“They’re not very subtle,” I said weakly.
“Why would they be subtle?” Benji asked. “This is amazing!”
And then Skyler himself was skating in our direction.
Holy fucking shit on a stick.
He was far less obvious, just a normal warmup lap that brought him near our section; but as he glided past, his eyes found mine. The smile that spread across his face when our gazes connected made every nervous thought disappear.
He really did want me here.
Jersey and all.
And despite everything, I wanted to be here, too.
“Our Lady of the Boy Lake, you’re glowing,” Mia observed.
“I’m not . . . oh shut up,” I hissed.
She giggled and bumped shoulders with Benji.
“You’re definitely glowing,” Benji agreed. “It’s very cute . . . and bright. Can you turn that down a bit before my retinas fry?”
I groaned and settled back in my seat, fingering the hem of the jersey,hisjersey, and braced myself. Whatever happened, this was going to be a night I would never forget.
Chapter 32
Skyler
The first shift was electric—and not because anything extraordinary happened. It was a standard forechecking sequence: win the puck, cycle in the offensive zone, and get a decent shot on goal. What made that first shift special was how I couldfeelit.
The energy.
The focus.
The way my legs felt lighter and my hands softer and my vision seemed wider than usual.
I was on. Seriously. On fire.
And I knew why.
It was simple.
In Section 108, Row M, there were four people who hadn’t been to a game all season, one of whom was wearing my jersey and was watching me play professional hockey for the first time. That knowledge hummed through me as I skated backto the bench. It made everything feel sharper and more important, as though I wasn’t only performing for twenty thousand fans and however many others watching on TV, but I was also skating foroneperson in particular who mattered more than all the rest combined.
That was new. It was terrifying.
And it was everything.
“Good shift, Cap,” Tyler said as we bumped gloves on the bench.
“Felt good.”
“You look dialed in,” Erik added as he kicked a leg over the board.
“I’m so fuckin’ dialed in.”
Tyler’s grin was knowing. “Must be nice, having someone special watching.”
