THE ROAR of the crowd envelops me as I skate onto the ice, and my heart pounds in time with the rhythm of the game. There’s an electric energy in the air, and I can feel it coursing through my veins, driving me forward. The ice is smooth beneath my skates, and the chill in the air is invigorating. It’s fucking go time.
River lines up to my right on the circle and gives me a firm nod. I know he’s got my back out here.
I steal a quick glance up at the stands, where our girl’s sitting. She’s wearing the jersey Riv got her. It’s a little too big, but it fits her perfectly in all the right ways. She looks good in black and gold, but she’d look even better without it. Her smile is radiant as she waves at us, and I can’t help but grin back. I fucking love having her here.
The puck drops, and I’m in the zone, focused on the game. The opposing team is tough, but I’ve got River by my side, and we’re ready to take them on. The puck flies from end to end, and every time it comes my way, I’m determined to make something happen. I skate hard, dodging checks and weaving through the defense, trying to set up the perfect play.
As the minutes tick by, I can feel the energy in the arena build. We’re tied with seconds left in the game. The crowd is hungry for a goal, and we’re determined to give it to them. I catch another glimpse of her in the stands, her eyes locked on me, and it fuels my determination even more.
Then, it happens. River shouts at me from across the ice and sends me a beauty of a pass. I grab it, taking off like a rocket down the ice. I can hear the crowd’s anticipation, their collective breath held as I break away from the defense. The goalie is the only thing standing between me and the net, and I can’t let him stop me.
With every stride, I can feel the wind in my face and the ice beneath my skates. I can hear the thud of my heartbeat in my ears, and it drives me forward. The goalie comes out to challenge me, but I have a plan. I deke left, then right, and just as he sprawls to make the save, I slide the puck past him and into the back of the net.
The arena erupts in a deafening roar, the sound washing over me like a tidal wave of pure exhilaration. My gaze locks on Mia’s, and she’s grinning right back at me. Her eyes widen seconds before a weight crashes into me, and River hauls me into the air.
He’s fucking grinning at me when he says, “Well fucking done, Baby.”
The nickname shoots straight to my dick, and I swallow hard. “Thanks, Boss.”
“Fuck, I can’t wait to get the two of you home.” His voice comes out raspy, and he takes a few seconds too long to put me down. He grabs the back of my helmet and gives it a shake. “Coach wants to have a talk before we head out. Let’s get this over with.”
I glance up at Mia, pulling off my helmet, and mouth, “See you at home.”
She nods and follows Piper, who I hadn’t even realized was here, out of the aisle. Fuck, I’m so gone.
Jax: Looking good out there boys.
Lucas: Well one of us was.
He’d already left the locker room, changing quickly to meet up with Piper.
Me: You wish you looked half as pretty.
I glance up at River, and he just shakes his head at me, not bothering to participate in the chat.
Jax: You looked distracted out there Alex. Did I see Mia on the jumbotron?
Me: Not sure. Wasn’t looking. Had a game to play. It’s called concentration. You should try it.
Lucas: The amount of times I caught you looking over at her is laughable.
Jax: As if you don’t do the exact same thing. Fucking miracle the coach doesn’t bench you three.
Me: Speaking of coach. We’ve got a meeting.
Jax: Good luck. Don’t get traded.
Me: Fuck you.
Jax: Maybe later.
River: You can fuck right the fuck off with that.
Heat crawls up the back of my neck, and I raise my gaze to his. His eyes burrow into mine, and I swallow hard. There’s an intensity there, something different. Edged. I tilt my head to the side. Is he fucking jealous?
We walk into the coach’s office and immediately freeze, spotting Damon Everette. Coach looks at us, then at the owner. “I’ll leave you to it.”
My muscles tense. Nothing good is coming from this. River’s hand lands on the small of my back, gently guiding me into the room. It’s hidden from Damon’s sight, but that doesn’t make it any less comforting.
“I thought I told you to keep your shit clean, Grayson.” Damon’s glaring at me, and I fight back the urge to attack back.
“I have been, sir.”
“Oh, by fucking around with the charity girl? You think that’ll go over well when it comes out?”
Rage floods through me, fire prickling under my skin, but it’s River who loses it first.
“I don’t care who you are. The next time you say shit about Mia, you’re fucking done.”
Damon looks between River and me. He cocks his head as if realizing something, and his shoulders slump. “This will ruin her career.”
Fuck me. It would hurt less if he stabbed me.
“Leave it. We’ll take care of her,” River says, tone an icy crisp.
Damon sucks on his front teeth. “You better. I won’t have players on my team fuck with other people’s lives.”
“Don’t worry. She’s ours.” With that, River leaves, and I follow after him. Fuck, I liked the sound of that. Not mine. Ours.
The second I’m out of the room, River’s backing me into another one. His eyes are hard on mine. “This could fuck with your career. Are you sure about this?”
“Dead.”
“Right answer.” His lips land on mine, taking every fucking thought with them.
