Page 118 of My Brother's Teammates

Wouldn’t that be fucking special?

He chews on his mouth guard. “Yeah, she’s here, you sappy shit.” He shakes his head. “Not telling you where, though.” He pushes off on his right foot to skate away from me.

“You really want me to spend the rest of the game looking for your sister in the crowd when I should be stopping pucks? Sounds like a dangerous plan if you ask me, Cap.” I flash a grin of my own. “C’mon, man, put me out of my misery.”

Am I a whiny punk? Sure.

Will it work? I sure as hell hope so, or I’ll have to leave a Be Right Back sign hanging in my goal until I find her in the stands.

Harry skates back to me and pats me on the shoulder. “She’s right over there.” He jerks his chin in a vague direction.

“Helpful, man. Thanks.”

He snickers. “Just look for the ‘Roman is a giant sieve’ sign she made with glitter pens.” He rolls his eyes at my growing impatience. I know we’re all back on friendly terms, but I’m not above accidentally tripping him with my stick for being a dick.

“She’s at the glass, at your ten o’clock.”

The words seep into my muscles, making them relax, but there’s a fluttering in my stomach that makes me want to vault the Plexi and lay one on her right here in front of nineteen thousand fucking fans.

I catch a glimpse of her auburn hair in the luminescent light. She’s wearing her Fournier Phantoms jersey like always, but her cheeks are flushed, and she’s got a cautious smile on her face as she surveys the ice. When I catch her eye, she smiles at me, and I fucking melt.

Win the game, then kiss the girl.

I thought it’d be hard to focus on the game, but knowing my girl is out there in the stands, cheering us on, lights a fire under me, renewing my declaration that the puck is staying the fuck out of the net.

There are a couple of near-misses, but by the time the third period starts, we’re up by two goals.

When we hit the ice, Mateo and Jace flank me on the way to my crease.

“You know she’s here?”

They exchange a confused look that says they had no fucking clue she was here. I’m not telling them where—they’re more likely than me to make a scene.

“Where?” Mateo surges forward, slipping momentarily and almost going on his ass, but Jace grabs his elbow.

“You have no fucking chill, man.” Jace shakes his head but glances over his shoulder like he might catch a glimpse.

I still don’t want to tell them. They can skate past her and catch her eye, but I’m stuck here in the crease on an invisible bungee cord tethering me to my net.

“Come on, we’ll even blow her a kiss for you.” Teo winks, elbowing me.

Ugh. Fine. Whatever. They can go warm her up for me.

I tell them, and they both skate off to complete their lap before the puck drops. They tap the glass in front of her, and she goes the color of ripe tomatoes as she gives them a small wave. When she looks in my direction, my heart stops, and she blows me a kiss, setting my soul on fire.

We’re winning this game for our girl, and when we’re done, we’re fucking her until the sun comes up.

FORTY-THREE

Jace

Best game over. Not just because we won—although that doesn’t hurt—but because we’re ready to get our girl back.

She came to the game, and not only that, but she sat right behind the glass. It’s like she wanted us to see her, and if that’s the case, she’s got to be ready to talk. Even if that’s not the case, the three of us are dying to get her back. We have been since she left.

We have Harrison’s blessing, and that’s all I need.

In fact, he told her to meet him after the game in the media room and is sending us instead. I’m not saying we’re completely back to normal, but it’s a start. We’re moving in the right direction.

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