“You’re right,” she says softly.
The doorbell rings, and I head to the front door and answer it. There’s a delivery guy holding what looks like a big cake box. I thank him and bring the box inside.
“Did you order something?” I ask Ellie.
She shakes her head. I set the cake box on the kitchen counter. When I open it, I’m grinning at the message written in white frosting on a chocolate cake.
Great job on a kick-ass interview, AC!
“This must be from the guys on the team,” Ellie says.
I pull out my phone and send a message in the group text.
Me: Thanks for the cake, guys. And thanks for thinking I did a great job even though the interview hasn’t even aired yet. Your faith in me is sweet
Me: Get it? Sweet? Because it’s cake? Don’t you love the pun??
Del: *annoyed face emoji*
Theo: *laughing emoji*
Ryker: Always good when you have to explain your own joke
Xander: We don’t need to see the interview to know you kicked ass. Just like you do in post-game press interviews
Sam: Glad you like the cake. And it’s dairy-free and gluten-free so Ellie can eat it too
Blomdahl: Ha. Sweet. Love it.
I grin at my phone screen. My teammates are the best.
I show Ellie the text chain, and she laughs. I grab two forks, hand her one, and wait for her to take a bite.
“You have to take the first bite,” she says.
“Why?”
“It’s bad luck to take the first bite out of a cake that’s not yours.”
I chuckle. “Is that so?”
She nods. “You have a game in two days. I want you to have as much good luck as possible.”
“Since when did you get superstitious?” I tease.
Her lush mouth curves up in a shy smile. “I’ve been looking up good luck routines for athletes. I’m a hockey wife now, so I want to help you be as lucky as possible.”
That warm feeling I always get when I’m around her deepens, wrapping around my heart.
I grab her waist and pull her close, then dig my fork into the cake and hold it up to her mouth.
“You’re all the good luck I need, baby. As long as you’re there cheering me on, I’ll be golden.”
She flashes that beautiful bright smile and takes a bite of cake. “Of course I’ll be there. I’ll be wearing my husband’s jersey and cheering my heart out for you.”
I haul her up onto the counter and kiss her. “Best wife ever.”
Chapter 61
