We take a seat with me in the middle as Andie sits to my right and Jodi sits to my left.
Jodi and I grab some great shots as the game progresses. I love this job. It allows me to enjoy every hockey game and use creative ways to make the same thing exciting to watch.
I’ll never stop being grateful to Stacy for being an angel to me and believing in me even when she didn’t know me.
Gripping my camera and vowing not to ever lether down, I record some content while watching my sexy boyfriend play.
When the players enter the rink for a pre-game warmup, Ezra skates right to me and presses his hand to the plexiglass between us. Elated to see him, I do the same.
“I love you,” he mouths, a grin stretching his lips.
I love you, I want to say back, and that sudden urge shocks me to my core. My eyes widen at the realization, not because I can’t imagine loving him. But because I’m wondering how I can be so stupid not to realize it earlier.
He skates backward, not expecting me to respond. With his eyes still on me, he gives me a flying kiss and a wink. The arena shakes up with screams of his fans as the other players slap him on his back, hooting and teasing him.
Seb comes closer to me and places a hand on his chest, pretending to be hurt. I feel Jodi stiffen beside me, but when I look at her, she seems okay.
I roll my eyes at him and find my face plastered on the Jumbotron. My face heats up as I cover it with my hands, and the entire team and staff members howl.
Everyone stares at me, stares at the woman who finally got to claim their captain’s heart. I feel a prick of awareness at my neck, but then the whole arena is looking at me.
When my eyes collide with Ezra’s, all I see is love, loyalty, and devotion. He deserves to know that I feel the same. I’ll tell him after the game tonight.
The players drag him to get warmed up. Though unlike his usual self, Noah skates by us and glares to my right.
Furrowed, I turn my head to look at Andie, but her face is split into two with a huge grin as she records the players.
Feeling my gaze on her, she puts her phone down and looks at me. “I’m happy Ezra has you,” she states.
“Why?” I ask, giving her my attention.
“I have never seen him so happy. Not since—” She doesn’t have to complete her sentence for me to understand what she means.
There’s only one word. Jenna.
I put my hand on her soft ones. “I’m glad I have him, Andie. He has been so special to me. He has helped me shine in ways I didn’t think were possible. He saw parts of me no onedid, and not just accepted them, he cherished them. So, I’m grateful I can give him a lick of the happiness and comfort he offers me.”
Andie looks at me with emotions swimming in her eyes. “You love him,” she concludes.
My lips tilt up. “He deserves to know first.”
Her eyes widen, and she claps excitedly. “Oh my God! He’ll be ecstatic when he finds out. Eeeee!”
I chuckle at her enthusiasm as she pulls me into a hug.
“I’m so happy for the two of you. You both deserve it all,” she whispers in my ear.
My heart fills with adoration for Andie, and I know the person who gets to call her theirs would be the luckiest in the world.
My heart hurts, and anger surges when I remember how the guys in her past have treated her. Ezra has told me enough to understand her. People need to grow the fuck up and be better.
I pull back and say, “Thank you so much, Andie. You’re the best!”
We both finally exchange numbers and plan a meet-up as the players get off the ice and the Zamboni does its job of leveling the ice before the puck drops and the game begins.
* **
The game goes into overtime.
