It's Our Time (Carolina Rebels 3)

“Don’t sound so thrilled, Sydney.”

She rolls her eyes. “It’s not that I don’t want to go, I do, but I’m not thrilled about the idea of my family being around those nosy women.”

Ah, right. Her first experience wasn’t so great. “I’ll be sure to get the word around that they act like normal people for once if it’ll make you feel better. They really are cool, but they can be a bit much, especially Sylvia. And if you ask her to explain the game to you, then that’ll give her something to talk about and you’ll be golden.”

Sydney nods and I focus on Savannah. I’ve been waiting for the moment when they decided to go to another game. It’s finally here.

“I have a present for you.”

“What is it?” she asks.

I stand. “Let’s find out.” I only have a few minutes before I need to change and head to the rink anyway. In my room, I sit Savannah on the bed, grab a bag from the top of the closet, and return to her. I pull out a mini jersey. “You get to wear this when you come watch me play. It’s just like mine.”

“Ooh! Put it on!”

Grinning like a fool, I help her put the jersey on.

“Do I get one?”

I glance over at Sydney. Shit. I don’t have one for her. She’s not a sports fan; why would I get her a jersey she probably wouldn’t want? “I didn’t think you’d want one since you don’t like it,” I answer honestly.

“Oh. Right.” Yet, she seems disappointed. “Come on, Savannah. We’re late and Daddy needs to get dressed before he’s late.”

Savannah jumps off the bed, giving me a mini heart attack since the bed sits high up off the floor, and runs out of the room.

“Babe,” I start before Sydney can leave, too. “Come here.”

She walks over to me with her arms crossed over her chest. Damn. She’s actually ticked about not getting a jersey. “I don’t like sports because I don’t understand them. I don’t know how they work aside from chasing some object around. None of that means I wouldn’t want your jersey.”

“Okay. I’ll get you one. Give me a kiss.”

Just like that, her arms fall to grab my hands as she leans up to offer her mouth to me. That’s not an offer I can resist. The tension and exhaustion I’ve felt all week disappear the moment her lips touch mine. I quickly deepen the kiss because we don’t have much time. Sydney’s moan makes me pull away.

“You’re mine later.”

She nods with a smile. “Done. Good luck tonight.” She gives me an all-too-brief kiss before leaving.

I change into a suit and soon, I’m at the arena. I’m earlier than I have to be, actually, but only because I planned to grab something to eat here. A bunch of the guys seem to be here early, gathered in the players’ lounge.

“Hey, Bruiser,” Zane calls. “We’re going bowling tomorrow just to have some fun. You coming?”

“Can’t, Z. Sydney’s family is in town.”

“Damn.”

“You coming, Marco?” Rams asks.

“I can’t either. Elizabeth and I have plans.”

“What are you guys doing?”

“Um.” He hesitates, which only makes everyone pay attention to him. “Shagging.”

“We don’t need to know you’re fucking her,” Aaron Peters says as he laughs.

“It’s a dance, Mountain Man,” Marc corrects. “We’re going dancing. She likes to drag me to lessons, so that’s what we’re doing.”

“Lizzy likes to dance?” Scotty questions.