Tyler hung up the phone and dropped it next to him on the comforter.
Emma raised an eyebrow. “You going to check the team chat?”
Tyler shook his head. “Not while you can see.”
She feigned offence. “Don’t you think I have a right to read what they’re saying about me?”
“You’re adorable when you’re indignant, but that text chain is sacred.”
Emma sighed and dropped her chin on his chest. “Good adjectives.”
* * *
Tyler went home Wednesday night after practice because he wasn’t convinced he’d get any sleep if he stayed at Emma’s before their playoff game. He regretted it the second he dropped into bed and didn’t have her there next to him. He picked up his phone.
You asleep?
It’s ten-thirty. What time do you think I go to bed?
When you’re not with me? Right after dinner. So the morning comes sooner
Ha. You flatter yourself, Bowen
I miss you
I know
Tyler laughed, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. Before he could type a response, Emma texted again.
Don’t let all this time in bed deaden your killer instinct, got it? Stiff sticks have to go down tomorrow night
Deaden? Unthinkable
I miss you, too
Goodnight, E
Goodnight, T
Tyler plugged in his phone and turned on a meditation track. That was the only way he’d be falling asleep tonight with everything running through his head.
Troy was back home, and while Lindsey and Vaughn weren’t able to finish the shoots with the snow, they were only a few days behind. The website was still planned to launch, and Gina had taken over the plans for the open house.
Everything was sorted so that he and Emma wouldn’t be needed for the weekend. She didn’t know it yet, but he had plans after the game. Win or lose, he was looking forward to Thursday night.
* * *
The Promenade Ice Center buzzed with palpable energy. The semifinal game had drawn a large crowd, and the stands were filled with fans. Stiff Sticks and Dangle was the home team, but since the playoffs were held in Calgary this year, the Snowballs didn’t have to travel to Southern Alberta. The crowd seemed evenly split between baby blue and orange.
Both teams warmed up on the ice, and Emma immediately locked onto Tyler as she sat down next to Kelty and her parents. They hugged all around, and Sharla was the first to bring up the elephant in the arena.
“Is that him? Number four? Kelty was trying to show me, but it’s hard to keep track with them all switching places every two seconds.”
Emma grinned. “Yep, that’s him.” She wished she could run down to the edge of the rink and give him a kiss before the game started. She’d sent a few saucy texts and hoped that would be enough to let him know she’d been thinking about him non-stop since he left for practice Wednesday.
Kelty nudged her. “You going to tell us the deets?”
Emma laughed, her cheeks flushing. “It’s a long story.”
