Chapter 1
Chapter One
DECLAN - TEN YEARS LATER
“Fucking champs, baby!”
Knocking shot glasses with Cash, I glug back the tequila shot. I’ve lost track of how many I’ve had tonight. When you win the Stanley Cup, you’re allowed to have as many as you want.
“Couldn’t have done it without you, Paddy!” Cash kisses my temple after he finishes his own. “That last goal in the third was a thing of beauty.”
I smile, thinking about the errant shot that somehow ended up in the back of the net, sealing our victory. On home ice, no less.
The gleaming cup is sitting on top of the bar. Everyone has been crowded around it all night. After each of us drank champagne from it in the locker room, we moved the after-party to a nearby bar that Bex reserved for us.
“Hey, you set me up for it.”
“Nah. All you, kid.”
“Kid? You realize I’m the same age as you, right?”
Cash waves me off. “You just got here. You feel like a kid to me.”
“Well, this kid needs more shots.” I flag down the bartender and order two more.
“Don’t you two think you’ve had enough?” Piper, Cash’s girlfriend sidles up to him and wraps her arms around his waist.
“How many times do we get to celebrate a Stanley Cup, Princess?” Cash asks her.
“Well, considering this is the second time in two years, I’d say the chances are good.”
The bartender drops off the two shots and I hold them up. “All the more reason to take them.”
“One more and then we can go home,” Cash tells her, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. “We have to celebrate on our own.”
“And I’m out.” I take the shot and slam the glass on the wooden bar top.
The two of them don’t even notice I’m gone, swept up in their own love bubble. Staggering away from the bar, I know I’m at my limit.
But fuck, who cares? I’ve never won anything before.
Peewee hockey? Always came in second.
Frozen Four? Never even came close in college.
Nashville Knights? I don’t think our coach knew what the term winning meant.
This is the best feeling in the world.
Spotting a blonde head over the rest of the crowd, I head in that direction. I’d recognize that bun anywhere. Even drunk.
“Hey, Froggie.”
“Hey, champ.”
Scooching into the booth that Alice is sitting in, I rest my head on the table. “New nickname?”
She shrugs a shoulder. “For now. Until you lose the title.”
“Ouch.” I laugh. “Guess I have to work hard to keep my nickname.”
Alice brushes a lock of hair off my forehead. I peek one eye up at her. She looks tired. At this late hour, how could she not be?
We’ve been at the bar for hours. Looking at my watch, it’s pushing three in the morning. “Don’t you have to work tomorrow?”
Alice shakes her head, sipping on her water. “Nope. I told Leon I was going to be celebrating with you.”
“Awfully certain that we were going to win.”
“I mean, have you seen the talent on this team? You would’ve been hard to beat.”
The bar is still crowded. No one wants to leave. I know as well as the next person that this same group of guys won’t be here next year. Hell, I’ve only been here a few months. Nothing is a given in this league.
“I still can’t believe we won it, Alice.”
“I’m really proud of you, Dec,” she tells me. “Thanks for letting me be here.”
I reach over the table and grab her hand, squeezing it. “If you hadn’t come, I would have dragged you here myself.”
“Good.”
“Besides, my parents couldn’t hang. They left for the hotel hours ago.”
Alice laughs. “The only reason I’m still here is because I didn’t want to leave you on your own.”
“I’m not on my own. The team is still here.”
“You know what I mean.”
“You can leave if you want.”
“I’m okay,” she tells me.
She’s fading and fading fast. “Why don’t we both head home?”
“No. I want you to stay.”
“Nope.” I motion to her water glass and she passes it over for me to drink the last of it down. “Let’s go.”
“Want me to call a car?” Alice asks, slinging her bag over her shoulder. My championship hat still rests on her head. She looks fucking adorable.
“Yes please.”
Thank God that Bex arranged rides for everyone tonight. The last thing I want to do is try to figure out getting home tonight.
I hug every single guy as the two of us leave the crowded bar.
I slump over her as we wait outside the bar. Even though it’s late, people are still out celebrating. Two cups in as many years? Yeah, people are fucking ecstatic.
“There he is,” Alice points out. A black SUV pulls up to the curb.
Swinging open the back door, I slide in as Alice gets in next to me. My head falls into her lap as exhaustion takes over.
“Thanks for taking us home,” I hear Alice tell the driver.
They carry on a quiet conversation as I let the happy buzz of alcohol fill my veins. I don’t remember a time when I’ve ever felt this good. Sure, maybe when I got drafted, but this? I want to hang onto this feeling for as long as possible.
“Spend the night with me?” I ask my best friend as the car rolls its way closer to my house. I can’t wait to get into bed and crash.
She smiles down at me. “I don’t sleep with strangers.”
“Good thing I’m not a stranger.”
“You will be. You’re going to become this big hotshot NHL player now that you’ve won the cup and forget about little ol’ me.”
I crack one eye open at her. A smile lights up Alice’s face. “Please. Like I could ever forget about you, Froggie.”
She brushes a stray lock of hair off my forehead. “We’re home.”
“Thanks man,” I say. With very little grace, I unbuckle myself and stumble out of the car.
“Congratulations, Mr. Paddack,” the driver tells me.
Shutting the door, Alice wraps a supporting arm around my waist and hauls me inside.
Unlocking the door, Alice pushes it open with her hip and leads me straight to my room. I collapse onto the bed, wanting the mattress to swallow me whole. I kick off my shoes and nestle into the pillows.
“Do you need anything?” Alice asks as she pulls back the comforter and lies down next to me. Flipping onto my side, I turn to stare at her.
“Thanks for being my best friend, Froggie.”
She smiles back at me. A smile I’ve grown to love every time I see it.
“Always.”