“Still your fucking round.” Linc throws his arm around our rookie before scrubbing his closed fist against his head, messing up his hair.
“Fuck off,” he shouts as he fights to get away.
We all head to the parking garage and pile into cars.
The Fractured Compass is already buzzing when we arrive. Quite a few fans have discovered it’s where we go, and it seems to get busier after every home game. A cheer goes up the moment they notice we’ve arrived, but thankfully, other than the odd conversation at the bar, they generally leave us to enjoy our evening. They’re just happy enough to share the same space as us, which is a fucking relief.
As we head to our usual booth, I watch as Kodie makes a beeline to where Casey is chatting to Freya, Parker, Hailee, our PR director, and Brooke, one of the team’s content creators.
The second Casey sees her man coming, she turns away from whatever the girls were saying and jumps into his arms. It doesn’t matter that they saw each other less than thirty minutes ago at the arena; from the way they embrace each other, it could have been months.
Linc and Parker aren’t that much better. In fact, only minutes later I discover they’re worse as he shoves his tongue down her throat as if her big brother isn’t standing a few feet away.
“Fuck my life,” Donnelly mutters before sliding into the booth behind Killer. “Someone get me a shot or twelve.”
I can’t help but laugh at the poor motherfucker as I rip my eyes from their PDA in favor of Freya.
For the first time in years, I have a decision to make.
My boys, or a girl.
They’re gonna grill me for it if I choose to go to Freya. Well, Linc won’t; he’s too distracted by his own girl right now. But I don’t doubt that Killer and a few others will watch my every move.
I glance at the guys filling the booth before looking back at Freya.
“Fuck it.”
10
FREYA
Tonight’s game hit differently to all the others I’ve watched. I felt like I had a real reason to be here supporting my home team. Sure, all the games I’ve been to have been fun, but I’ve never had a vested interest in it in the way Casey does. I’ve always loved seeing her get so excited watching Kodie play, and Sutton…that girl steals my heart more every time I see her. The way she screams for her daddy, and the pride that covers her face when he does something impressive. It would crack even the coldest of hearts.
But as much as the guys killed it tonight, I’ve got to be honest...there was only one player on the ice I was watching.
I’ve never really paid all that much attention to him before, but holy hell. Cole Hansley is a beast in that goal. And the way that man’s legs can stretch…
How? Just…how?
I won’t lie, the warm-ups got me a little hot under the collar. Prior to watching hockey, I thought there was only one reason why a man’s hips ever needed to move like that. Not that I’ve ever experienced those kinds of smooth skills, that is. But whoa. It felt like they were on another scale tonight.
I’m not naive enough to think they were actually any different to the last games I watched, but I sure paid more attention.
Usually, after a game, I make my excuses and head home, but tonight, when Casey started talking about heading here, I couldn’t say no. I wanted to celebrate with the guys—but more than that, I wanted to see Cole after a win.
He was different today. To an outsider, I guess he was grumpier. But I saw through that. He was focused, and I was terrified that I was going to get in the way of whatever pregame rituals he had. He assured me that I was fine, that a good meal before leaving for the arena was more important than anything else, but I was still on edge.
And now the nerves are back tenfold as I stand at the bar, waiting for the team to join us. Casey and Parker are buzzing about tonight’s win. Pride for their men is oozing out of every pore. It’s a buzz I could get used to, watching someone you care about do something so incredible.
The second they arrive, the excitement already buzzing in the bar ramps up. Everyone turns to them, and a cheer erupts as Vipers’ fans of all ages celebrate the guys.
Almost immediately, Kodie and Linc beeline in our direction, or at least, to the women standing beside me. They sweep them up in their arms, celebrating in a way only loved-up couples can. But my focus isn’t on them; it’s on the man in the gray suit. Okay, so he’s lost the jacket and tie now, and the collar is undone. But if anything, he’s even better than when he was put together before the game.
He scans the bar as if he’s looking for someone, and my heart drops. Does he have a regular hookup here, waiting for him?
Shame builds inside me. I should have thought of that before agreeing to come.
Shit. Why am I even here?
