.”

This man. God, how could I walk away from him? “I’m not in that place anymore—partially because of you. I just needed some space to clear my head and I couldn’t do that at Wittmore.”

“And I should have understood that better,” he admits. “You made a decision, and I should have respected that.” He grins sheepishly. “I’m not very good at losing.” Perseverance is what got him in the position of captain in the first place and high on the list of players for the draft. It’s no surprise Reese is the same off the ice. “I never should have asked Nadia to come with me.”

“I didn’t like seeing you with her,at all, although I understand your motivation. She needed a win, and if you’d shown up with anyone else—a puck bunny for god’s sake—I probably would have burned down the building.”

His lip quirks. “Has anyone told you that you’re hot when you’re jealous?”

I groan and step closer, pressing my forehead against his chest. “You’re a good guy, Reese Cain. Sweet and loyal. Protective, even when I don’t deserve it.”

“I’m never going to stop protecting you.” His fingers slide under my chin, lifting it until I’m looking at him. “I love you.”