Chapter 55
Ellie
Ismooth a hand over the front of the Bashers jersey I’m wearing. Camden’s jersey. Number eighty-nine.
I bite back a smile when I think about how he surprised me this morning.
I woke up to a beautiful bouquet of pink peonies on the kitchen table and a gift-wrapped box with a red ribbon on the bed. And a note.
I want my hot wife wearing this tonight.
Love,
C
When I opened it and saw his jersey, I was smiling so hard, my face ached. Like I am now.
“You excited for your man to see you in his jersey?” Bella says, gently bumping me with her elbow.
“Yeah. Really excited.”
She beams. So do Maya, Madeline, and Dakota, who are sitting next to me in the stands watching the players warmup for the first game of the season. They’re all wearing their guys’ jerseys too.
“There’s just something about seeing us with their names and numbers on our bodies,” Dakota says with a teasing smile. They all nod along.
“I think it triggers some primal part in their caveman brain,” Maya says.
Madeline cracks a smile. “Ryker definitely turns into a caveman when he sees me in his jersey. Those nights after the game are fun.”
All the ladies nod along and giggle. My stomach dips in anticipation.
Music blasts in the arena as we watch the guys warm up. Dakota touches my arm. “How are you holding up?”
Sports news and social media have been covering rumors about my and Camden’s marriage nonstop.
After Camden told the guys about the real reason behind our marriage, I told the ladies everything too.
They’ve been so supportive through it all.
They text me in our group chat almost every day to see how I’m doing.
And a few days ago, they came over to the house for a girls’ night in to take my mind off the madness.
Warmth settles in my chest when I think about how kind and supportive my new friends are.
“It’s been tough for sure, but we’re okay. Camden has a good support system. So do I.” I smile at them. “Thank you all for being so amazing. I’ve never had a friend group like this in my whole life. You’ve made everything a million times better.”
Dakota pulls me into a side-hug, and Bella squeezes my hand. Madeline and Maya pat my shoulders.
“We’re here for you, Ellie. Always,” Madeline says.
Maya and Bella stand up to head to the concession stand for snacks.
“Anyone want anything?” Bella asks.
Dakota and I ask for a giant bucket of popcorn to share, then hand Bella some cash.
“You want a whiskey and Coke, Madeline?” Bella asks.
She says no thanks, right as Abby joins us. She greets us with a bright smile and hugs us all.
She holds on to my shoulders and looks at me, her expression a mix of warmth and concern. “You doing okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
She gives my shoulders a soft squeeze and sits down. While we wait for Maya and Bella to bring back snacks, we watch the guys warm up.
I spot Camden sprawled out on the ice, stretching. When I catch eyes with him, he winks at me and flashes that handsome smile.
My tummy dips as his eyes glide down to my torso. He stands up and skates over to where we’re sitting, behind the Bashers’ net.
He gestures with his gloved hand for me to stand up. I bite back a smile as I stand and spin around so he can see the back of his jersey. His name and his number on my body.
I look over my shoulder to see his reaction. He runs his tongue along his bottom lip, his eyes focused and fiery.
His gaze lifts to my face, and he mouths, “so fucking sexy.”
Tingles fly across my body, and my knees go weak. Camden is devouring me with that hungry stare.
Next to me, Abby chuckles softly. “Your husband really, really likes you in his jersey.”
Camden continues stretching, his eyes on me the whole time, that playful smiling lingering. My face ignites, and I can’t shake that giddy grin from my face, no matter how hard I try, not even when I sit back down and start eating the popcorn Maya and Bella bring me.
“Yo, Connors! I got something to show you!”
I look down and see some random guy pressed up against the glass. He holds up his phone. A second later, the song “Golddigger” blasts from the speaker.
The guy looks over at me, then back at Camden, a taunting smile on his face.
“It’s the perfect song for you and your girl,” the guy hollers before laughing again.
I freeze, embarrassed and angry all at once. What a jerk. I figured most of the people attending tonight’s game would have heard the rumors about our marriage, but I was hoping they wouldn’t make a big deal out of it.
I noticed a handful of people giving me lingering looks and whispering, which kind of sucks. It never feels good to know that people are gossiping about you. But I’d rather have that than some emboldened jerk who thinks it’s funny to publicly taunt us.
Abby grabs my hand. I give her hand a squeeze, thankful for the support in this moment.
“Sit down, jackass,” Bella hollers at him.
Camden glares at the guy before glancing over at me, his expression softening. I try to smile and shrug it off.
A second later, I notice movement out of the corner of my eye.
I look over and see Ryker flying across the ice toward us.
He launches his massive body in the air and crashes against the boards, right where the jerk is standing.
The impact hits the jerk in the face, and he falls back, landing on the ground with a groan.
His phone goes flying, and the song cuts off.
Abby and I gasp. Bella chuckles and flashes a thumbs-up at Ryker. Madeline winks at her husband, and his mouth slants up in a smile. A bunch of the Denver fans around us clap and cheer.
Ryker turns to Camden, whose eyes are wide as he looks at his teammate. Camden cracks a smile and smacks Ryker on the shoulder.
“Thanks, man,” he says. Ryker nods once and skates off.
When the jerk finally stands up, he mutters a curse before picking his phone up and stomping off. I let out a breath, relieved that he’s gone.
I turn to Madeline. “Your cat Bruce gets free pet sitting and grooming for life.”
She chuckles and hugs me. Warm-up ends, and the game finally starts. I’m mesmerized as I watch Camden fly across the ice. He’s so fast, and the way he handles the puck is insane. He moves his stick like it’s an extension of his body. He’s got all those pads on, but he maneuvers effortlessly.
I’ve watched tons of clips of Camden playing, but this is the first time I’ve seen him play in-person, and I can’t stop staring. My husband is incredible.
It’s nearly the end of the first period, and so far neither team has scored. They get ready for face-off, and as soon as the puck lands on the ice, Camden rockets forward. The Calgary defenseman covering him can barely keep up. Camden is just too fast.
He passes the puck to Sam, who weaves around a Calgary player in the direction of their net.
Another Calgary player is covering him, so he passes the puck back to Camden. He’s the farthest from the net, but he’s the only one open.
Two Calgary players take off toward him. I hold my breath, my entire body tense as I watch. They’re going to check him and try to steel the puck.
Worry zooms through me. I know Camden’s tough. I know he can take it—he’s taken a few hits during this game already, and he’s doing just fine.
Still though. I don’t like seeing him get hit.
But I don’t have to worry about that. Because before those Calgary players can make it to Camden, he shoots the puck.
It goes flying past the glove of the Calgary goalie and lands in the back of the net.
The goal buzzer blares, and the entire stadium cheers.
Pride bursts through my chest as I holler and jump. I’m grinning so wide, my face hurts. That’s my hot husband kicking ass at hockey, scoring the first goal of the game.
I watch as his teammates surround him, smacking him in celebration. When they break apart, his gaze lands on me. He grins wide and winks at me.
I’m far away, but I don’t miss the gleam in his eyes. My tummy flips over and I’m smiling even harder now.
“Your husband is on fire,” Abby says.
“He really is.”