This is it. This is the moment when I close the final door on my past and jump headfirst into my future. A future where I have Cole Hansley right by my side.
“Cole, have you got a few minutes?” Harry, the Vipers’ rink side reporter, asks.
I’ve watched enough games now to know that Cole isn’t usually up for interviews. But today, when the microphone moves toward him, he smiles, welcoming questions.
“Congratulations, you played an incredible game tonight.”
“Thanks. It was a great game, and we came together and played well as a team.”
“Exactly what we’ve come to expect from the Vipers this year. How are you feeling about moving into the playoffs? Confident?”
“Yeah, confident and ready for the challenge. We’ve worked incredibly hard all year, and so far it’s paid off. Looking forward to seeing how far it can take us.”
“And dare I ask about the lady standing at your side right now? If you don’t mind me saying, it’s not often you have someone behind the boards waiting for you quite like this.”
Cole’s grip on my waist tightens, and I blow out a calming breath.
“You can. This is Freya, and she’s my girl.” Deciding that words aren’t really what’s needed, Cole wraps his fingers around the side of my neck and twists me around to kiss me.
I’m pretty sure Harry says something else, but I don’t make out the words as Cole steals every one of my thoughts. By the time he lets me up for air, Harry has gotten bored and wandered off to talk to someone else.
“Well, there we go. It’s official. Freya Price is my girlfriend.”
I beam up at him, feeling lighter than I think I ever have in my life. And I just know that it’s only going to get better from here.
Time ceasedto exist as we celebrated on the ice, but eventually the guys excitedly headed off to get showered and changed and we all headed up to the friends and family suite to wait for them.
Killer had already sent out the plans for the night. I was exhausted just looking at it when it came through on the team group chat Cole is a part of. But they deserve every second of celebrating their success before the hard work starts all over again.
We said goodbye to Mom and Dad after a drink in the suite. Of course, Dad wanted to come with us, but Mom reminded him that he’s too old to be partying with the kids, and that he’d just embarrass me on the dance floor, and he reluctantly let us go without him.
Our first stop was, of course, the Fractured Compass. It’s the guys’ regular bar after a game, and it would be wrong to miss it tonight.
But after a few drinks there, we moved on, hitting a number of the hottest clubs in town. It didn’t take long for bunnies and fans alike to learn of the team’s location, and things got crazier and crazier with each place we went.
We’re now in Club 52, and thankfully, in the VIP section, where it’s a little quieter.
My feet ache almost as much as my cheeks from smiling and laughing so much tonight, but just like the guys, I’m not quite ready for the night to end.
“Drinks,” Casey cries as she and Parker appear, Casey with a tray balanced precariously on one hand. She has had way too much alcohol tonight to be trusted with that.
I reach out quickly and take one of the cocktails before it lands on Casey’s head, and the others also grab a glass.
“Ugh, my brother is a pig,” Parker mutters, turning her back on the VIP dance floor. “I do not need to watch him play tonsil tennis with some bunny.”
“Pretty sure it’s only fair, seeing as he has to deal with you and Linc,” Cole points out as Linc follows them over with more beer for the guys.
“It’s not the same. We’re together. He’s just a manwhore.”
“He’s just having fun,” Monroe points out.
“Feel free to go join him,” Linc says. “She’s got hot friends. It’s one of their birthdays. Maybe you could make it extra special for her.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Parker barks. “Hot friends?”
Monroe glances over, but he doesn’t make a move.
“Yeah, they’re hot. Nowhere near as hot as you, though, babe.”
