Lilah
T hree months later
I stand up and cheer as Kincaid takes the ice, his skates gliding smoothly as he skates with powerful strokes towards the face-off circle. I come to every single one of his home games—and even some of his away ones, if I’m able—and watching him play never gets old. It’s sexy as hell watching him move the puck with ease, send a slap shot into the net, or slam a guy into the boards. I grew up watching my dad play, but watching my man play is a whole new level of entertaining.
I adjust my Toronto Thunder jersey as I sit back down. I’ve been wearing it to every single game ever since Kincaid and I went public with our relationship. It’s got his name and number across the back, and I love it because not only does it show the world that I’m his, but it feels like I have a little piece of him with me while he’s out there on the ice.
The game resumes, and I sit on the edge of my seat, watching, holding my breath every single time Kincaid gets the puck. I bite my lip and twist my fingers together, gasping as Kincaid passes to Wolf Hartley, who fires a wrist shot on net, but the opposing team’s goalie snags it in his glove.
The Thunder are having an amazing season, and I know a huge part of it is because of Kincaid. Not only is he a star on the ice, but he’s a leader off the ice as well. And while our relationship raised a few eyebrows once it became public knowledge, any gossipy buzz has long since faded.
Well, mostly. It definitely re-ignited when news of Kincaid’s New Year’s Eve proposal hit the headlines.
I grin as I look down at the massive diamond ring glinting on my finger, butterflies fluttering in my tummy as I remember the night Kincaid proposed. He booked out a suite in one of the fanciest hotels in town, and we spent New Year’s Eve dancing and drinking, dressed up to the nines at the hotel’s swanky party. Then he took me upstairs and out onto the balcony of our room to watch the fireworks over Lake Ontario. Before the show was over, he got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him.
Easiest yes I’ve ever said in my life.
I moved in with him the following week, and we’re planning to get married this summer, when I’m on summer break from classes and the hockey season is over. I want it all with him—marriage, babies, a home. A family and life filled with love.
My life is unrecognizable from the way it was just a few months ago. I’m unrecognizable, honestly. I’m more confident, and I’m definitely the happiest I’ve ever been. I get to accompany Kincaid to team events, and we volunteer together when we can.
And you should see the lingerie I’ve ordered as a Valentine’s Day surprise. The old me would’ve never ordered red, lacy crotchless panties, garters and more. But the new me? Well, she can’t wait to surprise her man with it.
Sadie returns from getting a Diet Coke, plunking down into the seat beside me. Even though I’ve got this big, new relationship, her friendship is still so important to me. She’s going to be my maid of honor at my wedding this summer, and I couldn’t be more grateful for her.
“What was all the commotion?” she asks, taking a sip of her drink.
“They almost scored, but no dice.”
“Dang.”
Sadie almost always comes with me to the games, and lately I’ve been noticing more and more that she spends as much time staring at the bench as she does the game on the ice. It makes me wonder if she’s got a crush on one of the players, but I can’t for the life of me figure out who might be.
I lean in close. “You know, if there’s someone you like, I can find out from Kincaid if he’s single and help you meet him,” I say, trying to keep my voice casual. Sadie’s always been more outgoing and confident than me, but I don’t want to put her off by sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong.
“What?” she asks, whirling to face me. Her cheeks are pink, and she takes a long sip of her Diet Coke.
“You keep staring at the bench. If there’s someone you’re interested in, maybe I can help.”
Her eyebrows inch up her forehead and then she laughs. “No. Um, thanks. But no. You definitely can’t help.”
I shrug. “Okay. I won’t bug you about it. But you know I’m here if you need me.”
She bites her lip and then sighs. “I appreciate that, Li. But…” She looks crestfallen. “I think this is just something I’m going to have to get over.”
I sling my arm over her shoulder and pull her close. “Aw, Sadie. It’ll be okay. If he doesn’t want you, there are plenty of guys who’d be happy to date you.”
She looks at me and blinks slowly. “Excuse me, what have you done with Ferguson?”
I laugh. “You mean soon to be Campbell?” More butterflies flap away in my belly. “She fell in love and…I don’t know. I feel like I blossomed or something.”
Sadie grins. “Yeah. You definitely did, babe.” She sighs. “Sometimes I think I should just find some random guy to hook up with so I can stop obsessing over being the horniest twenty-year-old virgin on the freaking planet.”
“Maybe a vibrator would help,” I tease lightly and she knocks into me.
“I have four.” She bites her lip and once again her eyes are on the bench. “I want the real thing, Li. And I want it bad. But he doesn’t even…you know what?” She turns to me with an overly cheerful smile. “It doesn’t matter. Maybe vibrator number five will do the trick.”
Just then, Kincaid rushes down the ice, the puck dangling on the end of his stick as he manages to break away from the defensemen. He dekes once, twice, and then sends the puck into the top corner of the net, scoring the go-ahead goal for the Thunder. The crowd surges to its feet as the goal horn blares and the players celebrate on the ice and the fans roar.
When he’s done celebrating with the team, Kincaid searches me out in the crowd, winking when he finds me. I blow him a kiss and he pretends to catch it and shove it in his pocket. My heart flutters in my chest, and I look down at my gorgeous diamond again as he returns to the bench, receiving shoulder slaps and fist bumps from his teammates.
Then he turns and glances up at me, a soft smile on his face. “I love you,” he mouths, and I smile and mouth it back.
I’m the luckiest, happiest woman in the world.
Hello lovely reader! Do you want more of and Kincaid? Click here to find out when they decide to start a family! It’s short and fun, and of course, super smutty.
Thank you so much for reading! I can’t wait to share more stories with you. Up next is Shane and Sadie’s story, coming soon in Taught by the Coach. While you’re waiting for their story, I have another instalove age gap story for you to read. Find out what happens when skating partners Alex and Cate can’t resist the magnetic pull between them in Wanted by the Champion .