Chapter 20 Hannah #2
“I’m fucking terrified.” She laughs and plays with her necklace. “I don’t want him to get hurt, but I know he’s going to be pissed if anyone takes it easy on him. I just want him to have a good time out there.”
I wave to Piper, Madeline, and Emmy, who puts a pair of headphones over Murphy’s ears. I find a seat near the aisle, draping my coat over the back of my chair, when a shadow falls over me. I tip my head back and find Brody staring down at me.
“Ice Queen.” His eyes flicker with amusement. “Good to see you.”
“Hi, BB.” I don’t bother holding back my smile. “How are you?”
“Running on fumes. Delirious. Happy to be here.” He points to the empty seat next to me, ignoring the woman three rows over who is screaming his name. “Is that seat open?”
“All yours if you want it.”
“That would be nice,” he murmurs.
“Come on down, Coach.”
Brody folds his long legs into the small plastic chair. It can’t be comfortable, but he doesn’t complain. He drapes an arm over the back of my seat, fingers brushing against the ends of my ponytail.
“You always wear a ribbon in your hair.” A gentle touch to the light blue bow I tied to match the Comets’ team colors and a low hum. “I don’t know how I feel about them.”
I turn my body his direction, leaning close so I can hear him. “Are they too girlie for the guy who used to get in fights on the ice?”
“No.” His hand falls away. He stares out at the ice with a set jaw. A secret he’s not revealing. “They’re fucking distracting.”
“How so?” I ask.
“When you wear them, I want to—”
A roar from the crowd interrupts him, cheering as the players skate out of the tunnel.
Riley is the last one on the ice and moving more careful than his teammates.
He scans the arena with a grin, taking in the signs and banners welcoming him back.
He laughs, accepting a puck from a teammate and lining up to take a practice shot, but then he spots us.
He does a double take, dropping his stick.
Covering his mouth with his gloved hand, and then, chaos unfolds.
“Look at everyone here for him,” I yell over the noise, clapping with the rest of the crowd.
“I’ll be back,” Brody says, squeezing my shoulder once and stepping into the aisle. “Gotta say hi to our boy.”
Someone from the Comets staff escorts the Stars players to the bench so Riley can have a moment with the team.
I hang back, watching them with a full heart and tears in my eyes.
There are photos and high-fives. Riley holding Murphy then reaching for Lexi, kissing her like the world is going to end tomorrow.
They’re so deeply in love it almost hurts.
The lights turn back on. Everyone settles down. The fans take their seats, the refs huddle close, and it’s almost puck drop. The guys from the Stars climb over people to make it back to our row, and Brody is smiling when he appears at my side again.
“I’m going to tell you a secret,” he says.
“I can’t wait to hear.” I pat his chair and he sits, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “Make it something good, please.”
“Well. Since you’re begging,” he muses, glancing my way. “That’s how it works, right?”
Hell.
Surrounded by the team, and this is the most brazen he’s ever been. My lips part. I blink, following the path of his hand as he graze my ponytail again.
“I don’t know,” I answer, not bothering to keep my voice down. With the noise from the crowd, there’s no way anyone is able to overhear us. “You’re usually the one begging.”
The curl of a smirk on his mouth. The bold, carefree way he steals my ribbon and wraps it around his fingers. It’s sensory overload, a side I haven’t seen from Brody before.
And I like it.
“I guess I am. There are far worse things in life than being on my knees.” A soft chuckle. His guard coming down. “I act like being around my players is a detriment to my health, but I really love it. They’re stupid as hell, and it’s fun to see.”
“You softie. I knew you didn’t hate it as much as you said you did.” I look down the row of seats, at everyone from his team here with the family they created. “You did all of this, Brody. This camaraderie. This love. It doesn’t happen everywhere, but when it does, it’s magic.”
“Magic,” he repeats, twisting my ribbon in a knot on his wrist. “Can I tell you another secret?”
“You’re so free with your admissions tonight. Have you been drinking?” I tease, but the shake of his head makes me want to stop joking.
“No. I’m in full control of my thoughts.” Brody pauses and shifts closer to me, cupping my ear. “I know I fucked up after our night together, but having you here? Seeing you part of the team? I like that too. A lot. It might be my favorite thing.”
“Mine too.” My heart races. I can’t talk above a whisper. “I’ve felt so lost lately, but thanks to you, I’m finding my way.”
“We make a good pair, don’t we?” he asks, pulling away so he can tuck my ribbon in his pocket. “Who would’ve thought?”
I try my best to focus on the game. I cheer when the Comets score.
I jump to my feet after Riley makes a beautiful pass to an open teammate.
It’s fun and it’s lively and the best night I’ve had in a long time, but I can’t tell if that’s because of the energy around me or Brody’s arm staying over the back of my chair and the glances he keeps tossing my way.