33. Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Three
D ecember is in full swing here in Washington. Today is my first game day off since the season started, and the wives have messaged me non-stop about the proper attire to wear to cheer on our boys. The knowing grins they’ve been giving me since the Fourth of July party makes me believe they know something is going on between Dean, Mac, and me. Though they haven’t said a word about it.
My phone rings, and I roll my eyes, but grin, when Cheryl’s name brightens the screen. That woman is dead set on dragging me along on their shenanigans for the day. “Hey Cheryl.”
“Girl! Where the hell are you?” she asks with a huff.
“I’m at my apartment. Where else would I be?”
She groans. “You agreed to go with us to find a jersey for the game tonight!”
I laugh as I slip on my tennis shoes. “I never said I would go with you. You threatened to paddle my ass if I didn’t go.”
She hums. “I did say that, didn’t I? Well, you already agreed to go.”
Shaking my head, I grab my coat and slip it on. “I’m almost finished getting ready. You don’t need to send in the cavalry.”
“You’ve got thirty seconds to get your ass out the door or I’m sending in Karen.” She laughs as she hangs up.
A snort leaves me as I grab my phone and purse before heading out. Locking the door behind me, I make my way downstairs before rushing to the parking lot.
Glancing around, I find Cheryl waving an arm out of her driver side window before rolling it back up. The rear door to the SUV opens, and Samantha hops out, though, I suppose it is more of a slip and slide down than a hop, from the seat with the size of her belly.
She points over her shoulder with a smirk. “You’re between Dannielle and me.”
Samantha climbs back into the car after Ietting me hop in the middle. I look between the hockey wives, taking in their large bellies; they are due any day now. “Almost to the finish line, right?”
They both nod as they rub a hand over their belly. “If the boys don’t arrive in the next week, they will induce labor.”
“I really hope it doesn’t come to that,” Samantha whines, patting her belly before adding, “I know it’s comfortable in there, but Mommy wants you to come out and see the world. It’s beginning to feel a little tight in there.”
“I told you to try some of those old wives' tales to see if that helps,” Cheryl says over her shoulder.
Samantha groans. “Ever since we had sex a few weeks ago, and he swore the baby grabbed his dick, he won’t touch me.”
I can’t help but laugh. “He does know that’s not possible right?”
She raises an irritated brow before saying, “I’ve tried to explain that to him, but he swears up and down that the baby grabbed his dick. The man is too stubborn for his own good.”
I turn toward Dannielle. “What about you?”
She gives me a sour look. “Doug told Max what happened, and he’s locked up his cock too.”
The car erupts in laughter as we pull up to the shopping center and park. We begin to file out of the car, but before I get far Cheryl snatches my hand.
My eyes are wide as I meet her grinning face. “You’re not getting out of this shopping spree.”
I groan but let her drag me toward the shop where you can buy any jersey you could possibly want or need. “You don’t think it would be weird for me to wear a jersey with just one of the guys' numbers?”
She clucks her tongue. “If you’re sitting with us, you will be a proper cheerleader for your boys.”
I grunt but accept that I’m going to be dragged into this no matter what I say. Though, to be honest, I don’t hate the idea of wearing our team's jersey’s. But how am I supposed to decide what number to wear?
Cheryl releases my hand and gently smacks my butt. I look over my shoulder with an arched brow, but she just grins. “Get shopping!”
Rolling my eyes, I look around. There are several jerseys with Dean’s number as well as several with Mac’s number. It feels like a betrayal to choose one over the other, though.
Continuing to wander around, I finally find a customizable jersey. Smirking, I decide that’s the winner and make my way up to the woman at the counter. “Can I get this customized by tonight?”
She arches a brow before shrugging. “As long as it’s not too difficult, I should be able to.”
“Can you put Monroe as the last name on the back, along with the number sixty-nine?”
The woman smirks. “Sixty-nine?”
I nod and continue, “And can you put the number thirty-five on one sleeve and eleven on the other?”
Her smirk widens, but she nods. “Sure. I can do that. Give me a few hours to get it done. If you give me your phone number, I can text you when it’s done.”
I nod and pay, then give the woman my number to let me know when it’s ready. As I make my way out of the store, my eyes meet Cheryl’s. She arches a brow and says, “I don’t see a jersey.”
I point behind me as I reply, “I’m having it customized.”
“Well, do we get to see it before tonight?” Samantha asks with a smirk of her own.
I shake my head. “You girls will just have to wait and be surprised like the guys.”
It’s odd being on this side of the boards. I’m impressed we were able to get seats in front, so the players will immediately see us as they skate in. Rock music blares through the rink, and I hold my breath as the players are announced.
The moment Dean’s name is called, the crowd goes wild. He takes to the ice, his eyes searching the crowd before they land on me. He grins and makes his way over, taking in my jersey.
He bangs a hand on the glass before making a swirling motion, telling me to turn around. I spin, and when my eyes meet his again, he’s sporting a wide grin before pointing to the sleeve with his number.
“I like it, Ice Princess. My number looks good on you!” he yells before backing away.
Mac’s is announced, and it doesn’t take him long to find me. He’s slow as he makes his way over. I spin again before he even asks. He lifts his helmet, so his face guard isn’t blocking his face. The smile he gives me is soft. “Tu as l'air à couper le souffle, Chérie.”
I’m not sure what that means, but the way he says it makes my cheeks heat. I give him a shy smile. “I think I’m supposed to say thank you. But I don’t know what any of that meant.”
He taps the glass with his glove before skating to his post. I hear a woman’s high-pitched voice yell, “Move out of the way!”
I turn and spot Danni attempting to move through the crowd toward me. “Danni?”
She squeezes through the last few people until she reaches me. Holding up a carabiner of bracelets, she says, “The guys wanted to make sure you held onto these for them. Apparently, it’s a job they only trust you with.”
I snort as I take it and clip it onto my belt loop. “Crazy men.”
When I look up again she’s holding out two bracelets. “Lewi and Oli said these had to be with you, as well, but couldn’t be shoved with the others.”
I take them from her with a nod, gently slipping them onto my wrist. As my gaze meets hers, I smile. “Thank you, Danni.”
She nods and backs away. “Got to get back to work.”
I cup my hands around my mouth as I shout, “Take care of my boys.” She laughs and gives me a thumbs-up.
My attention is pulled back to the ice as the game begins. A player on the other team is slammed into the boards in front of me, and I laugh as Taz’s eyes meet mine. He gives me a wink before taking off toward the puck.
I love the game and working on the sidelines as an athletic therapist. But nothing compares to being surrounded by screaming fans and watching the carnage from behind the boards.
Damn... I love hockey.