“Is he also part of the Nashville Professional Athletes Club?” I tease.
“If that’s what we’re called, being signed to West Athletes, then yes,” Maddox says. “Let’s see… there’s him… oh, and Asher Reed. Number 18. He’s there on the right. Good guy. Pretty grumpy so I don’t talk to him much. He’s got a kid, so he doesn’t come to a lot of the functions that the other athletes signed with West have to, but he gets a pass.”
“A kid pass?”
Maddox shakes his head. “He’s a widow. Lost his wife a few years ago in a car accident. Was fucking tragic.”
“Oh dear,” I say as I look back onto the ice to find number eighteen. He’s expertly skating backward, tracking the puck and the player coming toward him. I don’t know how he does it, but somehow out of nowhere Asher stops on a dime, intercepts the pass, and somehow shoots it ahead for his teammates. It’s quite impressive.
“I can’t skate for anything,” I say as Asher slams another player into the boards. And not just slam. The guy crumbles to the ground. “Oh my God! He just…”
Play on the ice stops, but that’s because the guy that Asher hit into the wall isn’t getting up. Before I can tell what’s going on, referees are blowing whistles and I think everyone on the ice is fighting someone.
“My first hockey fight!” I squeal, clapping my hands. I’m locked in. Not blinking. Punches are being thrown. Refs are trying to break it up. Gloves are flying. Sticks are scattered on the ice. Fans are shouting “let them fight!” while I’m watching in awe.
“Are you okay?” Maddox asks.
His question takes me by surprise. “Yeah? Why?”
“You yawned like this is the most boring thing you’ve ever witnessed.”
I did? “Oh, no. I love this. I really yawned?”
“A big one. Are you tired? Do you want to go home?”
“Yeah, I guess I’m tired, but no I don’t want to leave,” I say as I fight off another. “I guess this is the price to pay for a busy business.”
“But you have tomorrow off, right?”
“I do,” I say as I lean into him, his arm around my shoulders as the fight starts to calm down. “My big plans for the day are to not leave the couch and have every meal delivered to me.”
“My perfect Sunday Funday,” Maddox says. “Maybe you’ll want some company?”
I wonder if that company is because our date is still going, or it’s going to be part two. Either way, I’m a fan. “Only if that company includes a binge watch of that fantasy show you were appalled I’d never seen an episode of?”
“Another check off the Best Friend Activity to-do list?”
“Technically yes. But I think the list needs a new name.”
Maddox couldn’t hide his smile if he tried. “Yeah? Have any suggestions?”
I lean in, just far enough away that our lips aren’t touching, but so close I feel as if I can taste him. “Maybe something like Date Night Ideas?”
“Girlfriend-Boyfriend Activities?”
Now it’s my turn to smile. “I didn’t realize I was your girlfriend.”
“You’re not. Yet,” Maddox says before leaning in, brushing his lips against mine ever so slightly. “But I hope that changes very, very soon.”
We lean back in, our lips seemingly unable to stay away from the others. This time there’s no song to interrupt our moment. No crowd cheering us on. Just two people who can’t wait anymore.
“Maddox?”
He pulls away, but leaves his forehead tapped to mine. “Yes , Gabrielle?”
“I’m ready to leave.”
CHAPTER 17
