Chapter 32
The arena was a madhouse. I’d never been in attendance for a playoff game before, and unlike all the other games where Marco and I had come to watch from the top of the stands, this time I had a premium seat next to the TU bench.
I tugged at the hem of my tight t-shirt, trying to get it to sit comfortably. Dad hadn’t realized it was a sleep shirt when he grabbed my clothes, but he got a pass on his fashion faux pas because I’d been unconscious in the hospital. At least the jeans fit right.
We’d made it to the arena with little time to spare. Cole and Dad had insisted I come with them to the locker room, but my presence would be a huge red flag, especially after Dad’s absence. I wanted the team to focus on kicking Easton’s ass, not my drama.
After a lot of arguing and me throwing a shoe—not mine, I wouldn’t do that to my boots—Cole and Dad had left me in the tender care of Eva, Stephen, and Marco. They’d met me in the hallway and escorted me to my fancy new spot before splitting off to get snacks and drinks. Sitting by myself for a few minutes next to the ice was surprisingly calming. I closed my eyes and breathed in the cool air, letting my mind relax among the thousands of students and fans filling the stands.
Stephen patted my knee, pulling me from my zen as he stepped over me with his long legs. I’d met him once before, but we’d barely exchanged a few words. He was tall, attractive, and way too put together for me. I sat up at his touch, but his gaze was fixed on the others in our little group still coming down the row.
Eva flopped into the seat next to me, and the perfectly curled ponytail of her pink-streaked blonde hair smacked me in the shoulder. I knew her better than Stephen—mostly through her reputation—but we hadn’t spent much time together because I didn’t really leave Cole’s room when I was over at their house.
“How’s Henry?” I asked, trying to be polite.
“Henry’s pouting, as usual. She hates coming to games but she never wants to be left alone.” She sighed, and Stephen leaned over her to talk to me.
“Eva likes to be the only princess in the house, but she raised a duck who rivals her for attention.”
Eva whacked him in the shoulder. “Don’t be an ass, Stephen. At least give me a chance to woo her before you reveal my true nature.”
Marco dropped into the seat on the other side of me, already stuffing his mouth with an obscene amount of nachos. “I think we’re all aware of your true nature, Eva.”
I raised a brow as I looked back and forth between them. “I didn’t realize you two knew each other.”
Marco scoffed and sent Stephen an appreciative glance. “Everyone knows Eva. Him, I’d like to know better.”
Stephen reached past us to hold out a hand. “Stephen Delucca.”
“Marco Lawson.”
A heated exchange passed between them, and the handshake lasted a beat too long. Stephen pulled away, but slowly. “I like your nails. Edgy.”
Marco smiled, all charm. “You should see the rest of me.”
Stephen quirked a brow. “I’m free after the game.”
I shared a look with Eva, and I was pretty sure we’d come to the same conclusion—we should have introduced the two of them way sooner. Eva shrugged and elbowed Stephen back to his side of her chair.
“I have something for you,” she said, then dove into the giant tote bag at her feet.
My brows rose when she emerged with a neatly folded red jersey. MATHIS was written across the top of the fold. She shook it out and held it up, grinning around the side.
“It’s kind of my signature move. I assumed you and Cole weren’t hiding anymore after last night and him calling in the cavalry.”
Marco leaned over. “I called in the cavalry.”
“Semantics.” She waved away his correction and set the jersey in my lap before pointing to the jersey she was wearing with Gavin’s last name. “They love it when we let them mark us.”
I laughed and rubbed my hand over the silky material. It was almost the same as the one I’d worn when I’d finally given in to Cole. “No going back after this, is there?”
“Why would you want to?”
“Good point.” I tugged the top over my head and let it settle around me. At least it would be warmer than my t-shirt. “Do you just have these on hand in case of emergencies?”
Eva rolled her eyes. “Of course not. I’ve been carrying this around for weeks.”
“Weeks?”
“Yep.” She popped the word, then nodded at the ice where Gavin, Cole, and Reece were trying to get shots past Mase. “I have one for Reece and Mase too, but don’t tell them or they’ll get all weird about it.”
“No promises.” I leaned back in my seat and watched Cole turn to scan the arena, finding me almost immediately. His eyes drifted down to the jersey, and he grinned before Dad barked something at him. He couldn’t see the back to know his name was on it, but I had a feeling he knew.
“I wasn’t sure you were aware of me and Cole,” I told her.
Eva sent me an incredulous look. “How do you think you two kept things secret this long? You weren’t exactly subtle with all the eye-fucking. I swear taking care of everyone’s relationships is a full-time job.”
Stephen chimed in again. “You could—I don’t know—let them handle it themselves.”
Marco nudged me and leaned closer. “Invite me over after the game.”
I frowned at him. “I’m not going home.”
“I know,” he whispered. “Invite me to Cole’s.” His gaze tracked to Stephen, who’d started arguing with Eva about sleeping arrangements.
“Fine. You’re invited, but I doubt Cole and I will stay in the common area for long.”
Marco smirked at me. “I’m hoping I won’t either.”
When the lights dropped to dramatically introduce the teams, I stood and screamed hard at Cole’s name. He skated past our row and raised his hand to trail over the glass in front of me. Gavin followed him, blowing Eva a kiss. Stephen sighed loud enough for me to hear him over the pounding bass of the entrance music.
Hockey was much more nerve-wracking when I actually cared about the outcome. I chatted with the others during intermissions, but when the guys were playing, I was glued to the action. Unlike last night, TU took an early lead and never relinquished it.
The guys played a brutal game of who could hit Kane the hardest, which Marco explained was because the gray house where I’d squared up on Scott belonged to Kane’s dad. I couldn’t help but grin a little wider every time Kane ended up sprawled across the ice.
The whole ordeal seemed like it had happened a long time ago instead of that morning, but I wasn’t worrying about my reaction yet. Tonight, I wanted to forget my near miss and watch my boyfriend and dad do what they loved. What I loved, if I was honest. I hadn’t lost the rush I used to feel coming to my dad’s games, no matter how deep I’d tried to bury the feeling under resentment and hurt.
TU crushed Easton. My old school didn’t stand a chance, and I felt a petty sense of satisfaction watching Kane snarl at his teammates as they filed into the locker room after the last buzzer. For a fleeting second, I wondered if my mom was watching, but I knew the answer.
No. She hated hockey, maybe more because I’d secretly loved it.
We’d won the first round of conference playoffs, so we’d advance to the semi-finals, then the championship, then the Frozen Four. Dad had done an amazing job building this program from scratch, and I couldn’t wait to watch them succeed.
Eva pushed her way through the chaos to the bench, where Gavin walked right past his celebrating teammates to scoop her up. He didn’t break stride as he carried her to the locker room tunnel. When I scanned the blob of hockey players for Cole, I found him staring directly at me, surrounded by a wall of women.
I had to laugh because his expression was easy, but his eyes were begging for rescue. Good thing for him I knew something about rescuing golden boy hockey players from puck bunnies. I strode through the masses with my shoulders back and my head high, attitude in every step. People made way, including the puck bunnies, and Cole’s gaze ignited.
His arms came around me as soon as I was close enough, and I pulled his head down for a scorching, possessive kiss. I sighed and melted into him, uncaring we were at the center of attention. The puck bunnies, the arena, the rivalry with Easton, everything faded away, like it always did with his mouth on mine.
Cole stroked his thumb gently across my cheek, then cupped the back of my head, keeping me close.
“I love seeing my name on you,” he growled.
I grinned, fully aware of what waited for me under his gear. “Get used to it. You’re stuck with me now.”
“City girl, I’ve been stuck on you since the first time you walked past me in your ass-kicking boots. Glad you finally caught up.”
I playfully slapped at his chest, but he caught my hand and kissed my palm.
“Want to know a secret?” he asked.
“Always,” I whispered back.
“I love you, and one day, I’m going to marry you. Then you’ll always have my name.”
The thought didn’t scare me anymore, only filled me with excitement for the future we could make together. “I love you too, farm boy.”
“Then let’s go celebrate.” He grinned as he picked me up and carried me toward the locker room.
Marco let out a shrill whistle behind me, and I peeked over Cole’s shoulder. He waved, then pointed at Stephen with wide eyes that clearly said girl, I’ll see you later. I laughed and nodded, waving back.
Seb had asked me to submit an article tonight about the game, but it could wait until tomorrow. It could all wait until tomorrow. I was happy and free and in the arms of the man I loved. Tonight, nothing else mattered.