Page 220 of Puck Me Back to Life

For one heartbeat the arena falls silent.

Then twenty thousand people erupt.

I don't even make it to the glass before Noah tackles me into it, laughing as the rest of the team piles on.

The roar from the crowd washes over all of us.

This time, I let it.

Nearly an hour later, the locker room has settled into its familiar postgame rhythm. Equipment hangs from stalls, showers have emptied, and somebody has already started arguing over where we're eating tomorrow night.

Ash and I step into the hallway just as Dante bursts through another door.

He doesn't even notice us. “Angela!”

She barely has time to smile before he's kissing her in the middle of the hallway. I look at Ash.

“They're hopeless.”

“They really are.”

Angela laughs against Dante's shoulder before finally pulling away. “They're just jealous.”

“I'm traumatized,” I tell her. “Please don't do that in front of me.”

“You literally kissed my best defenseman before warmups.”

“That was different.”

Dante slips an arm around Angela's waist. “You guys coming out?”

I glance toward Ash. “We will.”

“But?”

I smile. “Ash owes me a book after the win.”

Angela laughs. “Of course he does. We'll meet you after. I'll text you!”

The two of them head toward the parking garage, still bickering over dinner plans while Dante reaches for Angela's hand.

I watch them go, smiling to myself. They're ridiculously in love. It's nice to see.

When Ash and I make it out to his car, Ash doesn't start the truck right away.

Instead, he reaches behind the seat and pulls out a neatly wrapped package. “I almost forgot.”

I blink. “You already bought one?”

“I might've.” I laugh as I peel away the paper.

Another weathered hardcover.

Naturally.

I read the title and grin.

“Persuasion.”