I guess he likes me…
When Roman screeches with a blood-curdling scream, I jump in fear, but then Shelli is right there. “Oh goodness. Someone is hungry,” she says, taking him and kissing his head. “Thank you for loving on him.”
“Anytime. Sorry my boobs don’t work,” I say, and she laughs as she heads to the back bedroom.
The house is one of the smallest in the neighborhood, with only four bedrooms, but with the help of Shelli’s aunt Grace, the house is totally Wes. He has a gaming room, an office, a hockey memorabilia room, and then his bedroom. It’s really nice. I sometimes want to move in with him, but we haven’t really brought it up. We’ve been so busy with finding the place, decorating it, and also traveling, that my moving in never really came up. I stay when I want, which is basically all the time. I don’t keep anything here. Just a trusty suitcase that I lug around.
I walk through the living room, greeting his friends and teammates. I hear Lake’s loud laugh from across the room. He stopped by Audrey Jane’s one day about two months ago, ate a cupcake I’d made, and proclaimed it “fabulous.” Then he quickly apologized, and we were immediately back to being besties. Today, it looks like he’s conspiring with Emery. Oh well, at least he can use his skills to redesign their jumpsuits when they go to jail.
When I feel someone staring at me, I look up to find Wes watching me. His eyes are dark and naughty as he looks me up and down. I’m wearing the shoes he bought me after our first date with some short dress shorts and a flowy, see-through top. He is looking yummy in a button-down shirt and khaki shorts. His hair is brushed to the side, and his jaw is covered in hair. It’s his summer beard, as he calls it. Says he’ll shave once training camp starts.
Praise God, that’s in only two weeks.
When his lips curve, I excuse myself and start for him. It’s insane how a single look can make me feel like the most special person in a crowded room, but I live for that look. We meet halfway, and he wraps his arms around me as I do the same to him. His lips capture mine, and I rise up on my toes, holding him close. I cup his jaw as he squeezes my hips in his grip. When he pulls back, I look up into his eyes.
“Are you having fun?” he asks, and I nod.
“It’s a great time.”
He smiles in agreement as he looks around. “It seems like everyone is enjoying themselves.”
I don’t look around, though. I’m too engrossed in him. “I don’t see anyone but you.”
His grin grows as he looks back down to me. “Rude. That’s my line.”
“Ha-ha,” I tease as he kisses my nose. “I see my sister is eating the platters you insisted on having.” We both glance over to where Emery is now lying on the bar in a food coma. “My mom is going to bitch at her.”
“She won’t accept fullness until she eats it all.”
“I know,” I say, shaking my head before I lean it against his chest. “And then she can’t move.”
He chuckles. “Well, I would take the blame since I promised that I would have sushi at all future events of ours, but it’s her fault that she ate so much.”
My brows come in. I glance up, meeting his gaze as he looks down at me, wrapping his hand around my ponytail. “This is a house party for you, not an event for us.”
“Or so you think,” he says, parting from me before taking my hand in his. “If I can have everyone’s attention.”
My heart kicks up in speed. What in the hell is happening?
The chatter in the room calms down, and everyone looks to Wes and me. When he grins down at me, I know I look like a deer in headlights. Surely he is not asking me to marry him. We have definitely not discussed that!
“I want to thank everyone for coming out and celebrating my new house with me.” Everyone calls out something supportive, but I am staring a hole in the side of his face. “I also want to thank Mrs. Brooks for her help in getting me this house. It’s everything I ever could have asked for.” I’m sure my mom is grinning at him, sending him a kiss or something, but I still haven’t moved. “But most of all, I want to thank my super, stunning Stella.”
Oh God.
Wes’s eyes hold mine as he squeezes my hand. “I have never in my life loved someone the way I love you. You continually love me, challenge me to be a good man, and you support me when I can’t even support myself. My life would be nothing without you, and I want to continue making amazing memories with you.”