45. Zack
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
zack
“Candy corn and cold brew coffee for the newest member of the Maine Meteors.” I pass Evvy a giant pile of candy with her daily cup of coffee.
“You promise this will stop after this weekend?”
“I promise I’ll stop until next Halloween.”
“See, your words say yes, but your face is saying something different.”
“What’s my face saying?” She’s not naive. I love our little morning ritual, even if our stash of candy corn is quickly growing out of control.
“That you have a secret stash of candy corn that’s going to make appearances when I least expect it.”
“No.” My face contorts as I bite back a laugh.
“There it is again.” She knows me so well.
“You love my face! How about now?” I smile before my lips collide with hers, giving her a taste of the candy corn I just stole from her pile.
“Hmm, still not sure I believe you.”
“My lips want to work on convincing you, but you’ll just have to wait and see, my Halloween girl.” I slide onto the barstool next to her.
“Are you sure you don’t mind me working for the team? I don’t want to intrude. You were here first, and I don’t want things to be weird for you.”
Ever since she was offered a job yesterday, she’s been worried about how it will affect me.
I just wish she would be happy for herself for once.
It’s time for her to be a little selfish.
And I’d give anything to see Evvy more often.
Hell, they could assign her to be my new shadow and I’d say sign her up!
I cup her cheek. “Do you want to work for the team?”
“Yes, but—”
“No buts,” I tell her. “We can make decisions together, but what you want is what’s most important to me. But just so you know, I’m thrilled to have you working for the team. Beyond thrilled.”
“You’re sure?”
“Absolutely, sweetheart.” I press a tender kiss to her lips.
“But if that ever changes, you’ll tell me, right?”
My eyes squeeze shut and I’m grinning. I’ll never get enough of Evvy. “It won’t change. But if it does, which it won’t, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Okay,” she says as my fingers wrap around her wrist. “Are you nervous about the game tonight?”
“Nope. It’s my first home game in Maine, and you’ll be in the stands. I can’t fucking wait. Kicking Jeff’s team’s ass at home will also be…chef's kiss.” I bring my fingers to my lips before blowing them out with a kiss.
“Heck, yeah it will!” Evvy’s lips turn up into a sinful smile I know all too well. “What time are you leaving? Want to start a new pregame ritual?” Her hand travels up my thigh before cupping my growing bulge.
Before I can answer, Bax barges through the front door. Evvy pulls her hand away with a giggle and the tent in my pants quickly deflates.
“Evvy! My new coworker!” All the guys are incredibly happy for her. It’s really warmed my heart to see them accept her and make her part of our little family.
“My favorite neighbor,” she teases. “Just don’t tell the others.”
Bax’s smile is bright as he gives Evvy a quick hug. “Sorry I need to steal your man. Special teams are meeting in fifteen minutes.”
“We’re reviewing tapes at the training center, then driving over to Portland directly from there later this afternoon. You don’t mind riding with Josie?” I ask her.
“No, I’m sure it will be a blast. And speaking of blasts, she drives like she’s piloting a rocket ship, so I’m sure we’ll get there in record time.”
“You know that doesn’t make me feel any better, right?”
“I’ll be fine.” I laugh as he pulls me in for another quick kiss. “And we’ll celebrate after the game?”
“You can count on it.”
* * *
Stepping onto the ice at my home arena for the first time is an indescribable feeling. Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of playing for Maine. At the age of thirty-five, when most guys are considering retirement, I feel like I’m finally home.
The air in the arena is electric tonight.
Fans cheer as we begin our sixteen-minute warm up.
My eyes immediately go to the boxes, searching for Evvy.
It doesn’t take long to find her Zack Shayle Pucking Rocks!
sign pressed to the glass high above the ice.
I give her a quick wave before returning my focus to my teammates.
Bax collects the pucks, placing them in piles as we go through our usual routine.
One by one, we take shots, firing off pucks as Nate tends goal.
Once we’re through our piles, we switch out and let our teammates have a turn.
Marsh prefers to focus on stretching. He grins as fans cheer when he drops to the ice for a groin stretch, loving the attention.
As the clock nears the one-minute mark, we always meet near the goal and go through a series of fist bumps.
Me to Brent, Brent to Marsh, Marsh to Bax, and Bax to Nate, Nate to me, and then around once more in the same order.
No one dares to break the routine we started during our first preseason game.
Call it a superstition, but it’s become our thing, and I secretly love it. It signals that it’s almost game time.
I’m proud of myself for completely tuning out the Boston players warming up down the other end of the ice. But that’s short-lived when I hear Jeff’s familiar voice call out to me. “I see you didn’t take our talk seriously. You pucking rock? How fucking adorable.”
Marsh motions like he’s going to skate toward him but Brent grabs his jersey to hold him back.
“He’s not worth it,” I groan. “Don’t get yourself thrown out for me. Ignore him.”
“Difficult when the asshole’s running his mouth.” Marsh glares in his direction and Jeff pretends to blow him a kiss. Marsh growls as Brent continues to grip his jersey.
Coach Beryl yells at us to get to the locker room. The buzzer already sounded and they’re getting ready to resurface the ice. I don’t even bother to look in Jeff’s direction as we leave. Like I said, he’s not worth it.