After the game, we migrated to The Landmark. My stomach hurts from laughing. Easton keeps his arm locked around my waist to hold me up.
“Work it, rookie.” Noah cups his hands around his mouth and whoops.
Elijah’s face is beet red while he plants his hands on his thighs and attempts to gyrate his hips to the seductive beat of Pony by Ginuwine while all of us cheer him on.
“Why is he doing this?” I ask through uncontrollable giggles.
“It’s tradition,” Easton explains. “I don’t know who started it, but the rookies every year have to dance when we come out, win or lose. You missed out on me and Cam. We really took our duty to heart.”
“You guys are ridiculous.”
He brings his lips to my ear and I feel the shape of his amused smile. “Yeah, and you love it, baby.”
Yeah, I think I just might.
It’s official. I’m a hockey girlfriend once again.
And this time I don’t hate it. Not in the slightest.
The game was a blast, even when Easton made sure the entire arena knew the goal he scored was for me. Warmth floods me all over again at the thought. I couldn’t believe he stopped in the middle of the game to skate over to our seats.
Reagan points the bar’s drink nozzle at Elijah to spritz him with water. He rolls with it, smearing the wetness across his face, pushing his fingers into his hair while he slides his other hand up his shirt. He starts getting into it, letting go of his embarrassment. She keeps spraying him while we all holler in approval until he’s nearly soaked.
He shakes out the damp tendrils of his hair as the song comes to an end, shooting Hana an affectionate grin. “What do you think? Do I have a shot at joining one of your dance classes?”
Hana tucks her hair behind her ear. “Don’t audition for Magic Mike Live just yet. But…” She lifts her shoulder and grins. “Your moves have definitely improved since high school.”
With a rueful laugh, he covers his face with his hands. “When will you let me live that down?”
“Never.” She ducks her face to hide her smile.
Easton’s arm squeezes my waist and his lips find my ear again. “Feel like getting up on the bar to dance? I’ll pay Reagan for an encore.”
I flash him a flirtatious smile. “Why, are you still dreaming about it?”
“Every damn day, baby.”
A huff of laughter leaves me. “The night I turned you down?”
His arm tightens and his lips brush my skin. “The night we met.”
My stomach dips pleasantly as his face presses into my neck. He hugs me against him.
I hum. “We should stay just like this.”
“Forever? I love the way you think.”
I swat him in amusement. “I mean so I don’t have to cram for finals the rest of the weekend.”
They start on Thursday and last for the next two weeks. I lucked out because my professors scheduled all of my exams early. I get to leave by the following Wednesday after my last one to go home for winter break.
He grumbles. “I wish we had more time together this semester before you leave for break.”
“Me too. But I am looking forward to seeing my grandfather. My dad said he had really great blood work results at today’s appointment with one of his doctors.”
“That’s good.” His fingertips sneak beneath my Heston U Hockey sweatshirt to graze my skin. “We can still talk. I’ll be here until the end of semester, then home with my mom and Asher for Christmas, and then I have to be back here for a game right before the new year, so I’ll probably just stay to train until next semester starts up.”
“Talk or talk?”
I press my ass against him, grinning when he grabs my hips to hold me still.
“Woman,” he rumbles. “Both.”
“Uh huh. We’re back in booty call territory.” I break off in a giggle when he tickles me. “Hey!”
He apologizes with a trail of kisses, moving up my neck to end at my cheek. “For real, don’t go silent on me over break. I’ll miss your voice too much.”
“I won’t.”
A flutter moves through my chest. I twist around to kiss him. It only lasts a moment before his teammates make loud kissing noises.
“Alright, alright,” Easton says.
“Five orders of wings and jumbo fries?” A waitress balances a tray packed with food.
“You can bring those right over here,” one of the senior players says.
The waitress gives him a shy smile. “Great win tonight, guys.”
He lowers his chin, the corners of his mouth curling. “Thanks. Care to help me celebrate later?”
Her eyes widen and dart around the group. “Oh, really? Um, I—”
“Don’t hit on the wait staff while they’re working,” Madden mutters when he comes over to get a basket of wings. “She’s just trying to do her job.”
She turns even redder, her focus shifting to him and his rugged look. Easton grabs my fries while she distributes the food, eyeing them longingly.
“Oh, just eat a fry, Easton.” I pick one out and stuff it in his mouth before he can wrestle with himself about what he’s supposed to eat during the season.
“Hammy’s falling in love with you, Brody,” Noah says with a laugh.
The Landing’s sweet bar dog, Hambone, sits between Jake’s knees with a wide, blissed out pittie smile as he gets his ears rubbed. His tongue lolls out and he paws at the air whenever Jake stops.
“You’re done for. That’s your job now,” Theo says. “Time to hang up your skates. You’re my dog’s ear rub bitch now.”
Jake snorts, showering Hambone with attention. “I just can’t say no to his sad boy face.”
“Coach Kincaid!” Cameron raises an arm in the air.
A good-looking guy in his twenties nods to our group. I think he’s one of the assistant coaches. I recognize his name from the opening announcement before puck drop. He has a beautiful woman around his age tucked against his side. They make their way over to the corner we’ve taken over.
“Great game, guys! I was cheering for you,” she says.
“Thanks, Eve,” Jake says. “You’re our good luck charm. We always play better when you’re there to root for us.”
Kincaid’s brows flatten. “She’d better not be.”
“She’s our head coach’s daughter,” Easton murmurs in my ear. “This is my girlfriend, Maya. And her friend Hana.”
“Hi. It’s nice to meet you.” I offer a friendly wave. “I love your earrings.”
Eve touches them, her cute features lighting up in delight. “Thank you! I make them. I mostly sell them online, but I’m opening a boutique and have some wholesale partnerships for bigger stores to carry my creations.”
“Really? That’s awesome.”
“Hey, Eve!” Reagan slips out from behind the bar to hug her. “Good to see you. It’s been a while.”
“Hi! I know, I keep missing you on the days you’re working. I miss hearing you sing. It always got me through my shifts here.”
Reagan waves her off. “Okay, but now you’re doing what you’ve always wanted instead of bartending.” She gives her one of the smiles that never fails to uplift even the crappiest mood. “Proud of you, girl.”
Eve hugs her again. “Thank you.”
“We’re all proud of you,” Kincaid murmurs to her.
They share a secretive smile before saying goodbye and finding a secluded spot.
“Guys, look at this photo of Hammy,” Jake says.
“Aww,” I say.
Reagan pouts at the cuteness. “Oh god, I can’t handle it when his lip gets stuck on his teeth like that. Sweetest boy. Who’s my best work buddy?”
She gets some dog biscuits from the jar behind the bar and comes out to give them to him for doing tricks. Madden pauses eating to join her, holding out his hand for a biscuit. She leaves the last two with him before going to take a customer’s drink order when they flag her down.
“I’m saving this. Chicks dig dogs.” Jake bounces his brows and taps on his phone.
“He’s not even your dog,” Theo points out.
“Won’t matter. It’s just an opener,” Jake says.
Easton shakes his head. “Nice. Some of us don’t need any help picking up girls. Right, baby?”
I hold up my hands. “Don’t bring me into this.”
“Wait, you’ve got to see what this guy has on his camera roll,” Theo taunts.
He steals Easton’s phone, evading him when he tries to get it back.
“Boys. Play nice in my bar, or I’ll get the water bottle to squirt you.” Reagan brandishes the drink nozzle from behind the bar, one eyebrow lifted in warning.
Theo cackles as two of the guys take his side, holding Easton back. He swipes through photos, showing them off. There are photos of a cat, of me, and of him hanging out with his teammates.
“This is your nationally ranked captain, gentlemen. This is the cheesy shit on his camera roll.”
“Laugh it up now,” Easton says. “I’m a patient man, and when I get you assholes back for this, you won’t see it coming.”
“When did you take that?” I lean in to get a better look at the photo of me sleeping.
“Okay, that’s it. ” Easton breaks free of his teammates’ hold and swipes his phone back. “Let’s see what’s on your phones. Who wants to go first?”
Cameron snickers from his spot leaning against the bar, elbowing Madden seated on the stool beside him, back to tearing through a basket of grilled wings.
“We’ve all seen your dick, man. There’s nothing to hide,” Cameron says.
Easton pokes his cheek with his tongue, then lunges for his best friend’s phone sitting next to Madden’s wings. Cameron grunts, bracing his arms over it like a fortress.
“What’s wrong, Reeves? Got shit you don’t want us to see?” Easton goads.
Madden picks up his basket and moves to lean against the wall where Hana and Elijah are talking. He looks stunned when Elijah steals two wings from him, offering one to Hana.
I hop onto a stool, exchanging a smirk with Reagan. She refills my drink. Hana makes her way over to me a few minutes later.
“Maya, I’m going to head out,” she says.
“Oh, already? Okay. Thanks for coming with me tonight.”
She beams. “Of course. Thanks for inviting me, I had a great time.”
“You’re leaving?” Elijah asks.
She stares at him for a beat. “Yeah. I need to study for finals.”
“I’ll walk you back.”
“No, you don’t have to do that. I’ll be okay.”
He dips his chin to level her with a look that says he isn’t budging on this. “My sister will kill me if she catches wind I let you go home on your own. She made me swear to keep an eye on you after she graduated.”
Hana lifts her brows. “Oh, so now that extends to college?”
He grins and shrugs. “Let me walk you?”
“Fine.”
“Later, rookie,” Easton says.
Elijah offers a brief wave, trailing after Hana. Easton abandons his attack on Cameron to stand behind me, hands absently settling on my waist.
“Having a good time?”
I lean back against him, the corners of my eyes crinkling. “Yeah.”
He kisses my cheek. “Good. That’s what I like to hear.”
This is a night that will be ingrained in my memories for years to come, one I’ll look back on to remember the good times from college. I want it to last forever.
