Page 13 of Securing the Pucking Rebound

“We’ll see,” I mutter as Hailee shouts and screams for her team and her man.

“I’ve gotta head off. You belong here, Calvin. Never forget that. Try and enjoy the game, okay?”

She disappears, leaving me to watch while making the most of the obscurity the tunnel provides me so that no one pays me any attention.

We continue to dominate the game, and by the time the guys hit the ice for the third period, we’re sitting pretty with four goals to their zero. Handsy is having one hell of a fucking game.

As the clock counts down to the end of the period, I consider what I’m going to do when the final buzzer sounds. There’s a big part of me that’s desperate to slip out and head home. But I also know that the guys are worried, and avoiding celebrating tonight’s win with them will only feed into that fact.

They’re not used to me spending all my nights at home alone. I guess it could be worse, though—they could actually be inviting me out to party and pick up bunnies. They’re all doing me a favor, really, being happy and coupled up.

A loud gasp rips around the crowd as the Blackhawks shoot down the ice on a breakaway. Unable to stop myself, I step out of my hiding spot, wanting to see if they manage to ruin Handsy’s shutout game.

My heart is in my throat as I watch Rett and Monroe do everything they can to clear the puck, and when they finally manage it, I breathe a huge sigh of relief. I might be frustrated not to be out there, but this is still my team, and those are still my boys.

I’m just about to slink back into the shadows when my skin begins to prickle, as if someone’s looking at me.

I scan the crowd, searching for the reason, and the second I look behind the goal, I discover it.

My breath catches as my eyes lock onto a pair of gray ones that are so familiar to me despite the years that have passed.

Unfazed that she’s been caught, Sienna doesn’t look away. Instead, she elbows her date and points in my direction.

The moment he sees me, his entire face lights up.

Oh, great. Her date is my number-one fan. That’s…wonderful.

Forcing one side of my mouth to lift up into a pathetic smile, I nod before ducking back into the shadows.

Out of all the people in the world, Sienna is the last one I want to see me at my lowest. But equally, she’s also the only person I want anywhere near me. Makes no fucking sense, but there’s fuck all I can do about it.

Despite wanting to escape, the chance of Sienna following the girls up to the friends and family suite has me lingering in the tunnel, waiting for the team to head back to the dressing room.

“Great game, man,” I say as Monroe approaches. He lights up like a fucking Christmas tree at my praise.

“Thanks. I’m sure you’d have done it better.”

I scoff. “A shutout game against the Blackhawks? Hardly.”

“You coming out with us tonight?” he asks, his eyes searching mine as if he’s looking for something.

I lock all my insecurities down. “Yeah, of course. A result like that needs celebrating.”

His smile widens.

“You gotta shower first though, man. You fucking stink.”

5

SIENNA

“Are you fucking with me?”

I can’t help but burst out laughing at the look of absolute awe on Garrett’s face.

“No, I’m not fucking with you. But if you didn’t want to go up there, we could just call an Uber and go home.”

“What? No. We are not doing that. Fucking hell, Sisi. I should rinse your mouth out for just suggesting it.”