I look from her to Gina. “We can go home if that’s what you usually do?”
Even as I say the words, I feel a pang of regret. I can’t imagine going home right now. I’m so excited from watching them play, from seeing Maverick in his element, from the fighting, from the winning. I’ve had a blast, and I only partly knew what was happening half the time.
Yeah, do that math.
All the fans around us are holding out their hands, chanting “Mav and Gav,” and doing the ASL hand sign forMandGover and over.
“Go play!” Haddy grabs my arm. “Heather and I’ll take the little girls home. You two have some fun. Celebrate the big win!”
My nose wrinkles, and I check Gina’s face to be sure.
She gives me a smile, clasping my hand. “Okay, come on, then. I’ll text Owen and tell him we’re going out with the team tonight.”
8
MAVERICK
North End is jammed with players and fans when we get there. Every high-top table has at least six people surrounding it with pitchers of beer and air horns mixed with phones and bags.
The crowd is a sea of white jerseys accented in purple and black. I see all my teammates’ numbers, but 13, 5, and of course 74 are the main ones filling the space.
When we walk in, the room goes crazy. Fans chant, the bartenders pass us shots. It’s really cool.
“The girls are in the back.” Owen bumps me with the back of his fist. “I’m going to find Gina.”
I nod, wanting to go with him, but I’ve got people holding my shoulders, giving me shakes and high-fives. “You were on fire tonight, Mav!”
Another shot is shoved into my hand, but I don’t drink it. I’m not looking to get totally wasted, plus it’s not really smart to take mystery shots from a crowd of fans. I don’tthink anybody would try to hurt me, but you never know who’s in the crowd.
“What the fuck got up 24’s ass?” somebody yells, and I hold up my hands, shaking my head.
I didn’t expect to get jumped like that in the first period, but fighting goes with the territory. It’s part of hockey culture as Maddie likes to remind us.
That little girl is a trip. Owen raised her right, in the arena, just like I want to do with my kids.
“Stop playing coy.” Akers walks up beside me throwing an arm around my neck. “He’s always ready for a fight. Don’t let him fool you.”
A lot of the girls are the same ones from when we were here the last time, and I spot the girl Saxon was dancing with that night. Again, she’s got her eyes on me, watching, and I decide to follow my future cousin-in-law to where our people are waiting in a semi-private area in the back.
Last thing I need is drama with my teammates, so I lean into Aiden’s ear. “I’ve got family waiting. Take over for me here.”
“Who caught that bad call in the third?” he yells, and that sets off a string of complaints and booing.
I gotta hand it to him, Aiden Akers knows how to work a crowd. He’s the best goalie in the league, and people love him. Even if Coach Leek is still getting his head out of his ass to see it.
Our new coach situation is disappointing, but I’ll sort it out at a later date. Tonight, I’m thinking about the pretty blonde sitting in the back with Owen and Gina. Having her in the stands tonight, wearing my jersey, was like a hope I gave up on a long time ago.
Until tonight, I’d made peace with everybody but me having somebody special in the stands cheering for them. Ididn’t even expect Dove to attend any of my games. She doesn’t know anything about hockey.
Then I looked up and saw her standing with them like a drop of sunshine. Her smile was magnetic, drawing my eyes to her every time I glanced in that direction.
I watch the three of them talking and laughing before I join them. Her blue eyes are warm, and the way her lips curl with her smile, her body… She’s fucking Marilyn Monroe, a total pinup—wearing my jersey.
“Are you going to join us or not?” Gina rises onto her knee in her chair, and I shake away my fantasy.
I pull on my confidence, walking forward and taking a seat right beside Dove. She scoots to the side, putting her back against the wall and facing me with a little laugh.
“Hey!” Her voice is soft and low with a sexy little rasp. “Glad you could make it.”
