Page 128 of Fake Out Hearts

“That’s plenty,” Becca says as we pull up to the curb outside the bar. I climb out of the car first and offer a hand to her to help her out, and even in the dim light from the bar’s lighting, she looks incredible. I still can’t quite believe I get to call her my wife, but there she is, beaming at me with her hand in mine.

We walk in together, hand in hand, and it looks like we’re the first ones from the Aces there, but that gives me a chance to scope the place out. As famous as Black Cat is, there aren’t many people here, but that’s fine by me. If the Titans had turned out a win tonight, the place would probably be crawling with their fans, but given the way we blew them out of the water, there are only a few people in Titans jerseys sitting around.

I lead Becca to the bar, and we take stools next to each other. The bartender recognizes me right away, and although he looks a little downtrodden, he greets us. “Man, I hate to say it, but after a game like that, you and the pretty lady deserve a round. On the house.”

“What? Are you sure? I really don’t mind paying.”

“No way, man. You paid your dues tonight. What’ll it be?”

“Two house drafts, please,” Becca answers, and I grin at her.

“Coming right up,” the bartender says and steps over to fill the mugs for us. He returns a few seconds later with two frosty mugs that Becca and I clink together.

“Cheers to sweet victory,” she says with a sweet smile and takes a sip, giving herself a foam mustache. I can’t help myself, so I lean over to kiss it away from her. She presses into me, thetension surging between us, and I already want to carry her out of the bar and back to the hotel.

A commotion draws my attention, so I glance over my shoulder to find Noah and the rest of the guys spilling into the entrance of the bar, loud and rowdy as ever. It’s probably a good thing there aren’t many Titans fans around because I can already tell my guys are going to make a ruckus.

“There he is! The man of the night!” Noah shouts as he leads the rest of the team and their girls toward us. The whole gang is here, so I’m glad Becca will have someone to talk to about something that isn’t hockey. Because I’m sure the guys are going to want to recount every play and goal until they’re drunk and repeating themselves—not that they don’t deserve to.

“I want some celebratory shots! First round is on me,” Reese declares as he sidles up to the bar. To his credit, the bartender is a good sport and takes care of it for him by lining up a counter full of shots. Reese lifts one at me. “Camden, you in?”

“No thanks, I’ve already got my beer.”

“Oh, come on! You carried the game for us!” Reese protests, but when I don’t say anything, he just shrugs. “Fine, more for me.” He knocks back the shot that should’ve been mine and slides the rest to everyone else.

“Do the honors, Noah,” Sawyer says as he claps the captain on the back. Poor Noah’s always getting put up to stuff like this, but part of me thinks he likes it in some weird way. He steps into the circle of us and clears his throat, holding his shot in his hand.

“What an amazing season this has been for the Aces,” Noah starts, and Reese pounds his fist on the bar top, splashing the shots and our beers with his powerful hands. Becca laughs and takes a sip before he shakes the whole glass empty. I don’t know if it’s just because of the game we won, Shawn going down, or both, but the whole team is fired up. I’m right there with them.

“Seriously, it’s been a real turnaround,” Noah continues, turning to look at me directly. He raises his shot glass to me. “And I have to give you the most credit for improvement, Theo. Not that any of us ever doubted you’d get your groove back.”

“Thanks,” I say and raise my glass to him.

“We should be thanking you for all the goals this season! I really don’t think we’d be in the position we’re in now without you. Hell, I know we wouldn’t.”

I glance over at Becca, who’s beaming and nodding at me, and that makes all the difference. Having Noah sing my praises is great, and I know he means it, but none of this would’ve happened without Becca. I put my hand on her leg, and she rests her hand on top of mine to give it a squeeze.

It’s such a simple gesture, something we’ve done thousands of times by this point, but it means more to me than I think I’ll ever be able to tell her.Shemeans more to me than I have the words for. And that’s exactly why I’ll have to prove it to her the only way I know how: with our bodies.

Like she can hear my thoughts, Becca’s eyes meet mine and she blushes. I stroke the inside of her thigh with my thumb, and the fire spreading on her cheeks turns into a blaze. Her beer is already halfway gone, although I’m not sure if that’s because she drank it or because Reese spilled most of it. Either way, we’re that much closer to our one drink agreement.

And that much closer to going back to the hotel.

A younger version of me would’ve been game to stay out all night, later than all the rest of the guys, to celebrate this win until the sun came up. But tonight, one drink is more than enough. Because there’s only one person I want to be with until the sun rises, and she’s sitting right next to me.

I suck down most of my beer while Noah finishes his impromptu speech. He compliments everyone, not just me, and when he’s finished, I join the whole team and extended teamfamily in applauding. I’m just as proud of myself and the Aces as they are because Noah’s right—this really has been an amazing turnaround, both for the team and for me personally.

I finish the last dregs of my beer and set the glass down on the counter, then lean into Becca.

“You ready to get out of here?” I whisper, delighting in the trail of goosebumps that ripple down her neck from my breath.

“Never been more ready in my life,” she answers, so I flash a grin at Noah, who’s watching us across the bar.

He raises a second shot glass at me, silently giving me his blessing, so I throw down some cash on the bar for the bartender’s tip. Then Becca and I slip out of the place while everyone else is distracted.

Chapter 41

Theo

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