“I won’t judge you if you need a moment in the bathroom,” Casey teases.
“Casey,” I cry.
“What? Number fifty-five will always be my guy, but I’m not blind. Handsy is hot as fuck, and those moves…girl, you are going to be in for a good time.”
“Oh my god,” I mutter, dropping my head into my hands, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t keep my fingers parted so I could continue watching him, imagining how that might look with fewer pads. And maybe a bed instead of an ice rink.
“What? We’ve all done it.”
“I don’t want to know,” I hiss, making her laugh.
“Probably for the best. It’ll make tonight better.”
“Casey, I?—”
“Hey, kiddo,” Dad calls as he makes his way toward us.
Casey smirks. “Hey, Brian. Happy belated birthday. Freya was just telling me all about your night.”
Dad lights up, his eyes flicking to the ice, searching out Cole.
“Oh, it was so incredible. Did she tell you she brought Cole with her? I spent my birthday night eating Mexican with Cole Hansley. Never in a million years did I think that would happen. I still can’t believe it.”
I smile as I listen to Dad telling Casey all the things he and Cole discussed while my eyes track the man in question on the ice.
Every now and then, he looks up, and I feel his eye contact all the way to my core. Casey notices and elbows me teasingly, but if Dad sees it, then he doesn’t say anything.
By the time their warmups are over, the seats around us are practically full, and right before Cole steps off the ice, he turns to look at me.
‘Good luck,’ I mouth.
He nods, a coy smile playing on his lips behind his helmet.
41
COLE
Freya: Told you it was hot.
We won again tonight, ensuring we maintain our position at the top of the Western Conference. But it’s Freya’s message that really gets me excited.
Those billboards only went up today, and she’s already been out to see it.
Her actions are at complete odds with the woman who’s tried her best to keep her distance from me since she woke up in my arms.
I’ve regretted that morning since the moment it happened. I scared her off, and I hate myself for it. I don’t want to push her away; I want to drag her closer.
She’s not ready. I fully understand that and accept it.
Luckily for her, I’m a patient man, and when I want something, I’m more than willing to wait as long as necessary until I get it.
I’ll also put in all the legwork to ensure it happens because I don’t have any doubt that it’ll be worth it in the end.
“What’s the smile about?” Linc asks.
I shake my head and enlarge the image Freya sent me.
“You seen this?”
