He swallows and looks at me. His pretty blue eyes are soft, a lot of the tension rolling off of him. “You mean it?” he asks.
“I think I’ve been pretty fucking patient.”
“Tonight though, you want that tonight?” he asks.
“We don’t have to, we can wait. I can plan something and make it special.”
“You’d want that, tonight?” he asks again.
“Yeah, I don’t want to wait.”
He smiles and bumps me with his padded shoulder. “I think that was what I needed.”
God, I want to grip him by the jersey and bring his mouth to mine, but I refrain from doing so in the locker room. My need to win tonight's game was already high, but the promise of making him mine right after is everything.
Nilsen walks by us and pats Owen on the shoulder. Honestly, he treats Owen with the most kindness out of anyone on the team. I’ve wondered if it’s because he’s a defenseman and Owen is the goalie, or if somehow he knows. Part of me is bothered by him touching my Omega, but I hold it down. After tonight, we won’t have to hide it anymore, we’ll be whole.
“Ready to kick ass, Connery?” Nilsen says to him.
“Yeah, man. Let’s take it all tonight.”
“Fuck yeah!” Eli shouts from the locker room, which makes more of our teammates chime in, which starts a cacophony of noise in the small space. There are three loud bangs when the speakers come on. “We Are the Champions” blasts, and I grin, starting off the song.
Owen shakes his head, but with the superstitions on the team, he joins in. Every man on the team sings the song, and we sound terrible, but this is it.
I know it's not smart to get your hopes up, but I just know this is my last professional game, and singing this song one last time is what I needed. I’m going to miss it, the comradery, the jokes, and the sport itself. But as I look down at the blond on the bench next to me, I’d give it all up for him in a heartbeat.
I end the song with the obnoxious last line, and we all cheer, the clanking of gear and sticks as we leave the locker room and take the arena.
Let’s fucking go.
CHAPTER37
The arena is packed, and I’m lucky enough to be in the family box for the game. Charlotte dropped the kids off with her in-laws, and she sits next to Anders. Both of them are on the edge of their seats. I wonder if Anders feels like he’s left behind, like he should be down there with his team. But then he looks over at my best friend and kisses her hair, and I realize that it’s completely unfounded.
For the first time, I understand that. How a person can be the center of your world.
It hits me that I have that. Especially when my guys take the ice. I’m sure I’ll miss this, being able to root for them and see them in their element. The way that Alexi takes someone to boards with ease, or watching Owen have complete focus and make a save when I couldn’t even see the puck.
The crowd is losing their minds, and everyone is anxious for a win. A Stanley Cup win at home would be everything. Sloane takes her seat next to me and gives me a soft smile.
“Hey, Piper,” she says and leans over, looking nervous.
“Hey, Sloane. Have you met Charlotte and her Alpha Anders? Sloane is the coach's daughter, and she does some social media work for the team.”
“Oh my God, you’re the one getting Mikael to dance on PicTic?” Charlotte and Anders laugh, and Sloane blushes and nods her head.
“I’m actually surprised how much they’re all willing to do.”
“It’s working, whatever you're doing. I mean, you’ve made people like Nilsen for fuck’s sake,” Anders says.
“He’s just a misunderstood teddy bear,” she says, perking up and watching the guys warm up.
“If you say so,” Anders replies.
“Can you get Eli and Mikael to do a dance together?” Charlotte asks, conspiring against her pack.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Sloane agrees.
