Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
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I wring my hands, more nervous about today than any game Wade has ever played in his entire career. When Zach and I planned out the All Goalies Game, we accounted for as many possibilities and wild cards as we could so that Wade and Chase wouldn’t have a run-in on the ice.
So far, so good. As long as everyone follows the plan, Wade’s and Chase’s lines shouldn’t be out there at the same time.
Shouldn’t be.
But I know Chase. And I know from some well-placed birdies—aka Lily and Mia—that Chase got wind of the article. One of the guys on his team came across it on the website, from what I understand, and wanted to know if it was all true.
Supposedly, Chase tried to blow it off with some long-winded story of how this was my doing. That I’d taken our breakup badly, and would do anything to win him back.
As if. Just the idea makes me want to hurl into his skates, then stick them in the hot Florida sun so the smell bakes right in.
Leave it to Chase to come out smelling like a rose. So far, I’m not seeing any fallout from Sophie’s exposé. But at least the truth is out there, and maybe, hopefully, some of the higher-ups will take notice at some point.
At the moment, I’m more concerned about Wade’s state of mind regarding Chase if they do wind up playing at the same time.
I sense Wade’s presence before I see him, and spin around. Wade waddles out of the locker room in his full gear, making him appear larger than life.
He pulls me into his padding and kisses me before studying my face. “Hey, you okay?”
Less than a day has passed since our first official date, less than twelve hours since our last kiss, yet this all feels so…normal as if we’ve been together for years.
In a way, we have, but not like this. I’m not sure what to call us yet, other than we’re together.
We haven’t labeled anything, and maybe that’s for the best since it’s all so new.
But part of me wants to officially be called his girlfriend—not just his best friend who happens to be a girl—as if it’s some kind of guarantee he won’t change his mind.
“I’m fine. Really.” I let out a nervous laugh.
His grin tilts as he stares, seeing right through me—through my brave facade like he always has. “Liar.”
I exhale as much of this pent-up energy and worry as I can. “Promise me that if you wind up on the ice at the same time, you won’t do something stupid.”
“You mean like bash out all his teeth so he’ll never smile again?”
“Yes, exactly that,” I confess. The thought of him doing that satisfies a need for vengeance, but also ignites a warm spark deep within me. Wade would fight to protect me…and fight for me because he thinks I’m worth it.
The realization leaves me heady.
“Losing teeth comes with the territory.”
“Wade!” I swat him on the arm, which I doubt he can even feel with all his padding.
He sighs. “I promise.”
I grab his head between my hands, forcing him to look at me. “I mean it. What we have is too important to let someone as small and petty as Chase Langston mess it up.”
As if a curtain were pulled back, his eyes glitter with a spectrum of emotions, revealing his heart and…relief? “Glad to hear you say it, Bree-bear. He never deserved you. Never appreciated what he had.”
This man has stood by me, loved me, and fought for me.
I plan to fight just as hard for him. I brush my mouth against his, parting my lips to let him know I want him to kiss me deeply, to claim me, needing his reassurance that we’re together in this now and nothing will pull us apart. Not ever again.
“Aww, how sweet.” Amber’s syrupy voice purrs, interrupting our moment. “Chase predicted you’d jump from his arms to Wade’s. Actually, I think the word he used was settle. Guess that worked out better for me in the end, though, didn’t it?”
For a moment, I’m tempted to grab Wade’s blocker and smack Amber across the face with it, maybe knock some of her teeth loose like Wade implied wanting to do to Chase.
Then, I feel overwhelming pity for her. One day, she’ll experience a rude awakening as to who and what Chase is, just like I did.
And if she doesn’t, then they deserve each other.
Better for two sociopaths to make each other miserable than two innocents caught in their webs of manipulation and cruelty.
I don a smile as fake as her voice. “Yes, Amber. You and Chase are perfect for each other.”
Her smug expression falters. “Oh, well, thanks.”
As much as I want to dropkick this woman back to Texas, I school my face and tone to reflect complete politeness because that’s my job. “Was there something you needed?”
“Yeah. I almost forgot. Chase asked me to let you know he had to switch lines with one of the guys. Something about the guy having to leave because of some family issue, so Chase will be playing against Wade now. Okay?” She smiles with a wave, then trots off to who knows where.
My hands fist at my sides. I’m so tempted to march into the conference room assigned to Chase’s team and tell him to take a flying leap, but in much harsher words.
Wade turns me toward him, then worms his fingers into my hands until they relax. “Everything will be fine. In a few hours, this will all be over.”
Why does he sound so much calmer than I am? Or am I just not seeing what’s boiling beneath the surface? “Promise me you won’t instigate something with him.”
He hesitates for a moment, eyes hard as steel, but then his gaze softens. “I promise. I won’t instigate anything.”
“Good.” I let out a noisy breath.
He tips his head down the hallway. “Go do your thing. I’ll see you after the game, right?”
I can’t help but smile now. “Can’t wait.”
He pulls me in for another sweet yet lingering kiss. “More of that later.”
Only when I know he’s back in the locker room do I head for the rink in search of my gal pals. Trepidation still swirls in my stomach, so I keep reminding myself of Wade’s words, that in a few hours, this will all be over, and we can move forward with our lives.
And a new relationship that’s definitely more than friends.
“He actually promised he wouldn’t instigate anything?” Sophie frowns as she asks what I’m sure Lily and Mia want to know, too. I already filled Harper in on our way to our seats to watch the game, and now she’s braving the concession lines to grab us soft pretzels and sodas.
“After I made him,” I explain.
Mia sits back in her seat and crosses her arms. “I can’t imagine Ethan agreeing to that.”
Sophie shoves her elbow into Mia, causing her arms to uncross. “Don’t say something like that.”
“I didn’t mean it in a bad way.” Mia semi-whines. “What I mean is, I don’t think he could do it.”
I’m not sure if that’s actually what she meant or if she’s trying to recover from her bluntness.
But she’s not far off. Part of me still has doubts about whether Wade can fully restrain himself.
But he has to, or all we’ve done to dismantle Chase’s attempt to use and manipulate me will get undone, and that jerk will wind up looking like the one who was victimized.
The thought of that makes my blood curdle.
Lily leans forward, peering past Mia toward me. “I have security stationed in the hallway outside the locker room and conference doors, and in the tunnel with specific orders to separate them if anything goes down.”
I give her a watery smile. “Thank you.”
She gives me a reassuring one and pats my hand.
After they sing the national anthem, the lights go down, and the music starts.
Huge numbers counting down from ten fill the Jumbotron screens.
Wade’s team leaves the tunnel and skates onto the ice as a giant zero flashes and the emcee’s announcement of the Sting Rays line-up blasts through the arena.
It’s dramatic and powerful, exactly what I wanted to draw the spectators into the excitement and energy of the game.
Next, the Sea Turtles skate out, warming up on the other end of the rink. The ribbon boards light up with the words Sting Rays vs. Sea Turtles, flashing and racing around the arena, and amping up the fans even more.
Then comes the puck drop, and the goalies go at it. I keep my focus on Wade, trying to gauge where his head’s at. So far, he seems to be steering clear of Chase, who seems more interested in playing the game than causing trouble. But that’s how he works, like a stealth attack you never see coming.
Lily leaves to do a security check, leaving me between Sophie and Mia, who each keep leaning into me as if they think they need to hold me up.
But what they don’t know is that I’m seething inside.
I know Chase, and the only reason he would send Amber to tell me he’d made this change to help another player is to taunt me.
To make sure I know he has something planned to try to hurt Wade. I’m sure of it.
The first period ends, giving me a five-minute break to recover and prepare for the next one. Thankfully, the second one plays out smoothly, except for a goalie losing a blade on his skates. After a short stoppage, they head into the second intermission without any more complications.
That leaves twenty minutes of playtime—ten with Wade and Chase sharing the ice.
Sophie pats my arm. “It’s almost over.”
I appreciate her attempt to reassure me, but I’m still on edge. “I know Chase is up to something.”
“You think so?” Mia asks.
“I know so. Chase only does what serves him. I’ve no doubt he’ll try to pull a stunt before the game ends.”
Third period starts with Wade’s team in the lead by one point.
One of the players on Chase’s team pulls off a Michigan, which seems like it would be impossible to manipulate the puck like that using a goalie stick and in all that gear, but he does it—picks up the puck with his stick from behind the net and scoops it into the top shelf as he rounds the crease.
The move is stunning and beautiful, but I wanted Wade’s team to win so this would all be over. Now it’s looking like a tie game.