My Hockey Alpha by Eve Above Story PDF

Chapter 0479

Nina

The air was thick with laughter and clinking glasses, everyone ecstatic over the end of another grueling semester.

Lori, Jessica, and a handful of others from our pre-med program had gathered in my living room to celebrate our triumphs, academic and otherwise. The room was a vibrant mixture of color, laughter, and flashing smartphone cameras capturing a moment we would hopefully all remember.

Just as the laughter reached another crescendo, I slipped into the kitchen, my eyes darting over the array of chips, cookies, and assorted finger foods spread across the counter.

As much as I loved my friends and their vibrant energy, I felt an inexplicable pull toward solitude, even if only for a moment. I reached for some chips, contemplating how this room had morphed into a sanctuary from the noise and mirth that filled the living room.

Suddenly, callused hands covered my eyes, plunging me into playful darkness. "Guess who?" a familiar voice whispered.

A chuckle escaped my lips. "Hmm, let's see...Ryan Gosling? Chris Hemsworth? Oh, wait, it must be Zac Efron!"

The hands lifted, and I was spun around to face my grinning husband. "As much as I wish I had the abs of any of those guys, sorry to disappoint."

"Never a disappointment," I shot back, feeling a warmth spread through me, soothing the jagged edges of my unsettled thoughts. I playfully ran my hand along Enzo's midsection, feeling the muscles beneath his shirt. "Your abs are even better."

Suddenly, Enzo pulled one hand from behind his back to produce a small box with a lid. He held it out to me with a sheepish grin on his face like a child who had just picked his mom a flower, roots and all.

this?" I asked, my

he said, handing me the box. My fingers gingerly opened the tiny case to reveal an intricately designed locket, a swirl of silver that seemed to capture the moonlight. When I popped it open, inside were pictures of us-a selfie of us taken overlooking the cliff behind the

eyes watered as I studied the tiny pictures closely.

gesturing to put it

chain slide around me, followed by his fingers expertly fastening the clasp. His touch lingered for a moment longer,

his eyes meeting

a fervent kiss. For a moment, I considered taking it a few steps further right there in the kitchen, but we had

the kiss when we

my cheek against his chest to hear his

you," he replied, his arms enveloping

to see her standing over by the bar in our living room, holding a tray above

before grabbing a beer from the fridge and slipping out into the backyard to be with Matt

reached for one of the shots, but as the liquid warmth cascaded down my throat,

cool sheets enveloped me as I lay down, my hands folded over my belly. I knew I wasn't pregnant, but I was still feeling intermittently sick. It must have been food poisoning, but

in, his eyes immediately narrowing in concern. "Hey," he said softly, sitting down beside me." Lori told me

trying to muster a smile.

sighed, his eyes searching mine. "Nina, I've seen you pull all-nighters, down energy drinks like water, and still be the life of

bit off, and it doesn't feel like normal food poisoning. I'm almost wondering if I should take

it's necessary. then you should do it. But if you're still feeling like

were heightened; I could hear the rustling of leaves outside, the distant hoot of an