Page 56 of Pucking My Grumpy Accidental Husband

"Is that how you met? Were you working with Dax's team?"

Another glance passes between us. Emma catches it and grins.

"Oh my God, you were. You were working with his team, weren't you? That's so romantic. Like, forbidden workplace romance romantic."

"It's not that dramatic besides can you sit? I mean you just came and started interrogating us," Dax says quickly.

"Are you kidding me? It's totally that dramatic. Secret glances across the locker room, stolen moments during practice, sneaking around because of professional ethics?—"

"Emma," Dax interrupts, but he's laughing. "You watch too many romance movies."

"I watch the perfect amount of romance movies, thank you very much. And I can tell when I'm looking at one in real life." She grins at us. "You two are adorable. Disgustingly adorable."

"We're not disgusting," I protest.

"Oh, you are. The way you're looking at each other right now? Nauseating. I love it."

Dax shakes his head but pulls me closer. "Come on, let's get you inside before the neighbors start complaining about the noise."

"I'm not being loud!"

"Em, you've been here for five minutes and I'm pretty sure the whole building knows our business already.”

We make our way to the living room, where Emma drops her overnight bag and immediately makes herself at home on the couch. She's got the same natural ease as Dax, the same way of taking up space without apology.

"So," she says, folding her legs under her, "I want to know everything. How long have you been together? What's your favorite thing about him? Has he told you about the time he cried during Marley & Me?"

"I did not cry during Marley & Me," Dax says firmly.

"You absolutely did. You were seventeen and you bawled like a baby."

"That's not crying, that's... emotional response to superior filmmaking."

Emma rolls her eyes. "He's sensitive about his feelings. Always has been. Mom says it's because he's got a big heart but doesn't know what to do with it."

I look at Dax, who's gone slightly pink around the ears. "I think your heart's the perfect size."

"See?" Emma claps her hands. "This is what I'm talking about. You two are gross and I'm here for it."

"Are you planning to stay the night?" Dax asks, clearly trying to change the subject.

"Obviously. I brought cookies and everything. Mom made her special chocolate chip ones specifically for Tessa."

"Your mom made me cookies?" Something warm unfurls in my chest.

"She's been asking about you constantly since Dax mentioned... well, since he started being weird and happy. Which we now know is because of you." Emma grins. "She's convinced you're 'the one' because apparently you make him laugh at your jokes."

"I have an excellent sense of humor," I say defensively.

"I'm sure you do. But Dax laughs at, like, three things: hockey highlights, people falling down, and really bad puns. The fact that he laughs at your jokes is basically a marriage proposal in Kingston family terms."

I choke on my own spit, and Dax immediately moves to rub my back.

"She's exaggerating," he says, but his hand lingers on my spine in a way that makes me think maybe Emma isn't wrong.

"Am I though?" Emma's eyes are twinkling with mischief. "Because you've got the same look on your face that you had when you talked about proposing to?—"

"Emma," Dax's voice carries a warning that makes her stop mid-sentence.