“Absolutely not, perv,” I say quickly. “I can’t do that to Connor.”
Griffin laughs. “What about after the game? You skate over, lean on the glass, dramatic eye contact?—”
Oliver cuts in. “Nah. Too public.”
August raises a finger. “Tunnel kiss. Classic. Intimate. Semi-private.”
Barrett shakes his head. “Nah, man. Parking lot. Night air. Adrenaline still buzzing. That’s where the magic happens.” He wags his brows. “In the dark.”
“Why is everyone so invested in this?” I ask, only semi-annoyed.
Ledger shrugs. “Because you’ve been in love with this woman for a fucking long time and you deserve a win off the ice.”
That shuts me up for a second.
I exhale, tugging my gloves on tighter than necessary. “I don’t know. I just…don’t want to screw it up.”
The teasing softens. Just a notch.
August steps closer. “You won’t.”
Bodhi nods. “She wouldn’t be coming if she didn’t want to be here.”
Barrett smirks. “And if she didn’t wantyou. She’s not coming for the game dumbass. She’s coming for you.”
I glance at my stick, then back up. “I think…if it happens, it happens. No big production.”
Oliver snorts. “That’s a lie.”
“Okay,” I admit. “I’ve thought about it.”
“Thought about what?” Ledger asks.
I hesitate, then shrug. “Just…seeing her smile at me after the game. Connor buzzing. Everything loud and perfect. And maybe, just maybe, I lean in and see if she meets me halfway.”
The room goes quiet again.
Then Bodhi claps his hands. “Gentlemen. He’s down bad.”
“Deep,” Griffin adds.
Barrett grins. “I give it thirty seconds after the final horn.”
I shake my head, but my chest is warm and tight and buzzing all at once. “We’ll see.”
August smirks. “Oh, we’ll see.”
The coach calls for us to hit the ice, and as I stand, Oliver bumps my shoulder.
“Hey, Meers?”
“Yeah?”
He grins. “If today’s the day, don’t overthink it. Just fucking go for it.”
I nod once.
Because he’s right.
