Both men look at each other with shit-eating grins before saying bye at the same time.
Don’t think we aren’t going to talk about this,Max semi-threatens as he walks away with a wave.Sidney ignores him and looks over at me, a slight pinkness to his cheeks.
Sorry about them.Max can be…a lot.Especially when he’s riding high after a win.His eyes scan me over, and I feel my body tingle under his gaze.You feeling okay?he asks quietly.
I nod.Better.Mostly still tired.
You shouldn’t be out this late yet,he murmurs, frowning as his hand comes up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.But…I’m selfishly glad you came.
At his touch, I feel my whole body ignite.Any lingering traces of fatigue evaporate under his fingertips, and my heart flips.His brown eyes lock with mine, and the tender look that comes over his face has me melting.
I’ve been trying to ignore what’s happening, telling myself Sidney will lose interest or decide I’m too much work with a kid in tow.Yet right now, right here, with the way he’s looking at me, I know I can’t keep lying to myself.
He’s a grown man.He knows what he wants.And over the last few weeks, he’s indicated that what he wants is me.
I want that too.It’s time for me to stop fighting it and see where this is going.
I lean into his hand, letting his palm briefly cup my cheek before he slowly pulls away with a knowing look.
Sidney!someone behind him calls.You have media!
He glances over his shoulder, then back at me.Can you guys wait here for a couple minutes?
I nod, trying not to giggle over how happy and free I feel.Okay.
He claps Joey’s shoulder affectionately, gives me one last long look, then jogs toward the tunnel to catch up with his teammates.
Joey exhales loudly, starstruck.Mom,he says, giving me a side-eye.He totally likes you.
I cover my face with my hands, grinning like a fool.Yeah.He really does.
And I am in so much trouble.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SIDNEY
The final minutes of the home opener felt like someone had injected rocket fuel into my veins.
The arena was roaring.The puck was flying.And I was dialled in.
Every shot felt like instinct.Every save snapped into my pads like the puck knew it wasn’t getting past me tonight.When the buzzer blared and the scoreboard lit up 3–0, the entire bench erupted over the boards and flooded the ice.
Gloves flew.Helmets crashed into helmets.Mason slammed into me first, nearly knocking me backward.
Hell yes, Crane!he shouted, laughing like a maniac.
Max clapped my helmet like he was ringing a church bell.That’show you start a damn season!
Rookies swarmed me, yelling, hugging, high-fiving like overexcited puppies.And for a moment, I let myself revel in it—the surge of victory, the adrenaline, the pure, clean joy of the sport.I’d worked hard over the off-season to perfect my game and my mental resilience.Tonight was proof that all that effort was worth it.
This was what I lived for.
But as we headed toward the tunnel, sticks up for the salute, I found myself searching the stands again for Eddie and Joey.I didn’t mean to.Yet, connecting with them was becoming instinctual.The second I spotted them, something in me warmed and lit up like a damn Christmas tree.Joey was jumping up and down like a proud wacko, cheering so loud I swear I could hear him from the ice.Eddie smiled in that soft, shy way, shaking her head at her kid’s antics.
Them being here made the win all the more special.
After the handshake line, the chaos of the locker room, and the guys dissecting every second of the game, I finally dressed and escaped the noise.I had texted Joey before the game to let him know that he and his mom should make their way to the players’ gate.He’d given an excited response, but I’d still had doubts Eddie would agree to come.
