Accidentally Checked By My Brother’s Best Friend (Accidentally In Sports #3)

36. Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-One

Duncan

Bottom of the third period and we currently have a shutout. It’s not that big of a surprise considering the goaltenders. Matthew Steel, the Florida Panthers’ goalie, was my backup and is a phenomenal player. Not to mention the rest of the talent on his team.

He, in particular, however, is living up to his ‘Man of Steel’ nickname when it comes to everything the Wolverines have been hitting him with. And I am living up to my nickname of ‘Denier’.

My former teammates have been doing their best to push all my usual hotspots, but today, I’m solid. As irritated as I was to find my current teammates calling a meeting to discuss how to help me, I can see clearly how much I needed their help.

My performance on the ice is proof. I’m not just the goal defender, I’m one-sixth of a team . A pressure I didn’t realize I was carrying is released as I let the rest of the team help with the load and do their jobs.

The Panthers’ center, Green, grabs a pass from their winger, Slater, and makes it past both Wolverines’ defensemen, leaving the stop up to me. Green takes an incredible shot toward the upper left corner of the net only to have it denied. The crowd roars.

Just as quickly, Slater is able to rebound and attempts another shot but it’s denied again. The roar from the crowd this time is so loud, the vibration moves in time with the pumping of my heart.

From behind me, I see Cavill able to wrap around and skate the biscuit down to the open ice and into Panther territory. He gets checked by the Panthers’ winger but not before he can get a quick pass to Davidson who grabs the puck and takes one last shot before the buzzer ending the third period blows. The goal horn wails and the scoreboard changes to 1-0.

Tapping the ice with my stick, I pump my fist in the air before slowly skating over to celebrate with my teammates. My body is buzzing with adrenaline and feeding off the fans' excitement. My eyes flick up looking for Ava and when my gaze lands on her I can see a smile splitting her face from here. A bead of sweat rolls down my back, warmth spills throughout my chest, and a lopsided grin crosses my lips.

Scarlett grabs Ava’s hand and leads her to the rink, standing in front of it, and waits for me—our usual routine. When I reach them, Scarlett has her hand pressed against the glass and I splay my hand over hers.

Shifting my gaze over to Ava’s, her blue eyes are sparkling and the smile stretched across her face makes my insides feel like candy sitting in the sun too long on a warm summer day. I move my hand to the glass before her, and she lifts her hand to cover mine. Looking at our hands together, my insides melt a little bit more.

A calmness settles deep in my chest.

Glancing back at her face I let my eyes roam over every inch of it. When my eyes fall to her lips I pause. Her lips move, and my stomach swooshes. My mouth drops open and my eyes whip back to hers. The look in her eyes grabs my heart, as she nods. My heart pounds like wild horses running across my body, leaving my knees weak.

All thoughts fly from my mind, and my heart stops.

“James!” Davidson yells in my ear, chuckling. He gives me a stiff shove toward the locker room. “Come on. You’ll see her in a little bit.”

Scowling to Scarlett and Ava’s delight, I follow my team captain and make my way off the ice.

Walking into the locker room I stop and let my gaze swing over my teammates. A sense of camaraderie filling me for the first time since playing with the Wolverines. And maybe, if I’m honest, for the first time since being drafted. I forgot what it was like to belong to something bigger than myself.

I thought I was part of a team for years, but today showed me how I’ve kept myself protected by only giving small pieces of me to anyone or anything. I was present physically, but didn’t give myself emotionally.

The tension I’ve been carrying over the last decade seems to have fallen off me like leaves from a tree in autumn. Effortlessly. So much so that I don’t even have an overwhelming urge to smack the smug look off Wallace’s face.

“Good game,” I say, slapping him on the shoulder. The wary look in his eye makes me chuckle, and I must admit that I’m as surprised as he is.

“I’m not sure I like this version of you,” he says, eyes narrowing, a skeptical look on his face. “It’s freaking me out.”

I scowl at him. “Better?”

“Much.” Shaking my head, I laugh and walk over to my locker.

As good as I feel right now, not just from the win, but the new connection with my teammates, I know there’s something even better waiting for me.

Humming, I make my way to the shower. And leave a long line of very confused teammates behind me.

Running my hand through my damp hair, my duffle over my shoulder, I push through the locker room doors. Once out, I scan the area for Ava. When my eyes land on her with David and Scarlett, I feel my lips push up.

“Uncle Dunky!” Scarlett yells out, to the amusement of everyone within hearing distance and my complete embarrassment. Heat creeps up my neck and I narrow my eyes at her, but I can’t stop the grin from breaking out as I lift her and kiss her on the cheek. “You played better than I’ve ever seen before. It was awesome!”

“Thank you.” Making my way to David and Ava, I nuzzle my chin in her neck. She starts squealing as I hit a tickle spot.

“I have a secret…” Scarlett screams out, pulling her shoulders up to her ears to protect the sensitive areas of her neck. “Do you want to know what it is?”

“You know I love your secrets,” I say, as I pin Ava with my gaze, my lips tugging up at the corners. She’s impossibly beautiful and my heart is nearly bursting in my chest.

Scarlett covers her mouth with her hands and gets close to my ear. She whispers exactly what Ava mouthed to me, my body buzzes and I feel like the entire world is mine.

“Is that so?” I ask Scarlett, who nods resolutely. “Well then I guess I’ll need to talk with her.”

“Scarlett, let’s head home so your aunt and uncle can talk privately.” David sticks his hand out to his daughter and encourages her to come over to him. When I try to put her down, she squeezes me tighter.

“Do all these people get to stay?” Scarlett asks, pouting, as I attempt to lower her again. “Why do they get to stay?”

“Scarlett Ava James! Get over her now,” David says sternly. Pressing my lips together, I glance at Ava and see her covering her mouth. When her eyes skate to mine I feel my chest rumble. “You can talk to them both later. But right now we are going home.”

Scarlett clings to my neck harder, determined not to miss out on the upcoming exchange. “Red, do what your dad says.”

Scrunching her face, she puts her feet on the floor, crosses her arms, and stomps over to David, all of us working not to laugh at the dramatics. He puts his hand out but she pushes it away. Looking over his shoulder, eyes dancing, he throws out. “Great game Duncan. I’ll see the two of you later.”

He whispers something in Scarlett’s ear and she yells “Yes!” Then grabs David’s hand and turns to the two of us. “Bye!”

“See you later.”

Taking the few steps it takes to close the gap between me and Ava, I drop the duffle on the floor. When I stand back up, I find her watching me, her eyes shining. My eyes drift slowly over her face and she places her hands on my chest. The warmth of them slips right into my heart.

“Duncan—”

“Wait,” I place my hand over the one resting on my chest. “I need to get this out first.”

She nods and her eyes flicker with an emotion I can’t discern.

Glancing away, I take a deep breath and then bring my gaze back to hers. “Ava,” I say softly. “You deserve someone so much better than me.”

Her eyes widen and the corner of her lips drop before she meets my gaze. I recognize the moment she realizes what I’m doing, and she rips her hand out from under mine and slaps me lightly.

“Duncan James, that’s not funny—”

“It’s a little funny.” I smirk. Cupping her cheeks I pull her lips to mine and stop the flow of words from falling. Letting out a sigh, Ava rests her hands on my forearms and leans in to the kiss. Her lips are soft and supple under mine, making my heart race. I slowly pull away, and lean my forehead against hers.

Scrunching my face, I chuckle. “You know I couldn’t let that pass, right?”

Her sapphire blue eyes dance as she shrugs a shoulder. “I guess not.” A small smile lines her lips and I can’t stop myself from pressing them with mine. “Can I try again…”

I nod and wait, letting every ounce of emotion I have for this beautiful, perfect woman show on my face.

“I wasn’t wrong when I told you that ten years ago. You did deserve someone so much better.” She pushes a strand of hair behind my ear, sending shivers down my spine. When she rests her hand on my cheek I sigh. Resting my hand on hers, I turn my face toward her palm pressing my lips to it. “I just didn’t realize it would be me, ten years later.”

My breath hitches and I wait for the words I’ve longed to hear from her my entire life.

“I love you.” Her lips curve up and my heart races.

“I love you, too.” My hands cup her face and I lean in, just as my lips are touching hers, I whisper the question I’ve been dying to ask. “Marry me?”

Her eyes widen, her brows shoot up, and a gasp escapes her. A few seconds pass before she throws her arms around me. “Yes!” Pulling her flush against me, I spin her around. “When?”

“As soon as you want.” I lean in and press my lips to hers, breathing in the scent of sandalwood and letting it seep through every part of me. She cups my cheeks and kisses me quickly a few times before settling on her feet. Still holding her close, I see a glint in her eye. “Ms. Norris. I know that look. What do you have up your sleeve?”

“Want to marry me tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?” My eyes widen and for a second I hesitate. “Are you sure?”

“Duncan.” Her hand and eyes move over my face, and the heat I see there spills into my gut. “I let you get away once. I’m not going to make the same mistake twice.”

Standing on her toes she presses her lips to mine and I sigh at the pure sweetness of her. Then she whispers. “Say you’ll marry me tomorrow.”