Coach ignores my question. “I’m proud of you, Cash. You’ve come a long way this season.”
“I have?”
He nods. “You’ve always been a great player, one of the best I’ve coached. But something has changed in you this season. You’re lighter. Happier. I don’t want to see that go away.”
“Thanks, Coach. I appreciate that.”
“Now get outta here. The team will make all the arrangements for travel.”
“You got it.”
The rest of the guys are already off the ice, and I take a minute. Breathing all of it in. I do a lap around the rink before the Zamboni comes out to clean the ice. My skates grind into the roughed-up surface. It’s familiar. A comforting sound.
Even in my best season before this one, I didn’t make the All-Star team. I used it as an excuse to lie on a beach somewhere warm for the week.
It felt like a big middle finger to my dad that I didn’t make it. That I was playing in the league but didn’t make the elite—something he always wanted. No matter how high I reached, it was never high enough for him.
Now? Now I feel like I owe it all to Piper. The one person I can’t wait to share my news with.
Skating off the ice, I go to find Piper.
“Hey.”
I’m shocked to find her walking down the tunnel to me.
“Hi. What are you doing here?”
“Troy said you had some good news to tell me so I came to find you.”
I sweep Piper up into my arms, wrapping her legs around my waist. “I got into the All-Star Game!”
“What!” Piper screeches. “Cash! That’s amazing!”
Her hands come down on my cheeks as she lays one on me. I can feel her happiness flowing between the two of us.
This. This is why I wanted to tell her.
Fuck the deadline that Cassie gave the two of us. I know everything I’ve told Piper is that I’d rather be alone. But when the two of us get back to Denver, I want to make this thing permanent.
I don’t know how I could ever let the woman in my arms go.
“Do you have to get back to practice?” she mutters against my lips.
“No.”
“Good. You obviously know everything about being a hockey player since you made the All-Star team.”
“Nothing left to learn.”
“So you can stay here and kiss me.”
We go back to kissing. I don’t care that we’re in the middle of the hallway. This is a moment I don’t ever think I’ll forget.
“I should go clean up,” I whisper to her, holding her against the wall now.
“Ugh. Fine.” She throws her arms around my neck, pouting. “Ignore your girlfriend wanting to celebrate your amazing news with you.”
I nip at her lips. “The way I want to celebrate would not be appropriate here.”
