And knowing Maya will be waiting for me after she watched me play?
Sweet fucking victory.
TWENTY-ONE
MAYA
After the game,we migrated to The Landmark. My stomach hurts from laughing. Easton keeps his arm locked around my waist to hold me up.
“Work it, rookie.” Noah cups his hands around his mouth and whoops.
Elijah’s face is beet red while he plants his hands on his thighs and attempts to gyrate his hips to the seductive beat of Pony by Ginuwine while all of us cheer him on.
“Why is he doing this?” I ask through uncontrollable giggles.
“It’s tradition,” Easton explains. “I don’t know who started it, but the rookies every year have to dance when we come out, win or lose. You missed out on me and Cam. We really took our duty to heart.”
“You guys are ridiculous.”
He brings his lips to my ear and I feel the shape of his amused smile. “Yeah, and you love it, baby.”
Yeah, I think I just might.
It’s official. I’m a hockey girlfriend once again.
And this time I don’t hate it. Not in the slightest.
The game was a blast, even when Easton made sure the entire arena knew the goal he scored was for me. Warmth floodsme all over again at the thought. I couldn’t believe he stopped in the middle of the game to skate over to our seats.
Reagan points the bar’s drink nozzle at Elijah to spritz him with water. He rolls with it, smearing the wetness across his face, pushing his fingers into his hair while he slides his other hand up his shirt. He starts getting into it, letting go of his embarrassment. She keeps spraying him while we all holler in approval until he’s nearly soaked.
He shakes out the damp tendrils of his hair as the song comes to an end, shooting Hana an affectionate grin. “What do you think? Do I have a shot at joining one of your dance classes?”
Hana tucks her hair behind her ear. “Don’t audition for Magic Mike Live just yet. But…” She lifts her shoulder and grins. “Your moves have definitely improved since high school.”
With a rueful laugh, he covers his face with his hands. “When will you let me live that down?”
“Never.” She ducks her face to hide her smile.
Easton’s arm squeezes my waist and his lips find my ear again. “Feel like getting up on the bar to dance? I’ll pay Reagan for an encore.”
I flash him a flirtatious smile. “Why, are you still dreaming about it?”
“Every damn day, baby.”
A huff of laughter leaves me. “The night I turned you down?”
His arm tightens and his lips brush my skin. “The night we met.”
My stomach dips pleasantly as his face presses into my neck. He hugs me against him.
I hum. “We should stay just like this.”
“Forever? I love the way you think.”
I swat him in amusement. “I mean so I don’t have to cram for finals the rest of the weekend.”
They start on Thursday and last for the next two weeks. I lucked out because my professors scheduled all of my exams early. I get to leave by the following Wednesday after my last one to go home for winter break.
