I grab his head between my hands, forcing him to look at me. “I mean it. What we have is too important to let someone as small and petty as Chase Langston mess it up.”
As if a curtain were pulled back, his eyes glitter with a spectrum of emotions, revealing his heart and…relief? “Glad to hear you say it, Bree-bear. He never deserved you. Never appreciated what he had.”
This man has stood by me, loved me, and fought for me. I plan to fight just as hard for him. I brush my mouth against his, parting my lips to let him know I want him to kiss me deeply, to claim me, needing his reassurance that we’re together in this now and nothing will pull us apart. Not ever again.
“Aww, how sweet.” Amber’s syrupy voice purrs, interrupting our moment. “Chase predicted you’d jump from his arms to Wade’s. Actually, I think the word he used wassettle. Guess that worked out better for me in the end, though, didn’t it?”
For a moment, I’m tempted to grab Wade’s blocker and smack Amber across the face with it, maybe knock some of her teeth loose like Wade implied wanting to do to Chase. Then, I feel overwhelming pity for her. One day, she’ll experience a rude awakening as to who and what Chase is, just like I did. And if she doesn’t, then they deserve each other. Better for two sociopaths to make each other miserable than two innocents caught in their webs of manipulation and cruelty.
I don a smile as fake as her voice. “Yes, Amber. You and Chase are perfect for each other.”
Her smug expression falters. “Oh, well, thanks.”
As much as I want to dropkick this woman back to Texas, I school my face and tone to reflect complete politeness because that’s my job. “Was there something you needed?”
“Yeah. I almost forgot. Chase asked me to let you know he had to switch lines with one of the guys. Something about the guy having to leave because of some family issue, so Chase will be playing against Wade now. Okay?” She smiles with a wave, then trots off to who knows where.
My hands fist at my sides. I’m so tempted to march into the conference room assigned to Chase’s team and tell him to take a flying leap, but in much harsher words.
Wade turns me toward him, then worms his fingers into my hands until they relax. “Everything will be fine. In a few hours, this will all be over.”
Why does he sound so much calmer than I am? Or am I just not seeing what’s boiling beneath the surface? “Promise me you won’t instigate something with him.”
He hesitates for a moment, eyes hard as steel, but then his gaze softens. “I promise. I won’t instigate anything.”
“Good.” I let out a noisy breath.
He tips his head down the hallway. “Go do your thing. I’ll see you after the game, right?”
I can’t help but smile now. “Can’t wait.”
He pulls me in for another sweet yet lingering kiss. “More of that later.”
Only when I know he’s back in the locker room do I head for the rink in search of my gal pals. Trepidation still swirls in my stomach, so I keep reminding myself of Wade’s words, that in a few hours, this will all be over, and we can move forward with our lives.
And a new relationship that’s definitely more than friends.
“He actually promised he wouldn’t instigate anything?” Sophie frowns as she asks what I’m sure Lily and Mia want to know, too. I already filled Harper in on our way to our seats to watch the game, and now she’s braving the concession lines to grab us soft pretzels and sodas.
“After I made him,” I explain.
Mia sits back in her seat and crosses her arms. “I can’t imagine Ethan agreeing to that.”
Sophie shoves her elbow into Mia, causing her arms to uncross. “Don’t say something like that.”
“I didn’t mean it in a bad way.” Mia semi-whines. “What I mean is, I don’t think he could do it.”
I’m not sure if that’s actually what she meant or if she’s trying to recover from her bluntness. But she’s not far off. Part of me still has doubts about whether Wade can fully restrain himself. But he has to, or all we’ve done to dismantle Chase’s attempt to use and manipulate me will get undone, and that jerk will wind up looking like the one who was victimized.
The thought of that makes my blood curdle.
Lily leans forward, peering past Mia toward me. “I have security stationed in the hallway outside the locker room and conference doors, and in the tunnel with specific orders to separate them if anything goes down.”
I give her a watery smile. “Thank you.”
She gives me a reassuring one and pats my hand.
After they sing the national anthem, the lights go down, and the music starts. Huge numbers counting down from ten fill the Jumbotron screens. Wade’s team leaves the tunnel and skates onto the ice as a giant zero flashes and the emcee’s announcement of the Sting Rays line-up blasts through the arena. It’s dramatic and powerful, exactly what I wanted to draw the spectators into the excitement and energy of the game.
