Page 87 of Risking the Pucking Defense

“No, I…I was just⁠—”

“Did you change your mind?”

“What? No. No, of course I didn’t. I just got a little up in my head. I’m good. I’m glad you came.”

“Did you think I wouldn’t?”

“I don’t know,” I mutter. “You have every reason not to.”

“Or maybe I have every reason to.”

“Mmm.”

Ripping my eyes from hers, I start the engine and put the car into drive, ready to get out of here. While I’m confident that we won’t be caught, while we’re at the arena, realistically, there is always a chance.

“Oh my god.” Hailee laughs as I pull out of the parking garage.

“What?” I ask, but I don’t need to. I know what has her filling my car with her addictive laughter.

“You’re listening to the playlist.”

“It’s a part of my pregame ritual,” I explain.

“Oh yeah, what else?”

“Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, always.”

“Okay.”

“And no one can touch my stick once I’ve taped it.”

“Fair enough. They’re not too wild,” she says, her body starting to relax as we make our way across town.

“Of course, I now have a new one.” The second the words roll off my tongue, her shoulders jump to her ears.

“Hayden,” she warns, the sound hitting me right in the cock, my grip on the wheel tightening as if I’m holding her hips.

“I got two assists tonight, Hails. Two. That’s fucking insane.”

“It was incredible.”

I glance over at her, my lips twitching into a smile.

“Were you watching?”

She glances over, her cheeks heating. “Of course I was watching. You were on fire.”

“It was the good-luck kiss.”

“Hayden.”

Reaching over, I grip her thigh.

“I’m gonna need another one of those,” I tell her.

“I can’t. I can’t become a part of your routine.”

“Sorry, Hails. I think it’s too late.”