“One day,” he says, leaning in and stealing a kiss. “If you’re a good girl.”
Before he pulls away, I nibble on his lips.
“If you don’t stop, I’m going to fuck you in your parents’ driveway.”
“Oh, I think we’ve pushed our luck enough today,” I say.
He shrugs, backing out of the driveway. “That’s happening one day.”
“Deal. So, are you playing tomorrow?” I ask, curiosity getting the best of me.
“What do you think?”
“I think you love hockey too much to miss a playoff game.”
He glances at me. “Yeah, but I think I love making your dad sweat more.”
I gasp. “Youarethe evil twin.”
“And you’re the devil who took down the Angels,” he throws back.
“A match made in hell,” I tell him, and he kisses my knuckles.
“Love you, Ken Doll.”
“Love you too, Pattycakes.”
We exchange a look, and I can see the satisfaction of making my father work for it. I also see the certainty that he’s going to show up tomorrow anyway and win that game. And eventually marry me.
He squeezes my thigh and focuses back on the road, and I smile the whole way home.
None of this is perfect, and I know my dad will still make this hard, but at least the bridge isn’t burned to ash. Patterson and I will make it through this, like it’s meant to be. Because it is.
37
PATTERSON
The locker room is always extremely quiet before a game like this. It’s not silent though.
Guys are taping sticks, stretching, going through their routines, trying to get their minds right. But nobody’s cracking jokes or blasting music. It’s impossible to ignore what’s on the line right now.
If we win, we’re in the playoffs. If we lose, then we go home for the season. Even now, I can’t believe we’re so far behind. We were almost guaranteed a playoff spot, but now it’s all about which team goes out there and plays better.
Right now, I’m one goal away from tying Nick Banks’s all-time league record. Two from breaking it.
That thought keeps circling as I tape my stick against the ground, the same way I’ve done it a thousand times. Yesterday, I sat in Coach’s office and told him I’d have to think about whether I wanted to play for him, but I already knew I’d be here.
But I was willing to let a hockey record that could increase my value slip through my fingers to make a point about how Coach had treated her. If I were ever forced to pick between her and hockey again, I’d choose her without hesitation.
Callan drops onto the bench beside me. “Head back in the game?”
“Always.”
“Don’t think too hard.” He bumps his shoulder against mine. “Whatever’s going on with Coach, with Kendall, leave it in the tunnel. Tonight’s about hockey. Tonight is about us.”
“I know.”
“About you too. Ninety-one goals, Patty. You’re second in the league. One more, and you tie the record. Two more and you make history.” He grins. “But ya know, no pressure or anything.”
