I Pucking Love You (The Copper Valley Thrusters #5) - Pippa Grant Page 0,95

six months and that smells like a relationship. I’ve smelled your socks. Don’t get more attached if she can’t handle it.”

“Or we get six months down the road, she realizes I’m everything she’s ever wanted, and all my patience has paid off.” When my balls don’t shrivel, I know I’m kidding myself in thinking this is a passing phase and that I’ll get tired of it.

What I don’t know, though, is if she’s as serious as I am.

And that was the one thing that didn’t work out for me the two times I tried it before.

Two.

I’m a wuss when it comes to relationships. Scared of commitment because of two things that happened before I was old enough to drink, hiding behind not wanting to live with my sisters for the rest of my life, when the truth is, I’ve been waiting my whole life for someone as fun, bright, amusing, and unexpected as they are.

Lavoie’s shaking his head. “Tell her.”

“And what if she bolts?”

“What if she’s waiting for you to say it first and she’s afraid you’ll bolt?” He grunts. “You’ve met her mother. I’ve met her mother. If ever there was a woman who’d have issues, it’s Muffy.”

I’d slug him on her behalf, but I know he’s not saying it to be an asshole.

He’s saying it because it’s true.

“Tonight,” I say. “I’ll tell her tonight. After we kick Indianapolis’s asses, and Gator Cranford crawls out of here with his tail tucked between his legs.”

Rooster punches me in the arm. “That’s the spirit. Go get her, tiger.”

I don’t want to get her.

I want to love her.

39

Muffy

I. Freaking. Love. Tyler’s. Family.

We’ve hardly seen him all day, which is pretty normal on a game day. He has morning skate, team lunch, nap, then it’s time for him to suit up and swagger back to the arena.

I couldn’t join anyone until after my weekly client support meeting, where I have three clients now dating men I introduced them to, and two more unofficial members of my client roster that I’ve matched in my head as soon as they give me the go-ahead and sign on. Maren is still single, but I introduced her to my therapist this week, and she texted to tell me that after her first session, she’s pretty sure this will be more useful than dating.

And now I’ve been to the zoo with Tyler’s family, and we’re all gathered in Daisy and West’s hotel suite for dinner before the game, where Daisy’s private chef is glowering at everyone while he stands guard at the roast beef station in the corner.

Apparently Cristoff needs to be shown all the love for his food, or he threatens to feed Daisy things she’s allergic to. And he’s clearly not serious, because every time he references feeding her shellfish to make her blow up like a balloon, West smiles, rolls his eyes, and shakes his head.

“She can handle him,” he tells me when he catches me looking confused at his amusement. “Plus, he knows what I did to the last guy who threatened my family.”

I feel like there might actually be a true story there, especially when Cristoff abruptly stops muttering and eyeballs West with more than a little healthy respect, but Staci leaps in and starts asking me questions about my matchmaking business before I can press for details. She tells me she’s the friend whisperer in her circle back home, and she likes to hook up mom friends who are lonely with other mom friends who’ve been there.

“Best match you ever made?” she asks.

“Betty and Sariela.”

“You made a lesbian match?”

I nod. “Yeah, but it’s not the best because it was a lesbian match. They were my first match, and it was an accident. They met at my first client support group meeting, which I did on a fluke but has turned out to be the best part of my matchmaking service. I only have like five true success stories, so helping my clients find friends on their way to also finding love is a serious boost to my confidence.”

“Have you always wanted to match people?”

“I used to ship people in high school, but I never did anything about it, so after—” I cut myself off, realizing where this will go if I finish my sentence.

And now half of Tyler’s siblings and a third of his in-laws are looking at me.

Waiting for me to see what came before after.

And you know what?

Screw it. I am who I am. If ever there was a group