Chapter 25 #2
The puck dropped, and Liam won the faceoff.
He also shouldered the other center out of the way, and the crowd was again going wild.
Instead of just cycling the puck and keeping it away from the other team until the clock ran out, Liam charged into the offensive zone.
Chris and Temo were right behind him. A Portland defender tried to hit Liam the way Temo had hit the other player, but despite being bigger than Liam, the guy just bounced off him.
Liam kept going as if nothing had happened.
For a second, I thought he was going to pass to Temo, but then—
The goal light came on again. The goal horn sounded over an elated and admittedly slightly shocked crowd.
“How the hell did he get it in?” Nick asked over the noise. “One second, he was skating, the next…” He gestured at the guys celebrating.
I laughed as I continued applauding. “Hockey.”
He nodded. Wasn’t that the truth. Things happened so goddamned fast in this sport, if you blinked, you could miss an entire play.
In this case, as we watched the replay, what we’d missed was a viper-fast backhand that caught the crowd, the goalie, and probably the laws of physics off-guard.
Liam’s line went to the bench. The second line came out to finish out the final eight seconds.
We were all on our feet and cheering the entire time, even as Portland made a valiant attempt to get the puck and make a play.
Craws snatched it away with four seconds to go, and he just skated around with it until the buzzer sounded.
“Wow.” Katie dropped into her chair, touching her chest. “That game was wild.”
“No kidding!” Charli exhaled. “I think I’d have a heart attack if I came to every game.”
“I sometimes wonder if I will,” I laughed.
Nick smirked. “You’d think they’d make old people get checked out before—”
“Quiet, you.” I rolled my eyes. The kids all laughed, and I chuckled too.
There was no point in rushing down to the locker room. The guys still needed to shower, dress, do their media availability, and eat. They wouldn’t be ready for family members to come trooping in for a while yet.
While we waited, the stars of the game were announced. On the Jumbotron, three blank spaces appeared.
“Third star, from Pittsburgh,” the announcer called out, “with thirty-eight saves, number thirty-five, Chase Barnum.”
We all clapped as Barns’s face appeared in the third spot.
“Second star, from Pittsburgh, with one goal and two assists”—my son’s face appeared besides Barns’s—“number fifty-five, Christopher Kane!”
My face hurt from smiling as the remaining crowd roared and Chris skated out to salute them.
“And first star, from Pittsburgh, with two goals and one assist—your captain, number sixteen, Liam. Saint. Clair!”
Oh, hell, the rush I got when his portrait appeared beside Chris’s. And again when Liam skated out to salute the crowd. Guilt was still roiling in its usual place in my stomach, but mostly I was overwhelmed with joy and excitement for two of the most important men in my life.
“It’s wild that he’s playing on the same line as one of his idols.” Nick shook his head. “Like not just the same team—the same line. That’s amazing.”
“I know, right?” Jasmine beamed. “You should’ve seen him the first time his coach had him practice with Saints. He was like a kid on Christmas for days.”
“Aww, that’s so adorable,” Charli said. “What a dream come true!”
It really was. Chris had worked so hard and overcome so much, and now he was living his dream. He was killing it out there, too, and making a name for himself in the League. I couldn’t have been prouder.
Eventually, family members started heading down the locker room, so we followed. As we walked, my heart was in my throat, but not because of Chris. I hadn’t been in the same room as Liam since the family skate. Hadn’t seen him outside my phone screen or the Jumbotron.
And now I’d have to keep my hands and feelings to myself. Stay casual. Keep everything between us out of everyone’s sight.
Luckily, the locker room got very crowded very quickly, which gave me an excuse to hang back in the hallway. Several other family members were out here, too, so I was hardly conspicuous. The kids went in to greet Chris and be introduced to more of his teammates. I just waited out here.
After a while, people started emerging from the room. Players came out with their carry-on luggage, said goodbye to their family members, and headed for the bus that would take them to the airport.
And even though I knew he was here, I wasn’t ready when Liam came out of the room. He adjusted his bag on his shoulder, and right then, he looked at me.
For a second, we both froze. All the noise from the locker room seemed to fall away, and my God, I barely resisted the temptation to stride over and kiss him goodbye.
The fact that we couldn’t even share a platonic goodbye without turning heads and raising suspicions was beyond frustrating.
Even a quick handshake, a smile, a “have a good trip,” a “good luck at the game”—it all seemed so innocent, but there was also too much potential for someone to notice the heat between us whenever we locked eyes.
He was the one to break the spell, dropping his gaze and fussing with the strap on his bag. Then he shifted his attention to Temo, exchanging some chirping I couldn’t quite hear as they headed for the door.
And at the door…
He paused…
And looked back.
Fuck me.
It was a quick glance—barely enough time to make eye contact—and before he was gone, taking all the air in the room with him. Suddenly I was standing there like an idiot, yet again out of breath with my head spinning and my heart pounding.
God, I wanted him. I wanted us to be able to exchange affectionate touches or even looks in public. I wanted us to be sharing a bed tonight. I wanted everything with him.
That smoldering look would have to tide me over for now, though, and I just shook myself and tried not to let anyone else notice how flustered I was.
I mostly succeeded, too; if any of the Phantoms or my kids caught on, they didn’t say.
All through saying goodbye to Chris and wishing him well on the road trip, I played it cool even while my brain was stumbling over Liam.
Jasmine and Chris shared a kiss, and he gave her belly a tender pat. Then he kissed her forehead, picked up his bag, waved at all of us, and headed out after his teammates.
It was admittedly a relief to finally be on our way out ourselves. All I had to do now was say goodbye to Nick, Charli, and Katie as they got into their rental car, and then get Jasmine home. Once I was alone, I could think about the man who’d made the whole world list beneath my feet.
I made it halfway down the hall to the parking garage when my phone pinged.
Liam
When I get home, IDGAF how sore I am. I’m going to plow you into that mattress.
I almost stumbled, my breath hitching as I took in his filthy promise.
“Dad?” Katie asked. “You okay?” She looked at my phone and frowned. “Something wrong?”
“Oh. Uh.” I shoved my phone into my pocket and laughed. “I’m good.”
Both of my kids, along with Jasmine and Charli, eyed me curiously. Was my face as red as it felt?
I cleared my throat and gestured up ahead. “We should get out of here. Traffic ought to be lighter by now.”
They were still puzzled, but they let the subject go and we continued toward the car.
And I couldn’t catch my damn breath for the rest of the night.