Chapter 20
TWENTY
TALLY
I shouted and jumped up and down as Alec skated out onto the ice in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It was a little more than a month after his televised interview and it was the first time this season that his parents and I had managed to make it to one of his away games.
The atmosphere in the arena was electric. Thousands of hockey fans screamed support for their team and many of them held banners or signs. The three of us could have been lost in the masses if not for our position right above and behind the penalty box.
Alec glided around the inside of the rink, scanning the crowd. I could tell when he spotted us because he dipped his head in acknowledgement and shifted his focus to the warm-up.
“Are you excited?” his mom asked near my ear.
“Of course! I can’t wait to see him get out there and kill it.”
Her lips twisted ruefully. “Has it occurred to you that this is the first away game you’ve gone to as a couple?”
“Yeah.” Not that I saw why it mattered. Whether I was his best friend or his girlfriend, I was there to shout myself hoarse cheering for my favorite guy.
Mr. Wright offered me his fries, but I shook my head. I wasn’t hungry yet, although I was sure I would be soon. Fortunately, there were plenty of snack options.
On the ice, Alec performed drills with his fellow first line forwards. Each time he slipped the puck past Davi, I clapped, even though I doubted he could hear me. It made me feel like I was supporting him in spirit, even if he wasn’t conscious of my physical presence at every second.
They added a defender into the drill, and then another. After a while, the teams prepared to start and all but the starting lineup cleared off the ice. As expected, Alec was in the front line on the right.
The puck dropped and Vegas beat Cromwell to it, zigzagging up the ice.
Alec tried to steal the puck from the Vegas center, but he passed it off to the wing, who shot it back to the defense, who sent it straight back to the center, who was not clear to take a shot at goal.
Fortunately, Davi knocked the puck aside.
The game was tight. By the end of the first period, there was no score. The second period was more hands on, with a few players being roughly checked into the boards and a fistfight breaking out. It ended with no points on the board.
Entering the third period, both teams went in fast and hard. I could tell from watching Alec that he was tired, but he didn’t flag, and the coach didn’t swap out the first line despite how much game time they’d had. He wanted to win as badly as the players did.
One of Vegas’s wings broke away and rocketed down the side of the rink with the puck. Dexter cross-checked him and the puck zinged away, ricocheting off the side.
Cromwell took control of the puck and charged up the center.
Alec raced alongside him, gathering speed.
Cromwell was heading for a confrontation with the defense.
He caught Alec’s eye a millisecond before he flicked him the puck, and quicker than the goalie could react, my boyfriend slotted it past him, across the line and into the net.
The Dragons’ fans roared and clapped. Alec scanned the crowd and seemed to lock his attention onto us briefly before he continued to play.
After that, with a goal on the board and none for the opposition, the Dragons hung farther back, shoring up the defense to make sure Vegas didn’t have a chance of scoring.
Alec’s parents and I counted down the minutes until the whistle blew, the timer stopped counting down, and it was official. We’d won.
On the ice, Cromwell slammed into Alec, slinging his arm around his shoulder.
Alec hugged him back and then pushed him away lightly, circling around to congratulate each of his teammates in turn.
The guys who’d been on the bench loaded onto the ice and the next thirty seconds were a whirl of whoops as they celebrated.
Once the excitement died down, Alec circled around to the penalty box, tore off his helmet, and blew a kiss at me. My heart fluttered. My cheeks must have been fire engine red as I caught the kiss and blew him one back, using both of my hands to send it winging toward him.
He was so sweet. God, I adored him.
The players cooled down. We vacated the stands, hoping to exchange a few words with Alec on his way to the changeroom, but his coach had caught him, and their heads were together as they talked.
We waited outside, but when Alec re-emerged, he didn’t join us. Instead, he walked alongside Coach Alan, clad in a smart navy suit and a white shirt that brought out the glowing tan of his skin. He slipped me a secret smile as they passed.
“He must be doing press,” his Mom said, a complicated mix of disappointment and excitement crossing her face. No doubt she was disappointed she’d have to wait to hug her son but thrilled he’d been chosen as the team’s ambassador for the day.
We followed the pair to the media room and watched from outside as they fielded questions. Alec spoke well, but that shouldn’t be surprising considering he’d had a lifetime of experience.
One of the reporters near the back spotted us through the glass and seemed to be deciding whether to sneak out and try to get a sound bite from either me or Alec’s dad, a former NHL great. Fortunately, Coach Alan spoke at that moment, capturing her attention.
“We’ll take one last question,” he said.
“Yeah.” Alec grinned. “Much as I like talking to you guys, the love of my life is waiting.”
My heart lifted, and my soul felt light. He meant me. That gorgeous, successful man loved me.
Several hands flew up. Coach Alan pointed at a short, slim woman near the front.
She cleared her throat. “Your next game is against the Chicago Chaos. What do you expect the outcome to be?”
Alec stayed silent, letting Coach Alan respond.
“The Chaos aren’t having a particularly clean season,” the coach said, surprisingly tactfully. Everyone knew the Chaos were a hot mess. “We’re playing well, and I see no reason why we shouldn’t win the game. Thank you all for coming, and for your support.”
He backed away from the microphone and gestured toward the door.
Alec went ahead of him. As soon as he strode into the corridor, I raced over to him and threw myself into his arms. He closed them around me and kissed me.
Something flashed around us—perhaps the photographers trying to capture a feel-good moment. We both ignored them.
“I love you,” he said against my lips, echoing his earlier sentiment from during the interview.
I snuggled closer, soaking in the comfort provided by his broad chest. “I love you too.”
He gazed into my eyes, and everything inside me settled. All felt right with the world. I was in love with my best friend and he loved me back. Not many people were as lucky as us.
“Let’s get out of here,” he murmured.
I took his hand, more than happy to follow him anywhere. “I thought you’d never ask.”