Chapter 66 Freya
FREYA
The volume of the fans is mind-blowing. It’s beyond anything I’ve ever heard inside the Crown Arena before. I understand why, though.
Tonight, our guys are going to finish up the regular season at the top of their division. It’s the best record the LA Vipers have had in years, and everyone is buzzing to see them take to the ice.
I stand with Casey, Sutton, and Kodie’s mom, along with both my mom and dad, and a few of the other players’ friends and families who want to be close to the action.
We’ve got front row-seats tonight, and I’m the reason why.
My heart is racing and my palms are sweaty. It might be okay right now, but as soon as Cole’s blades hit the ice, I know that all eyes are going to be on me.
Hailee has it all set up.
Tonight is the night the world discovers that Cole Hansley is officially off the market.
Of course, the rumors and gossip have been rife since Rowan exposed us. But we’ve been silent.
That all changes now.
I’m as excited as I am terrified for it.
I want the world to know. But also, I want to keep what we’ve found between us. It’s special and sacred, and I’m terrified that others’ opinions will poison that somehow.
“It feels like only yesterday Hailee had my face filling that Jumbotron,” Casey mutters beside me.
“Don’t,” I warn, making her chuckle.
She reaches for my hand and squeezes in support. “It’s going to be okay. Handsy won’t allow it any other way.”
My heart swells. She’s right; I know she is. Cole has been nothing but incredible since Rowan ensured my face was splashed all over the media. His support has been unwavering, and I know it’s going to continue.
“I can’t believe after all these years, we get to do this together,” she says excitedly.
“I can’t believe that after all these years, Freya finally understands the rules of the game,” Dad interjects.
I roll my eyes at him as he chuckles, his arm wrapped around Mom’s shoulders.
My heart swells at the sight of them both proudly wearing their Hansley jerseys. There may have been a time when Cole didn’t have anyone in the stands specifically for him, but those days are long over.
“I thought the biggest surprise here would be that your daughter is dating your favorite player,” Mom points out.
Warmth spreads through me.
Who’d have thought it? Little ol’ me. A woman who had no idea who she was just a few months ago, standing here now with the most incredible future ahead of her with the most amazing man.
“They’re coming. They’re coming,” Sutton cries, ensuring all our attention turns to the tunnel.
Only seconds after her announcement, we hear them. Blades against the floor and their deep voices and booming laughs.
Their happiness and excitement over their achievements this year are palpable. Butterflies erupt in my stomach as the first player appears.
Cole Hansley.
LA Vipers number thirty-three.
My boyfriend.
Cheers and chants begin as more and more fans notice movement.
I can only assume the rest of the team appears behind Cole, because I only have eyes for him.
He does a quick lap around the ice, giving the fans what they all came here to see. But instead of stopping in his usual favorite position for warmups, he continues forward, his eyes set on one person.
Me.
My heart jumps into my throat as he moves closer.
The attention of those around me burns into my skin, but I can’t find it in myself to care.
The moment he stops at the boards, he lifts his gloved hands, leaving zero question about who he’s looking for.
Behind me, fans cry out his name, desperate for him to look up and give them even a second of attention, but he never does.
“Hey, baby,” he shouts. “Turn around. Let’s see who you belong to.”
With a smile so wide it makes my cheeks hurt, I do as he says.
I can’t see or hear his reaction, but I can imagine it, and I’m not ashamed that it makes heat pool between my thighs.
“That’s my girl,” he bellows as I spin back around. “Love you, baby.”
Beside me, Mom gasps. And when I glance at Dad, he’s got the proudest smile playing on his lips.
“I love you, too. Good luck. You’re gonna kill it out there.”
“Too right, I am. I’ve got all my family here watching me.”
My eyes burn, knowing just how big of a deal that is for Cole.
“We’re all here, man,” Dad confirms. “We’ll always be here.”
Cole’s own eyes glisten, and it kills me not to be able to touch him, to hold him.
A whistle blows somewhere behind him before a familiar voice begins shouting.
“Uh oh, now probably isn’t the time to piss Dad off,” Casey teases.
Cole waves at James before pressing his hands to the plexiglass again. As if we’re two magnets irrevocably drawn together, my hands lift until I’m mimicking his move.
Cameras flash around me, but with Cole’s eyes locked on mine, I don’t care. I don’t care about anything but the man before me.
“I want you out here when we win,” Cole says. I shake my head—not because I’m refusing, but because all of this is so unbelievable, so unexpected, so…incredible.
“I’ll be anywhere you are,” I tell him sincerely.
He blows me a kiss before pushing back from boards. But his eyes never leave mine, and as he drops to his hands and knees and starts thrusting, my cheeks blaze so red I wouldn’t be surprised if they could be seen from space.
“I don’t need to see that,” Dad grumbles beside me while everyone else laughs.
“Oh yeah. Freya is one lucky girl,” Casey shouts, making it a million times worse.
“La la la,” Dad sings, placing his hands over his ears.
Happiness explodes within me. There was a time not so long ago when I didn’t think I’d ever feel like this again. But thanks to that man out there doing unspeakable things with his hips right now, I’ve finally found exactly where I’m meant to be.
The second the final whistle blows, music fills the arena as lights flash and confetti explodes from the roof.
The Vipers win their final game three to nothing, giving Cole his final shutout of the regular season.
But despite stopping our opponents from scoring a single goal, it wasn’t an easy game. The Vipers deserved the win, though. They played hard. Each of their performances was full of energy and heart. Their love for their team, the game, and their fans was clear to see.
Chaos erupts as the guys all jump on each other, celebrating the end of an incredible season. It hasn’t always been easy. But they’ve done it.
Tears burn my eyes as I watch them all. I’m so proud of them, and I know I’m not the only one.
As I glance at Casey, I find her eyes are full of unshed tears as well as she screams and shouts for Kodie with Sutton on her shoulders.
“Come on, let’s go,” Casey says, grabbing my hand before dragging me past Kathleen, who is also emotional from watching her son live out his dreams.
We meet Parker at the edge of the tunnel before James pulls Casey in for a brief hug and allows us to spill onto the ice.
The instant Cole sees me, he shrugs off his teammates and skates over.
“Oh my god,” I scream the second he wraps me in his arms, lifts me from my feet, and spins me around.
If the world is watching, then I don’t feel them. I’m too busy being swept off my feet, literally.
The moment Cole stops and lowers me to my feet, his lips are on mine and he’s kissing me for everyone in the arena, and everyone watching at home, to see.
This is it. This is the moment when I close the final door on my past and jump headfirst into my future. A future where I have Cole Hansley right by my side.
“Cole, have you got a few minutes?” Harry, the Vipers’ rink side reporter, asks.
I’ve watched enough games now to know that Cole isn’t usually up for interviews. But today, when the microphone moves toward him, he smiles, welcoming questions.
“Congratulations, you played an incredible game tonight.”
“Thanks. It was a great game, and we came together and played well as a team.”
“Exactly what we’ve come to expect from the Vipers this year. How are you feeling about moving into the playoffs? Confident?”
“Yeah, confident and ready for the challenge. We’ve worked incredibly hard all year, and so far it’s paid off. Looking forward to seeing how far it can take us.”
“And dare I ask about the lady standing at your side right now? If you don’t mind me saying, it’s not often you have someone behind the boards waiting for you quite like this.”
Cole’s grip on my waist tightens, and I blow out a calming breath.
“You can. This is Freya, and she’s my girl.” Deciding that words aren’t really what’s needed, Cole wraps his fingers around the side of my neck and twists me around to kiss me.
I’m pretty sure Harry says something else, but I don’t make out the words as Cole steals every one of my thoughts. By the time he lets me up for air, Harry has gotten bored and wandered off to talk to someone else.
“Well, there we go. It’s official. Freya Price is my girlfriend.”
I beam up at him, feeling lighter than I think I ever have in my life. And I just know that it’s only going to get better from here.
Time ceased to exist as we celebrated on the ice, but eventually the guys excitedly headed off to get showered and changed and we all headed up to the friends and family suite to wait for them.
Killer had already sent out the plans for the night. I was exhausted just looking at it when it came through on the team group chat Cole is a part of. But they deserve every second of celebrating their success before the hard work starts all over again.
We said goodbye to Mom and Dad after a drink in the suite. Of course, Dad wanted to come with us, but Mom reminded him that he’s too old to be partying with the kids, and that he’d just embarrass me on the dance floor, and he reluctantly let us go without him.
Our first stop was, of course, the Fractured Compass. It’s the guys’ regular bar after a game, and it would be wrong to miss it tonight.