Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
She finally understands just how obsessed with her I am.
Have always been.
Fuck.
I hate this.
Hate how it makes me feel. I don’t get nervous before games. I’m focused on our adversaries and taking home another win. One that will bring us that much closer to a national championship.
I resettle my attention on Ryder and Maverick as they take their positions in front of the goal. The puck is passed to Ford by one of the assistant coaches and he skates forward, attempting to outsmart the two defensive players. As soon as he rips off a shot, Ryder blocks it, and the drill ends. Maverick gives Ford a little crap and I can’t help the smile that lifts my lips. I love playing with these guys and will miss them next year.
Instead of dwelling on that, I focus on the three new guys who move into position to execute the same drill. I keep my attention focused on Colby. The guy is a talented fucker with a bag of tricks up his jersey sleeve. Like Maverick, his father was a star player in the NHL. There’s been a lot for him to live up to but so far, he’s done it. In typical Colby fashion, he fakes one way and then another before ripping off a shot. I slide and reach toward the left corner, but it hits the bar and goes in.
Colby flashes me a shit-eating grin as he skates by.
Asshole.
Midway through warmups, I glance at the bleachers and find Fallyn sitting with Viola, Juliette, Stella, Carina, and Britt. The first four have become known in the locker room as the girlfriends.
I love seeing Fallyn with them.
That’s exactly what I want.
For her to be my girlfriend.
She’s wearing a cream-colored knit hat with a pompom on the top over her long dark hair. Her jacket has been shed, revealing my orange and black jersey with a pair of dark wash jeans that hug her curves. As corny as it sounds, the sight of her is almost enough to knock the air from my lungs. After all these years, it finally feels like the tumblers of a safe falling into place. I can almost hear the click as an imaginary door opens.
As soon as our gazes collide, her lips hitch into a small smile and she gives me a wave.
I’ve never been so tempted to skate out of goal and off the ice as I am now.
All I want to do is get my hands on her again.
And then never let go.
Not ever.
It takes effort to shake that thought away and refocus my attention on warmups. Ten minutes before game time, the players from both teams vacate the ice. The lights in the arena are dimmed and the music is cranked up as the players from the Richfield U Railers are announced. The same is done for the Western Wildcats to even more fanfare. The crowd goes crazy as my name is called, and I skate to the goal. Even though I’m unable to see Fallyn with the spotlight in my eyes, I feel the warmth of her gaze. It’s like a living, breathing entity.
And I feel Miles.
His presence is all around, blanketing me in calm. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt him with me, and I know that has everything to do with his sister.
I can’t help but glance up at the arena ceiling.
This game is all for you, buddy.
After the remaining players are announced, the first line takes their places. Bridger makes a quick stop in front of the net before searching my eyes behind the cage.
“You good, man?”
I jerk my head into a tight nod. “Yup. Never felt better.”
He grins around his mouth guard. “Great. Then let’s kick some Railer ass.”
With a laugh, I agree with the sentiment, and we knock gloved fists before he takes his position near the blue line.
Hayes skates to center ice as Colby and Ford flank him at the red line. The puck gets dropped. Hayes battles the other team’s center for possession before passing the black disc to Ford, who takes off toward the other team’s goal like his ass is on fire. As soon as he crosses the blue line on the other side of the ice, two burly defensemen sweep their sticks in front of them, waiting for Ford to make a move. One rushes him while another protects their goal. Ford fakes one way before shooting it to Colby. When the defensemen swarm, Colby loses the puck. It gets passed up to an attackman who crosses the center line and makes a drive toward me.
I lower my center of gravity, sliding back and forth in front of the goal as I watch the play unfold. Maverick and Ryder are all over the attackman. When he turns, looking like he’ll pass off the puck, I know he’s going to rip off a shot instead. I’ve played against this guy plenty of times.