“As long as it’s not Ethan.”
I bark out a laugh. “I don’t know what you saw, but I’d appreciate if you didn’t say anything to anyone. Hypothetically speaking, certain people are very important to me. I’m not ashamed of them. I just want to get through the playoffs and let everything slow down before I figure out how to tell other interested parties what’s going on.”
“My lips are sealed,” he says. “Do you love her?” When I don’t answer, Riley nods. “I get it. We’re so lucky, aren’t we?”
With a hand on my shoulder, he finds a seat at the table with Lexi, smiling when she puts a grape in his mouth.
I stand, handing Murphy off to Liam, who shoves Hudson out of the way for a turn. I fix myself a plate then join the team, incapable of sitting anywhere else except with her.
Hannah beams when I fold my legs in the small chair to her left.
“Is Riley okay?” she asks.
“He knows about us. Hypothetically.” I take a big bite of salad. “I kind of let it spill.”
“Oh, shit. Do you want me to sit somewhere else?”
“No.” I put a palm on her thigh under the table, desperate to touch her. “I want you to stay right here.”
Because I love you so fucking much.
“Listen up,” Maverick announces, from the head of the table. “We’re heading into the playoffs tomorrow, and every sportscaster is predicting our loss in the first round. We’ve had our backs against the wall before, and we always come out on top. This next game is no different. Is the goal to win the Cup again? Of course. It always is, but despite everything we’ve been through the past couple of years, it’ll be a goddamn honor to take the ice with you all tomorrow.”
“I hate that I’m the only one who gets emotional at these things.” Grant chugs his water. “I’m fighting for my life over here.”
“Because you have a sensitive soul, G-Money.” Ethan pats his head. “And that’s why we love you.”
“Protect my net, and we won’t have any problems.” Liam’s eyes dart around the table. “Any questions?”
“We’ve worked hard for this,” Hudson says. “We’ll take it day by day and know we’re all out there giving our best effort for sixty minutes.”
“Is this how all your team dinners are?” Hannah whispers, leaning in close.
“Don’t know. I never come to them.”
“You should start.” Her fingers touch me knee, and I’m glad for the tablecloth that covers my legs. “They’re fun.”
“I know we’re going to your place tonight, but I have Liv the day after tomorrow.” With everyone around us distracted by Murphy’s crying, I decide to be a daredevil, playing with the ends of the ribbon tied in her hair. Bright pink, my favorite one of hers “She wants to know if you’ll get ice cream with us.”
“Big step. First time hanging out with her off the ice since you broke the news to her about us. I hope I do okay.”
“You’re going to do great, sweetheart.”
She gets pulled into conversation with Lexi and Piper across the table. I finish my food, my pinky linked with hers throughout the rest of the meal. When she grazes my arm and she stands, it feels like someone is watching me. Watchingus, but when I survey the table, searching for any signs of who it could be, I can’t for the life of me figure out who it is.
FORTY-TWO
HANNAH
“What’sthe name of the place we’re going tonight?” Brody asks from my bathroom. He checks his reflection in the mirror and frowns, fixing his hair. “Prince?”
“Price,” I say. “It’s the new gay bar in town.”
“I’m honored Tierney wants me at at her birthday celebration.”
“She’s very excited to officially meet you.” I smile his way. “And I’m excited to see you dance.”
“Don’t get too excited. Those flowers in the kitchen? Those are for her,” he says. “Birthday flowers, yeah, but also apology flowers for how horrible I move on a dance floor.”
