Chapter 9
Brody
“Whooooweeee, McKenna. Save it for tonight, will you?” Pax whistles at the frog print thong I’m wearing.
“My eyes are burning!” Zane shouts with his hands over his face.
Wendell’s giving me a curious look. “Do not tell me Willow got you two matching sets?”
Zane jumps up in his face. “That’s my sister you’re talking about—”
“That’s my girlfriend you’re talking about, Wendell.” I slug him in the shoulder and he just smirks at me. Zane gives Wendell a little shove before acknowledging me with a head nod, as if to say she’s mine to protect now.
“Can we focus on the game, kids?” Hayes, our goalie, shakes his head at us. “It’s time to get on the ice and you idiots are hollering about thongs.”
I pat him reassuringly on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, you’ll be hollering about thongs soon, too.”
“Nope. Not gonna happen,” he grumbles.
“Don’t mind him. He’s just grumpy because we’re playing his brother on the Calgary Courage tonight.” Pax claps him on the other shoulder before Hayes shoos us both away.
We head out on the ice and the first thing I do is look for Willow and send her a wink from under my helmet. The soft blush that reaches her cheek makes my heart expand with pride.
She’s all mine. Finally.
The game’s underway, tied one-one. The announcers are all over Hudson and Hayes. Two brothers. Two goalies. Who will come out ahead tonight?
As a defensemen, it’s my job to help the goalie. And now that I’m not denying myself Willow, I feel freed up on the ice.
Calgary Courage’s captain, Maddox Mercer, glides up the ice, ripping the puck toward Beckett Dubois.
Beckett shoots a one timer but the puck ricochets off the post and slides right ahead of me.
Lunging for the puck I see my chance at a breakaway.
Without hesitation, I take off. There’s a surge of energy within me that can’t be explained by anything other than Willow.
I’m free and clear, no one’s even close. A deke to the right, toe drag, and shoot. The puck hits the back of the net and the lights go off.
My name’s announced throughout the arena, but the only name I’m thinking of is Willow. The boys crowd me and I fist bump the line as I skate past. But I stop when I see Willow and mouth the words, For you.
Next to her, Lacy nudges her and the two of them giggle. This is how it’s supposed to be. My girl in the stands, cheering for me. Wearing my jersey.
We win two-one.
After the game, for the first time ever—but certainly not the last—Willow’s waiting for me in the friends and family box.
A man on a mission, I storm over to her and take her in a long, deep kiss.
She’s breathless when she pulls back. “Good game, Monk.”
“You still gonna call me that?”
She shrugs cutely. Even though it used to irritate me to no end, now I love that she’s got something unique to call me. It’s all her own. I’m all her own.
I pick her up and squeeze her. It’s not the exact time I would have picked to let the words spill out, but around her, I don’t want to deny myself anymore. “I love you, Willow.”
I can hear a soft sniffle and I’m on high alert as I search her face. “Shit. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.” She wipes at her nose. “I love you, too.”
“Why are you crying?”
“I’m just super glad that I don’t ever have to wear nipple tassels again to get your attention.”
My head drops back as a laugh rumbles out of me.
“You never have to wear them again. But if you want to…I’ve got them stored in a safe place.”
“You kept them?” She asks in shock.
“I’m keeping those as long as I’m keeping you. Forever.”