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And today, also my opponent.

I nearly shat myself when I realized Isla’s free skate program would be happening during our game against the Vipers.

“You good?” he asks, nodding toward the ice.

“Yeah.” I huff out a breath, glancing at the small Olympic rings pin on my chest—a sign of support for my girl. “Just…got a lot on my mind today.”

Smirking, he moves closer, only stopping when his shoulder brushes mine. “Same. And don’t think I don’t know why you’re so worked up.”

I arch a brow.

“You really think I would forget Isla skates today?” He frowns, and his voice drops, all teasing gone from his tone. “I’d be a pretty shitty friend if I didn’t remember that one of the people I love most in the world is competing in the fucking Olympics.”

I wince. “Sorry, Ash. I’m all over the place.”

“I get it.” He rolls his shoulders, standing straighter. “She can handle it. She’ll get out on that ice and prove to the world she’s a true winner. A gold medalist. I believe in her.”

The tight knots in my stomach loosen a little, and my breaths come a little easier. “She’s gonna kick all their asses and show the world who the real Ice Queen is.”

“That’s the spirit.” He winks. “And if anyone can handle playing against me,” he adds, grinning now, “it’s you.”

I shake my head, a smile tugging at my mouth. “Are you getting soft on me, Vaughn?”

“Never.” He punches my shoulder, though there’s not much force to it. “Do your thing, I’ll do mine, and we’ll see how it all shakes out.”

“Good luck,” I tell him as our teammates filter out of the locker rooms and the horde moves toward us.

The buzz signals the end of the game, and the arena erupts. Just seconds ago, I scored the final goal, securing a win for the Phantoms and adding another hat trick to my record. A hat trick against the current Cup holder.

Hats rain down from the stands, covering the ice as my teammates crash into me from every direction. My chest is on fire, my lungs burning, adrenaline still surging through my veins.

I’m fucking ecstatic about the win and the hat trick, but right now, the ice is the last place on Earth I want to be.

God, I hope she hasn’t skated yet. I send up a silent prayer I’ll get to see her be her most wonderful self live. That I’ll get to witness the moment she wins gold, achieving her lifelong dream, in real time.

I’ve made it into the tunnel before a hand grasps my arm.

“Hold up,” Emily says, already half in PR mode. “Media’s waiting. You can’t skip this one.”

“I’m not doing interviews,” I say, shaking free of her grip.

She blinks, her eyebrows knitted together. “Michael, you just scored a hat trick. The Phantoms just beat the Vipers. You’re the star of the night. You have to talk to the press.” She leans in closer, lowering her voice. “Do you really have something more important to do than this?”

The words are out before I can stop them. “My wife is about to skate for Olympic gold.”

Jaw dropping, she rears back. Only then do I realize the tunnel has gone silent, and several sets of eyes are on me. Kennedy and Wright are both close by, helmets off, and the equipment manager blinks, his focus fixed firmly on me.

Dammit, I’m an idiot. We’ve kept it a secret for months, and now I rumbled it out for everyone to hear?

I clear my throat and force myself to look only at Emily. “If you think there’s anything more important to me than my wife, you’re wrong.”

I skirt around her and immediately find myself under Coach’s calm scrutiny.

He stands a few feet away, arms crossed. Then, he jerks his chin down the hall. “Broadcast lounge. On the left. They’ve got the Olympics on.”

Nodding, I hurry the rest of the way down the tunnel.

The screen on the wall in the broadcast lounge is massive, but the sound is turned low enough to keep the room from buzzing.