Page 143 of Fake Out Hearts

“Did you see that?” my mom shouts over the noise as she throws her arms around both of us. She’s the most excited I think I’ve ever seen her, which isn’t something I ever thought I’d say. Though she’s always been supportive of my love for hockey, she’s never shown an interest in it herself.

But when I told her that Theo and I had patched things up and that his team was going to the playoffs, she insisted on coming down to watch the game. And Theo was all too happy to buy her a plane ticket because without her encouragement, we might not be together right now.

Still, with my arms around Anne and my mom’s around both of us, the moment feels surreal. Like two worlds colliding. But the fact that it’s happening at a hockey game feels perfect because Theo and the sport are what tie us all together. Amazingly, our moms are getting along really well too. It’s oneof those things I never would’ve dreamed would happen for me, but then again, so is my relationship with Theo.

“I still can’t believe the Aces are in the playoffs!” Callie, who’s sitting two seats to my left next to my mom, says as the crowd calms down and retakes their seats. But after the way they’ve been playing this season, I don’t find it hard to believe at all. Especially now that Theo is firmly back in the game.

“God, look at him! Theo Camden issodreamy,” I hear a woman sitting behind us say as he skates past our seats. I wave to him, and he flashes me his signature grin and a wink. The woman behind us practically dissolves. “Oh my god, did you see that? He totally just winked at me!” she hisses to the people sitting with her.

Callie chuckles and turns around to face the woman. “I’m pretty sure that look was for his wife. You know, the beautiful woman sitting right in front of you. The one wearing his jersey and his ring.”

She smirks, pointing at me.

“Oh, shit!” The woman sounds instantly chagrined as I turn around to look at her too. She blushes, putting her hands over her face. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t know he was married.”

“It’s fine.” I shake my head. “But that wink was definitely for me.”

“Right.” Her blush darkens even more as her friends laugh. She looks like she wants to sink into the seat and disappear, and when Theo does another lap past our seats, she glances at the ice and then back to me. “You’re a very lucky woman.”

I chuckle. Although hearing her talk about my husband ruffled my feathers a little, igniting a possessive instinct in me that I never had before I met him, the truth is, I have no reason to feel even the tiniest bit threatened.

Because I know exactly how lucky I am.

Theo is mine, just like I’m his, and he makes sure I never have a moment of doubt about that. Every day, multiple times, he tells me how much he loves me. And more than that, heshowsme.

Even in the middle of being in the freaking Stanley Cup playoffs, he’s dedicated every spare moment he has to helping me get my dance school up and running. The renovations are finally almost done, and with Eric’s help, he’s taken care of all the legal and admin side of things. We even have a few students who’ve already expressed interest in signing up once the school opens.

Theo truly is the most supportive husband a woman could ever ask for. So I’m not threatened in the slightest that other women see it because I know without a shadow of a doubt that I’m the only one he has eyes for. There’s nothing in the world that could ever make me question that again. He’s mine, and I’m his—just like it should be. Neither of us would have it any other way.

The players take position for the next face off. There’s only a few minutes left on the clock, and with Theo’s latest goal, the Aces are up 3-2 against the Outlaws. All they have to do now is hold their lead. This has been an incredible game, and even though the Aces are playing the tightest I think I’ve seen them so far this season, their opponents aren’t slacking off, either.

As the guys all tense up on the ice and prepare to spring into action, I sit on the edge of my seat, gripping the arm rests so hard that my knuckles are turning white. Mom puts her hand on mine. At the same time, Anne, who’s sitting to my right, does the same. Neither of them realize they’re trying to comfort me in the same way at the same time, but it makes me smile, regardless.

“Let’s go, Aces! We’ve got this!” I bellow just as the referee slings the puck onto the ice and the players turn into a blur of motion. Keeping track of an individual player is like trying towatch an individual rain drop in a thunderstorm, but eventually, Theo emerges from the fray, streaking toward the Outlaws’ goalie with their center hustling after him.

“Come on, Theo!” I shout so hard it hurts my throat. It’s hard to tell from this angle, but I’m pretty sure he’s about to score again. He winds up and slaps the puck with his stick, sending it rocketing toward the goalie. I can’t see it from this far away, but when the net swishes and the goalie slumps to his knees, I leap into the air, still holding Anne and Mom’s hands.

We jump up and down together with the rest of the fans, all of us downright losing our minds, as the buzzers sound and the score updates on the screens. The Aces are now up 4-2 with less than two minutes on the clock, so it’s all but guaranteed they’ll be moving to the next round of the Stanley Cup.

When I glance over at Anne and John, I see they both have tears in their eyes. They must be unbelievably proud of their son. What parents wouldn’t be if their kid was not only a successful professional hockey player, but a potential finalist in the freaking Stanley Cup? Even though I’m standing there holding Anne’s hand and watching the whole thing too, I can barely believe it myself.

If he’s anything like me, Theo probably doesn’t even realize or appreciate how amazing he is. For him, this is probably just something he does. Something he’s worked hard and practiced for, sure, but it’s second nature for him at this point. Just like dancing is for me. He doesn’t have to think about it, he’s justinit, and it’s amazing to watch. Especially now when he seems like he’s at the very top of his game.

Based on the way he’s dancing around the ice tonight, it’s hard to believe that just a few months ago, there were gossip articles being written about Theo getting cut from the Aces due to his poor performance earlier in the season. Anne told me about one she’d read in Sports Illustrated, and I could barelybelieve her until I found a scan of the article online and read it myself.

I bet that writer is eating a lot of crow now, and rightfully so.

The guys form up for what might be the final face off with this little time on the clock, and my eyes land on Theo, just like they always do. He’s magnetic, and I’m sure I’m not the only one watching his every move tonight. I’m still holding Mom and Anne’s hands, and I’m squeezing them so tightly that they’re probably going numb. Not that there’s any real risk here, but I want Theo and the Aces to win so badly!

The ref tosses the puck and the Aces and Outlaws tussle over possession of it several times, intercepting and passing in an exhilarating but nerve-wracking back-and-forth, until finally the Outlaws’ right wing skates away with it. But as he soars toward the Aces’ goalie, Sawyer appears out of nowhere and steals the puck, then whips it across the ice toward Noah, who’s lagging near center ice. He just barely misses the pass, but it doesn’t matter. There’s now less than a minute on the clock, and everyone seems to know it’s over because none of the players seem like they’re in a hurry to chase after it.

The end-of-game buzzer sounds, and I launch out of my seat again to cheer for the Aces and Theo. He weaves through the tangle of other players toward us and stops in a spray of ice that showers the glass, then blows me a kiss that I snatch out of the air and hold to my heart. I send one back to him, and he pretends to stumble backward from its force when he catches it, making everyone watching in the audience laugh.

I never would’ve thought we could be this open about our relationship, let alone play it up in public like this, but I feel nothing but love and support coming from the Aces fans surrounding me.

“You two are way too cute. I can’t handle it,” Mom says in my ear, and when I glance over at her, I see she’s tearing uptoo. I throw my arms around her because I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. I don’t know if she and I will ever have the kind of relationship I wish we could, but her being here now and being so supportive of Theo and me, is definitely a step in the right direction.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I say as she squeezes me back, so tightly it’s hard to breathe.

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