“Are you coming out tonight?” Calvin asks as we walk out of the locker room.
“I’ll probably head home after I drop Lyla off,” I tell them.
“Come on, man, you can’t just go home after a game like that,” Calvin whines.
“Enough, let the guy do what he wants,” Kellan warns him as we step outside.
As soon as I see her, I smile. I watch as Cora slaps her arm and nods toward us. Lyla turns toward me and smiles. Once we’re close enough, I drop my bag right as she launches herself at me. I pick her up with ease, her legs wrapping around my waist.
She leans down and presses her lips against mine, making my heart race.
Fuck yes.
I don’t even think she realizes that she did it. She initiated the kiss first. Every time she does that, I make a tick on my mental list in my head. One more in the column of her falling in love with me.
“Hi,” she murmurs when she pulls back.
“Hi, baby,” I say, making her smile.
“You played an awesome game,” she whispers.
“Thanks, you looked like you had a good time.”
Something flashes through her eyes for a split second before she smiles again. “I really did.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, turns out, I’m a fan of hockey. Who knew?” She laughs.
I hum. “You look fantastic. I like the jersey.”
She taps my shoulder, and I set her down. She steps back and holds out the sides of her jersey, turning side to side.
“This old thing?” she says, making me laugh. “I didn’t know if I should wear it, but I thought, why not?”
Yeah, seeing my girl with my name on her back, my number all over her? I wish she replaced her entire closet with that shit. I never want her to take it off.
I clear my throat. “I like it. I think you should wear it more often.”
“I told you. It’s like catnip,” Cora chimes in, reminding us that we aren’t alone.
“What’s the plan? Are we going to grab food? Head home? Go out?” Jason asks as he walks up.
I look down at Lyla. “It’s up to you. You need to get home soon, right?”
“Actually, I have a few hours before I need to head home, if you want to do something.” She shrugs.
“Are you sure?” I press, my heart racing.
The thought of doing something with her after a win…
“Yeah, I’m sure.” She smiles as she steps into my side, tucking herself under my arm.
“Party at our place?” Kellan asks.
“Fuck it, why not?” I say as I look down at my girl.
“Fuck yes! Let’s order some food so that way we can eat while we send out the notice,” Calvin says.
