“If they lose their first game,” I say, pointing at each one of them, “I’m blaming each and every one of you.”
“We’ll take that chance,” Olivia says, grinning. “This is going to be so much fun!”
We spend the rest of our brunch finishing off the mimosas and talking about their kids and what has happened since we last talked.
I try to stay present, but my mind keeps wandering to tonight. It will be the first time we’ve seen each other since he told me he’s done. I have no idea what to expect or what version of Knox I’ll get tonight. On top of it all, I have to act like he didn’t just give me the best orgasm of my life a few days ago, and hide the fact that I really want him to do it again.
ELEVEN
KNOX
Windingthe tape around my stick, I break it off with my teeth before securing it. I’ve set my guys up as best as I can, and now it’s time to see what we can do. All week, I’ve put everything I have into this team and have reviewed every play over and over again.
I ignore the part of me that knows I’m burying myself in this sport to avoid a certain dark-haired siren.
When I woke up that morning with her in my arms, I knew I was in trouble. I set rules for a reason, and I broke every single one of them with her. She’s my one weakness, and I can’t afford to be selfish again. Hurting Savi is not a risk I’m willing to take, even if it means going back to being someone she despises.
Shaking her from my thoughts, I do what I do best and focus on the only thing I’m good at.
Lacing up my skates, I grab my helmet and gloves before following my team out of the locker room. Adrenaline starts to flow through my veins as the crowd gears up for our entrance.It’s the first game of the season, and you can tell by the energy in the air that they are amped up tonight.
Standing in the hallway, we watch the arena go dim as the spotlights zig-zag across the ice, and our opening song comes on, further pumping up the crowd. The announcer starts off with Cayden as he takes the ice first, followed by the rest of the starting lineup.
Shifting on my skates, I put my helmet and gloves on as I wait for my name to be called last. It’s always something I’ve done, and I’m not about to stop now. My team goes before me, and I make sure everyone is off the ice before I leave.
When I hear my number twenty-two being called, I hit the ice with speed, taking my first warm-up lap. Fans are standing and cheering as our team glides by the glass. I make sure to skate over to the section Miles said he would be at on my next lap.
I didn’t doubt for a second that he wouldn’t be here. He’s never not shown up for me. He and his brothers even got a block of season tickets this year so they could alternate and take their kids to come watch some of the games.
When I get to his section, I tap the glass with my stick when I see Miles and Olivia. He grins broadly and holds up his beer in a toast. I see his brothers next with their wives as they cheer with the crowd.
Then I see her. She’s at the end of the row, standing and clapping with everyone else. Her hair is down tonight, and she’s wearing a black skirt with a cropped white t-shirt.
I notice her flushed cheeks and can feel her excitement seep into me as if it were my own. Her eyes finally meet mine, and the way she’s looking at me right now is something I will never forget. She’s so full of life, just like the first time we met, but there’s something else there that causes some of my walls to splinter as I let in some of her light.
She’s looking at me just like my mom used to whenever I hit the ice.
She’s proud of me.
After everything I’ve done to push her away…to shelter her from parts of me that have no business touching her…she’s still here cheering me on.
“Kick some ass,” she mouths, and I can’t help but grin as I skate away.
ThatI can do, sunshine.
By the time the puck drops, I’ve got my head back in the game as I maneuver around the ice at lightning speed.
I feel her eyes on me, and I become invincible as I score the first goal five minutes into the game. The horn goes off, and I grin at the line with me on the ice as my glove comes up to rest over my heart. They surround me in a group hug and tap their helmets to mine.
Glancing up in the stands, our eyes meet briefly. She’s so happy in this moment, and to know I put that smile on her face makes me want to score a hundred more for her tonight.
“Fuck yeah, Stone!” Hayes touches his glove to mine, bringing me back to the game. “That’s how we fucking do it!”
I hear my name throughout the stadium as they announce the goal. Taking a seat on the bench, Coach slaps my back, letting me know I did well before focusing back on the ice.
I squirt some water in my mouth as my eyes remain on the puck, anxious to get back out there. By the time the first period ends, we are up 2-0 thanks to Kane getting past the net with his wicked slapshot from the center line.
Cayden skates over from the goalie post and goes in first to the locker room, followed by the rest of the team.
