by Elle Kennedy
“You’re here!” Grace jumps up from her seat and races over to us. “Logan is going to be so psyched that you made it.”
“We almost didn’t,” Tucker says ruefully. He ruffles our daughter’s reddish-brown hair. “The little princess couldn’t decide which uncle’s jersey she wanted to wear.”
“Ha,” I say with a snort. “She couldn’t decide?” I give Grace a warm hug and then turn to do the same to Hannah, who’s wandered over to say hi. “Tuck is the one who was moaning and griping about it.”
“And yet you chose neither,” Hannah points out, grinning at Jamie’s pink hockey jersey, which has the words “Daddy’s Girl” stitched onto the back.
Custom-made, of course. Tucker likes to get things custom-made. Probably because the ridiculous shit he comes up with in his head isn’t available to normal consumers.
“She’ll start alternating,” Tucker promises. “One game she’ll wear G’s jersey, the next she’ll wear Logan’s. Hey, Jean. Good to see you.” He steps forward to hug Logan’s mother, who is beaming with pride.
I don’t blame her. Her son is about to make his debut in the pros, after spending a year playing for something Tuck calls the ‘farm team.’ I still haven’t bothered to study up on hockey. I’m too busy working my butt off in my second year at Harvard. Somehow, I managed to make it through my first year without having a nervous breakdown. I even made Law Review, much to Lettuce Head’s—aka Kale’s—dismay.
Tucker’s doing well too. The bar turned a bigger profit in its first year than either of us had expected. Some of the money was set aside for a college fund for Jamie, but he’s planning on investing the rest in a second location. Downtown, this time, which will either be a huge bust or a smashing success. I have faith in my man, so I’m going with the second one.
“Sugar,” Tucker curses, his gaze shifting to the huge window that overlooks the arena. “The game’s already started?”
“Only two minutes into the first period,” Hannah assures him. “Logan hasn’t even played a shift yet.”
“He might not play at all,” Grace says glumly. “He warned me they might not give him any ice time.”
“Of course they will,” Jean declares. “He’s a superstar.”
I hide a smile behind my hand. Yeah. I know what it’s like to be a proud mother. Jamie said her first word last week—“Boo,” and yes, it fucking counts as a word—and I damn near shouted it from the rooftops. I recorded her saying it three times and then sent the video off to Tucker’s mom, who immediately called me up and we spent thirty minutes raving about how smart she is.
Mama Tucker and I have gotten along splendidly ever since she accepted that I love her son and that I’m not going anywhere. I’m not sure if it’ll still be the case when she moves to Boston next spring. I’m a bit nervous about having her close by, but after Jamie’s first birthday, which Mrs. Tucker wasn’t there for, Tuck’s mom decided that she simply cannot stand to be so far away from her precious granddaughter. She’s saving up some more money first, and then she’s moving east to open her own hair salon. Tucker, of course, is insisting on providing the capital for it.
My soon-to-be husband is a saint. When he proposed after the small birthday party we threw for Jamie, I almost said no. Sometimes it scares me how incredible this man is. I’m terrified that I’m somehow going to screw this up, but Tucker constantly reminds me that this is it. He and I are it. Forever.
“Where’s Dean?” I ask, searching the room for his blond head.
“He couldn’t have made it in time,” Hannah explains. “He coaches the girls’ hockey team at his school and they practice Tuesday and Thursday evenings.”
I nod. I had to bail on a study session to be able to attend this Tuesday night game. But it’s harder for Dean and Allie to drop everything when they’re living in Manhattan. They made it to Jamie’s party, though. Dean bought her a stuffed unicorn that she carts around everywhere.
Hannah, Carin, Hope, Grace and I get together once a month, no matter what, to commiserate over school, life, and love. Carin’s moved on from her TA and is madly in love with a guest lecturer from London. She says that everything’s sexier with a British accent. I can’t disagree. I love Tucker’s southern drawl and hope he never loses it.
Hope told me she and D’Andre are talking about marriage and a family. They’re jealous over Jamie and talk about how they want to be young parents.
All in all, we’re a happy group.
Sometimes I worry that we’re too happy, but then a visit to Nana’s house brings things into focus. We’re happy because we want to be, because we’re pouring our energy and emotion into each other in the best possible way.
My goal, once upon a time, was to succeed. I didn’t realize that success wasn’t grades or scholarships or achievements, but the people I was lucky enough to have in my life.
As I look around the room, I want to give everyone a hug and a thank-you. A hug to express how much I love them and a thank-you for loving me back.
Because love is the ultimate goal. It’s not the one I had strived for, but I was lucky enough, so damn lucky, to achieve it.
Other Titles by Elle Kennedy
If you enjoyed Tucker’s story, make sure to check out the other titles in the Off-Campus series:
The Deal (Garrett’s book)
The Mistake (Logan’s book)
The Score (Dean’s book)
The Goal (Tucker’s book)
For other retailer links and information about print or audio versions of these titles, visit the series pages on my website.
Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to receive updates and exclusive excerpts as they become available.
You can also join my Facebook group Everything Elle Kennedy to discuss books with other readers, and take part in all sorts of giveaways!
*
For all the m/m fans out there, check out HIM and US, my New Adult hockey romances co-written with the fabulous Sarina Bowen.
Cracktastic? Check! Drama-filled? Check! Young Adult style romance? You bet! Be sure to check out Paper Princess, the first book in The Royals series co-written with the amazing Jen Frederick under our pseudonym Erin Watt.
*
If you’re interested in my erotic romance and/or romantic suspense titles, check out these bestselling series:
Killer Instincts
Outlaws
Out of Uniform
After Hours
DreamMakers (with Vivian Arend)
More titles also available on my website.
Author’s Note
I can’t believe this is the fourth (and final) book in the Off-Campus series! It’s always so sad for me to say goodbye to characters I adore, but don’t you worry, dear reader…there is a spinoff in the works!
As always, I couldn’t have survived this project without the help of some very awesome people.
Early readers Viv, Jen, Sarina and Vi for the invaluable feedback and general best-friendship.
My editor Gwen, who is the second biggest dog-lover (after myself, of course) on the planet and therefore the best person ever.
My publicist/cheerleader/soul mate Nina Bocci for loving this series as much as I do.
Sarah Hansen (Okay Creations) for the abs-licious cover!
Nicole and Natasha—my angels sent from heaven.
Kristy, for all the work you do in the FB group!
Sharon Muha, just because.
And finally, YOU! The bloggers and reviewers who continue to rave about the series and spread the word. The readers who send me the sweetest, most enthusiastic messages about these books. The members of my Facebook group (Everything Elle Kennedy) who make me laugh on a daily basis.
So, yes—you. Thank you for taking the time to read my books!
About the Author
A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a BA in English from York University. Fr
om an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
Elle loves to hear from her readers. Visit her website www.ellekennedy.com or sign up for her newsletter to receive updates about upcoming books and exclusive excerpts. You can also find her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter (@ElleKennedy).
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The Goal: An Off-Campus Novel
Copyright © 2016 by Elle Kennedy
Digital Edition
Edited by Gwen Hayes
Proofed by Aquila Editing
Cover Art © Sarah Hansen, Okay Creations
All rights reserved. No part of this book may reproduced, scanned or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews.