Chapter Thirty-Two
Rowan
“Fuck yeah!! That was hell of a game boys!” I couldn’t be more proud of how well we played, me included.
It’s the first game in a long time where I felt like my old self. Like my mind and body finally lined up again. Damn it felt good. And it felt even better to look up in the stands every time I scored to find her watching.
It fueled me. The first time I sent my puck through the net I instinctively sought her out. The pride in her eyes and the seductive tilt to her lips kept me working my ass off to keep that look on her face.
Puck after puck, I found her in the crowd after every goal. By the end of the game it wasn’t even about scoring anymore, it was all about her.
I tear my gear off, more than a little excited to get out of here and go see my girl.
My girl.
I smile as I slide my sock off. Hell yeah, she’s my girl.
“That was fucking epic, Cap,” Beau says as he claps me on the shoulder.
My smile instantly sours and I shrug his friendly gesture off.
Beau isn’t the least bit perturbed, in fact he looks too damn smug for my liking. “Don’t be like that Cap. It was all in good fun.”
I don’t like that I’m letting him sour my mood. We haven’t had a chance to hash all this shit out since I figured out he switched Millie’s number in my phone with his. Frankly, I’ve been too distracted with all the stuff going on with Millie and handling all this shit with Aiden’s dad tonight.
“It wasn’t good fun, Beau. You crossed a line.” Now I’m all pissed off and that pisses me off even more. Tonight’s been a great night and I don’t want Beau’s stupid ass to ruin it. I grab my shower bag and slam my locker door shut.
“From where I’m sitting you should be thanking me. It worked, didn’t it?” There’s that smug ass smirk again.
“The fuck you talking about? What worked?” I practically growl, my teeth grinding together in barely restrained anger.
“Don’t even pretend that you didn’t fake diarrhea to run off and see your girl. The old Rowan would have never done that.”
My jaw ticks. My hand flexes. I feel like punching him but I know that will get me in trouble with coach and cause shit to hit the fan in the locker room.
All I want to do is shower and get to Millie.
“Don’t fucking insert yourself into my business again,” I command, leaving little room for argument.
“I don’t think I’ll have to,” Beau says cryptically before walking off towards the showers.
Great, just fucking great.
I grab my towel and start heading that way before I’m stopped again. This time it’s Aiden. I raise one eyebrow in aggravation at the interruption. Can’t a guy just take a damn shower?
“I just wanted to say thank you for handling all that shit with my dad. Sounds like it went as well as we could have hoped. Olivia texted and said he wasn’t too big of a prick and she got a pretty decent story out of the whole ordeal.”
I instantly feel bad for my irritation towards him. It had nothing to do with him, and I was a dick when he was just trying to express his gratitude. “That’s great, man,” I answer sincerely, because I really do mean it. “Glad to hear it.”
Aiden just stands there watching me for a moment before asking, “Looks like you got your luck back, huh?”
I smile at the reminder of how good tonight’s game went and I think I only have one person to thank for it. My good luck charm, Millie St. James. “I think so, man.”
“Good to have you back, Cap,” he says as he slaps me on the shoulder.
“Good to be back.” I return the gesture.
Once he walks off and I make sure there isn’t anyone else that needs my attention I head straight to the shower, making quick work of rinsing off.
It isn’t long before I’m in the arena, searching for my good luck charm.
Ah, there she is. And boy is she a beautiful sight.
If I thought I had lost my marbles for wanting to seek her out midgame and then acting on that impulse, it had nothing on this moment.
Right now, I want to go over and kiss the hell out of her. Claim her in front of all the people I care about and even those that are strangers. I want everyone to know who she belongs to.
There's just one problem. She doesn't belong to me, at least not yet.
I do the next best thing. I go up and grab her around the waist, pulling her into my side and then my front, giving her the biggest hug I can manage.
Her face softly plants into my chest and I hear the tiniest giggle. "Hey, there."
"Hi," I say softly as my hand goes up to cradle the back of her head.
She leans her head back, her eyes twinkling with an emotion I feel deep in my chest.
"How did you like the game?"
She doesn't hesitate to answer. "I loved it! Rowan you are—" she shakes her head in disbelief. "Amazing to watch. Thank you for inviting me."
"If I could have it my way, you would be at every game. I should be thanking you."
She smiles, "What do you mean?"
"I think you're my new good luck charm, Daredevil." My smile is unabashed and uninhibited. "That's the best I've ever played and it's all thanks to you."
Her smile turns shy. "I think you did all that on your own, Rowan. Don't sell yourself short."
But I'm already shaking my head, "Nope, it was all you, beautiful." I lean down and plant a soft kiss on the top of her forehead, wishing I could do so much more. The small gesture settles a little of the unrest in my chest but not by much.
"Well, I guess we can agree to disagree." That shy smile has turned into the stubborn smile I've come to love.
"Whatever you want to call it but just know I'm right. Maybe I should take up calling you Lucky Charm instead."
Her head whips back in disbelief. "You better not! I'm rather fond of my current nickname."
That has me smiling ear to ear. "Is that so?"
"Yes, it is."
Her lips are so irresistibly beautiful that I find myself inching closer. "I don't know Lucky Charm has a certain ring to it."
"So does Daredevil."
I hum, "Maybe we should take a poll? See which one wins?"
She hums right back, her lips puckering slightly. "Maybe we shouldn't."
I finally give in and run my nose along the apple of her cheek, taking in her intoxicating scent. "Where's the fun in that?"
She shivers at the contact and I use the opportunity to pull her even closer. Now we're practically glued together, front to front. "There isn't any but I get to keep the name I like more."
"Who's to say you won't grow to love Lucky Charm just as much?"
"Because…" she trails off, taking in a little surprised puff of air as soon as my mouth grazes her earlobe.
This is the most fun I've had in a long time. Even more fun than the game I just played. There is something fundamentally intoxicating about this woman. I think I could have a lifetime of it and never tire of the feeling.
I nip at her ear and she practically purrs like a cat. "Because what?"
She sighs, finally wrapping her arms around my neck to pull me closer. The move stirs something deep in my chest. Love.
"Because I like the way Daredevil sounds on your lips. The way your mouth tilts up with affection or how your eyes twinkle with mischief every time you say it. Lucky charm just wouldn't be the same." She sounds so disappointed, like I'm trying to take away one of her favorite things.
I pull back just enough to meet her eyes, "Baby, that tilt of my lips and twinkle in my eye has nothing to do with a nickname."
I feel her fingers at the base of my neck.
I groan as she starts weaving her fingers through my hair.
It feels so good I almost lose track of what I'm trying to say but this is important.
I need her to hear me, "It has everything to do with you.
Just you. It doesn't matter what I call you, because you will always get that same reaction. "
"Rowan," she whispers as desperately as I feel.
Just to prove it to her I lean further back so she gets a good and clear view. Then I say it, letting the emotions that I feel for this girl course through my body. Letting it bleed through my words and facial expressions. "Lucky Charm."
Her smile is wobbly, her eyes water with unshed tears. "Point taken," she finally says with a shaky voice.
My hand pushes her hair back off her face before I lean down and place a gentle kiss on her cheek. "That's my good girl."
She gasps, then moans, "You can't say things like that to me in public."
Ohhh, game on. I pull her towards me once again, this time letting my hands wander further down her back, dangerously close to her ass. "What about in private?"
"Oh, my gosh. You're too much."
I laugh as I pull her around to my side and start leading us towards the exit. "No, baby. I'm just right."