Chapter 26 #2
After we finish breakfast, I wash the dishes with Madden’s help. The others scatter through the house with the assignments they need to finish up before our next roadie to take on Elmwood for our second matchup of the season. Elijah and Cameron share the kitchen island while studying.
They all know they have to finish early to turn them in to their professors while we’re away. I’ve got it on lock, but it’s Cam who worries me. Out of all of us, he has to put the most effort into his classes.
He sinks his fingers into his hair, making it messier before he crams his worn baseball cap onto his head with a sigh.
I lean against the island next to him. “You good?”
“I’m struggling,” he admits gruffly.
“You know I’m here if you need help. All of us will make sure you get through it.”
“Me too,” Maya says when she joins us. “What’s the class?”
He pinches the bridge of his nose, rubbing his eyes. It’s rough to see him so torn up when he’s the team’s rock. He always has our backs.
“Calculus. I tried to see if I can drop it, but apparently it’s a required course for the major I picked. The other classes are full, so I’m stuck.” He shakes his head and blows out a breath. “I already scrape by to maintain the GPA required to stay on the team as an active player.”
“Shit,” I mutter. “We need you. Holland is a decent backup, but we’re not making it to Frozen Four without you.”
“I know,” Cam laments. “I’ll make it work. I swear.”
Maya frowns. “I wish I could do more for you. Math and I don’t get along. Any other subject and I’m there.”
He shoots her a grateful smile. “Thanks. It’s okay.” He checks his phone. “Actually, I need all of you to clear out. Go do your shit elsewhere.”
My brows wrinkle. “Why?”
He squeezes his nape. “I’ve got someone coming over that agreed to help me study.”
“Why are you all shifty about a tutor?”
“It’s a girl,” Maya guesses.
Reeves turns to her with a harassed expression. I chuckle, slipping an arm around her waist.
“Oh, that changes everything,” I say. “You think she’s cute, huh?”
“I—well,” he stammers. “Shit. Look, she’s really quiet and shy. Hockey players freak her out. She thinks we’re too intense and it took a lot to convince her to help me. So I need everyone to fuck off for an hour if you want me saving goals for us.”
As he talks, he strides between the kitchen and living room until the guys clear out. They put up mild complaints, but pack up their stuff and move elsewhere. Maya exchanges a glance with me, both of us bouncing our brows in amusement. He comes back to herd us away.
“Relax, we’re going. We’ve got plans anyway,” I say.
We go up to my room to get Maya’s purse and my keys. I change into jeans and layer a hoodie over my t-shirt. On our way back downstairs, Reeves blocks the open door, talking to someone.
“No, it’ll be just us,” he says. “Not like a da—no. I need to pass this class. If I don’t, I won’t be able to play.”
The response from his mystery tutor is too muted to hear, but his shoulders slump in relief. He moves aside. A girl with curly brown hair and tan skin bundled in a fuzzy cream coat with bear paws on the sleeves steps through the door. She pauses when she sees us on the stairs.
Cameron clears his throat. “That’s Easton and his girlfriend Maya.”
“Hi,” Maya says in a welcoming tone.
The girl shifts closer to Cameron, as if she trusts him more in the face of the unfamiliar. “I’m Elodie. From his calc class.”
“Nice to meet you. Don’t mind us, we’re just heading out,” Maya says.
I follow her down the steps and give Cameron a supportive pat on the arm. “Good luck with studying.”
When the door closes behind us, Maya hugs my arm. “She’s so pretty.”
I hum in agreement. “Ready to go?”
She threads her fingers with mine. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope. Not until we get there.”
We stop at her apartment for a change of clothes. Reagan is still asleep when she pokes her head in to check on her. She sets out a fresh bottle of water for her and writes a note to say she’s out with me before we go to her room.
I sit on her bed while she rummages for an outfit. “If you don’t let me know what we’re doing, I don’t know what to wear.”
“Dress warm,” I advise cryptically.
She levels me with a look that’s a mix of exasperation and affection, swatting me with a stray pair of leggings. Once I deem her bundled enough, we get back in the car. During the ride, I rest one hand over the steering wheel and tuck the other between her thighs, thumb brushing her jeans.
When I pull up at the Heston Lake public rink, she grins.
“We’re going ice skating,” she says with certainty.
I squeeze her leg. “You know how to skate, right?”
“Of course I do,” she answers with an amused huff. “You think I let Ryan learn to skate by himself? As soon as he got his first pair of Bauers, I wanted them, too. I remember being so mad my dad got me figure skates instead of what Ryan had because I thought his were cooler.”
“That’s my girl.”
Once we rent skates for her, I sit her on a bench and tie them for her before I put mine on. I squeeze her ankle.
“How’s that feel?”
She wiggles her feet. “Good.”
Stepping onto the ice is ingrained in my muscle memory. Maya takes a minute to find her balance, cheeks coloring as she clutches me.
“Don’t laugh. I can skate, it’s just been a while. I’ve been too busy for stuff like this.”
I rub her elbows encouragingly, supporting her until she gains confidence. “I’m not in a hurry. We could spend the whole date like this if we need to. I just wanted to get you on the ice with me.”
The last of the stiffness leaves her. With a slight push, she coasts right into me. My arms circle her waist as I lower my head to meet her kiss.
“I’m pretty sure for an ice skating date, you’re supposed to skate,” she says when we part.
“I’m good with this.”
“If you want another kiss, you’ll have to come and get me.”
She pushes away, keeping just out of reach when I follow her.
My brows lift at the challenge. “Is that so? You know you’re asking an NHL draft prospect to chase you, right?”
The prospect rankings won’t be released until next month, but I’ve seen sports blogs talking about my plays this season. After each game we have more sports journalists wanting to talk to us. This time I know my name will be on that list.
She grins. “I dare you.”
“Oh, baby. When are you gonna learn?”
I keep my speed slow and easy while she skates off. When she has a far enough lead, I fly across the ice to close the distance between us. I scrape to a stop with inches to spare, using the slowed momentum to wrap her in my arms smoothly.
“I’ll never stop chasing you.” I tip her chin up for a kiss. “And I’ll always catch you.”
“That’s one,” she whispers.
I let her escape my grasp, eager to chase her down and capture her again and again. She hides behind giggling kids using the penguin aids for balance, weaving through the bustling rink.
By the fourth time I catch her, she knows she doesn’t stand a chance against me on the ice. I pin her against the boards separating the rink from the frozen lake to kiss her until we’re both dizzy. We rest our foreheads together, our thick warm breaths fanning our mouths.
When our game stops, we join the general flow of other people circling the outdoor rink.
After several loops of easy skating, the wind picks up. She typically doesn’t mind the cold, but the biting February chill cuts through our layers, making both of us shiver.
“Want some hot chocolate?”
“Yeah, I could use something to warm up.”
I glide closer and take her by the hips, muttering low words meant only for her. “I know how to warm you up.”
“Shh.” She covers her laughter with a hand. “Save it for later.”
“Come on.”
Holding her hand, I lead us to the cabin-style hut. It has a rough-hewn wooden bar open to the rink for skaters to take a break. I order drinks for us, adding on a cone of waffle fries because I know she’ll want them.
Once we have our food, we move to an open spot at the end of the wooden counter where it’s quieter. She digs into her fries, trying to eat them even though they’re freshly made.
“Don’t hurt yourself.”
“I’m okay. They’re too good to wait for them to cool down.”
“You have ketchup. Here.” Warmth spreads through me when I thumb it away from the corner of her mouth.
She murmurs a thank you, then moves closer to lean against me. I rub her back, sipping my hot chocolate while we take in the beautiful view of the lake.
“Thanks for today. I haven’t done this in forever,” she says.
“It’s nice to get on the ice for fun. Brings me back to the reasons I fell in love with it when I was a kid.” Nostalgia washes over me. “The first time my dad put a pair of skates on me, it changed my world.”
“You skate like you belong on the ice. I can’t imagine you doing anything else.”
I huff, raising my eyes to the sky. “He used to say that, too. You would’ve liked him.”
And he would’ve adored her.
She presses closer, resting her chin on my chest. “I wish I could’ve met him.”
“Me too.” A ghost of a smile twists my lips.
“So even though you’re earning a degree, it’s hockey all the way?”
“That’s the goal.” I rub my jaw. “If I don’t make the draft cut this summer…”
She hugs me when I trail off. “You can still get there after college if not, right? Ryan never shut up about it before we found out he was drafted after last season.”
“Yeah, as a free agent. The contracts aren’t as good, though.
First round picks have it made, then for each one after it’s less money and a lower chance of ever seeing game play.
Out of seven rounds of picks from the pool of players within the eligible age range, it’s only about sixty players that go all the way every year.
Even less that actually go on to have an NHL career. ”
“Wow. That’s more intense than I realized.”
“Yeah. I still won’t give up on it, though. My dad built this dream with me.” I rub my chest. “I always feel like I have him with me when I play. I want to make it there for me and for him. So I can take care of my mom and my little brother.”
My gaze shifts to her. I want to take care of everyone important to me.
“I still have a chance this year. For some guys it still works out, like Elijah’s older brother was a third round pick.
He was traded after his team didn’t make the playoffs.
Now he plays for the Seattle Kraken and he’s gone from two minutes of game time with his previous contract to a regular on Seattle’s roster. And you know Alex Keller.”
“So Heston has produced choice players.”
I lift a shoulder. “We’re definitely up there with the top schools draft picks tend to come out of. I just have to keep working hard to get there.”
She hugs me again, resting her cheek on my arm. “I’ve seen how you play. I believe in you with my whole heart.”
Something loosens in me knowing I have her support.
It doesn’t matter what we face. I’ll work to keep this because she’s too important to let go. It’s not her or my dreams. There’s no choice to make between the two—she’s become part of my dreams.
If anything, I have more to fight for to earn my spot on NHL ice. One more important person in my life to take care of.
I turn to her. “There’s something else I learned because of my dad.” My heartrate kicks up in anticipation. “I love you.”
It comes out simple and easy.
Her lips part. “You—?”
“Yeah.” Smiling, I cup her face and brush my lips against hers. “I love you, Maya Donnelly.”
She blinks rapidly, beautiful hazel eyes glimmering. “I—why now?”
“Why not? It’s how I feel. When I lost my dad, all I wanted was to tell him I loved him one more time. After that, I decided to always make sure the people I care about know it. I don’t need to wait to tell you when I already know.”
Her expression melts. She throws her arms around me with a strangled noise.
“You are the most infuriating, stubborn, ridiculous guy I’ve ever met. You drive me crazy.”
My embrace tightens at the affection filling her tone. “That’s a funny way of saying you love me.”
“Yeah, I guess it is.” She laughs thickly. “Because somehow you barreled into my life whether I wanted you to or not and made me fall for you. I need you.”
I hover my mouth over hers, unable to stop grinning. “You have me, baby. Now and always.”