I nudge him hard with my hip. “Nice try, but we have company.”
Sydney walks back into the room with a box of pizza and a six-pack of beer. “Who’s hungry?”
She sets the box and bottles on the long table that spans both couches. The room is so big that it calls for some large furniture to take up some of the space.
“I can eat,” both Parker and Donovan call out, the two of them reaching over to grab a slice.
On the other side of the room, Tyler and I watch as Sydney chats with Coach as if they have known each other for years. Sydney seems to have this effect on the people around her that makes them want to open up.
Coach is about as closed off as they come, and she’s over there telling Sydney all the details about Parker and the time they had spent apart. From what I understand, those were some miserable days for everyone who had the pleasure of being around Parker back then.
I squeeze Tyler’s hand to get his attention. “Sit and talk to your friends. I’ll handle the food.”
He presses his lips to mine for a few seconds, the heat from his touch going straight between my thighs. I consider his offer to go to the bathroom for a minute before he responds. “I love that you’re so at home in my house.”
“I don’t mind.” And I am more than happy to take care of everyone, even though I should be watching the game to ensure I am keeping up-to-date on all the action for Sports Buzz live feeds. Being here with Tyler and our friends is more important than my paper.
Tyler smacks me on the ass. “I hate spending any time away from you so hurry up.”
“You see me all the time.”
“I wish I saw you more,” he counters. “I think we should make this more permanent.”
“As in move into your hous
e?” My body tingles, set on fire from all the emotions running through me at once. I try to keep my excitement at bay.
“Yes. I want you to move in here with me. It wasn’t a home until I met you.” He pulls me to his chest, the fireworks sparking between us. “So what do you say?”
Staring up at him and into his eyes, I lay my palm flat on his chest and over his heart. “Yes. Of course, I will move in with you.”
“Woo hoo!” He yells so loud I almost lose my hearing.
His outburst draws the attention of the rest of the group, their heads turned toward us with confused expressions on their faces.
“Kennedy is moving in with me,” Tyler says with his hands raised in the air, reminding me of Blake when he gets excited.
Our friends congratulate us for a minute before Tyler picks me up and throws me over his shoulder. He almost runs out of the living room with his hand on my butt, holding me in place as he takes me upstairs, not giving a shit that we have company. While I feel bad about leaving our friends alone and unattended, I want to celebrate this moment with Tyler, because this is a huge deal for both of us.
Chapter Seventeen
TYLER
After I bring the last box into my house, I kick the door closed with my foot and set it down on the floor by the stairs. Asking Kennedy to move in with me was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It was apparent that neither of us wanted to spend time apart, and with her work from home schedule and hockey in the off-season, it made sense for us to take the next step in our relationship.
I freaked out when things had first become serious between Kennedy and me even though I didn’t show it. Given my past relationship with Payton, I was so closed off and afraid to let anyone into my world, but Kennedy is nothing like Payton. That much I realized not long after I let her into my life and soon after my heart.
Kennedy walks down the steps, her legs the first thing I notice in the tight, black booty hugging shorts she has on with a pink tank top and sneakers. Now, I get this view every day. I am one lucky man.
“You okay?” Kennedy asks me as her feet hit the bottom landing.
“Never better.” I wrap my arms around her and lift her up, her shoes hitting me in the leg before I set her back down on the floor. “You have made me so happy, Ken.”
“Because I moved in?” She smiles and slips her arms around my neck. “You know you don’t have to thank me again.”
I lean down to meet her height, our lips almost touching. “You have no idea how happy you make me, baby. I thought I would be miserable the rest of my life until I met you. I was in a dark place a few months ago, especially after we lost our shot at the playoffs. Then you came along in your ridiculous outfits, somehow managing to make those clothes look sexy, and won me over in the process.”
“You fell right into my trap.” She giggles like a child. “But would you have liked me if I hadn’t played games with you?”