Chapter 42
MAC
“This is hilarious and awesome.” I spin Fee around so I can get a look at it. “When did you have time to make this?”
“I’m glad you like it. I’ve been working on it for a while. We’re all wearing one.”
“All of you?” Fee reworked the Tilton Blaze logo, and it now features a hockey player riding a howling wolf with a puck in place of the moon. Her player has my name and number on the jersey.
“Cammie has a Chase jersey, and of course I snuck Brody onto Enid’s, but we’re all representing tonight.”
“I fucking love it. I love you.” I pull her into my arms.
“You’ve got this.” Fee smooths her hands over my chest and links her fingers behind my neck.
I nod my agreement. “I do have this.” I’ve been on my game and only improving these last few weeks.
“You’re going to play a kick-ass game, and then we’re going to celebrate with our friends like we do, and after all the friend celebrations are over, we’ll have a private one of our own.
” She tugs on the back of my neck, pulling me down until her lips are at my ear.
“And you’ll insist I wear my socks because it’s your adorable kink, and you’ll whisper filthy things to me and make me come until I’m delirious, and then we’ll cuddle and you’ll spoon me to sleep. ”
“It’s like you know me.”
“Right?” She grins impishly. “But seriously, Mac, you’ve been so smooth on the ice. And consistent. You have a ton of assists over the past month, and your stats are right where they were last year. You’ll be awesome tonight. I can feel it in my bones.”
I bite my lips together.
She grins and whispers, “And later you get to feel it in your boner.”
We both laugh, and I hug her tightly.
Gage passes and makes a heart with his hands while batting his lashes.
“Go suit up. I’ll be cheering for you rinkside.” She pats my chest.
I join my teammates in the locker room. I’m still jittery, but my confidence is back.
Tristan and Quinn Romero came out to practice with Brody earlier in the week, and Gage, Chase, and I were invited to join.
It was cool to hear about Quinn’s experience, and how you never know what can happen.
He was drafted early but didn’t get called up until a few years ago.
He’s in the back half of his mid-twenties, has a master’s and most of a PhD, and now he’s playing professional hockey and having a great season with the Terror.
We take the ice for warm-ups, and I spot Fee and our friends in the stands, along with Roman and Lexi, Brody’s family, including his brothers, and Quinn, and all of them are wearing Fee’s cool-ass matching hoodies.
The Terror players are currently being mobbed by fans, and Hammer, Fee’s sort of pseudo extra-sister who works for Terror PR, is running interference.
And then I spot the legend himself, Quinn’s dad, Lance Romero, who helps run the Hockey Academy stateside along with Alex Waters, out in Pearl Lake.
Steele adjusts his helmet. “Dude, look at all the famous people who came to see us play tonight.”
I clap him on the shoulder. “One day that will be us.”
I’m manifesting the fuck out of that dream. I want that to be my life. Not necessarily the part about being mobbed by fans but living my dream. Playing professional hockey, traveling all over North America.
The game gets off to a solid start with one of the third-year players scoring a goal in the first three minutes of play. Guelph tries to tie it up, but we’re playing tight. I’m on the ice with Stiles, Steele and Lovett during the back half of the first period.
I snag the puck from a Guelph forward and pass it to Lovett, who passes to Stiles.
He takes the shot on net, but Guelph intercepts it.
Gage reclaims the puck and passes it to Lovett, who passes it to me.
Stiles is being guarded by two of Guelph’s players, and another is making Lovett impossible to pass to.
Which means it’s up to me to take the shot.
I fake a pass to Steele and the goalie shifts his position, giving me the opportunity I need.
I take the shot, the puck flipping up in the air and sailing past his glove to hit the back of the net.
My teammates converge on me, with backslaps and way-to-gos. The fans shout and clap. It’s a beautiful high, and I search for my girlfriend in the stands. She catches my gaze and blows me a kiss, her pride written all over her face.
We extend our lead by another goal in the second period, and Stiles scores another in the third, with our goalie maintaining the shutout.
The locker room is frenetic with excitement. We shower and change into our dress clothes, then meet up with our friends and family waiting in the lobby.
People have grown accustomed to seeing Roman at games lately, but Quinn and Tristan are being bombarded by fans, as are Alex and Lance. The resemblance between Quinn and Lance is uncanny. They have the same dark red hair—although Lance’s is graying at the temples—freckles, and clover green eyes.
Alex and Lance finally manage to pry themselves away from the fans thanks to Hammer stepping in to redirect them.
“That was a great game, boys,” Alex praises, then points to me. “Beautiful goal. You assessed the options and didn’t hesitate to take the shot. The risk paid off.”
“Thank you, sir.” That’s it. Year made. Alex Waters told me I had a great game.
Fee finally makes her way through the throng to me. Her smile is wide and infectious. I open my arms and she throws hers around my neck. “You were magic out there tonight.”
I spin her around, hugging her tightly before I set her back on her feet. And then because I’m riding the high, I take my girlfriend’s face in my palms and kiss her.
In front of our coaches.
In front of hockey legends.
In front of her family and Roman, who still might kill me.
But at least I’ll die happy.