Page 101 of Uniquely in Love

“Good.” I leaned down to kiss her, but then the front door opened, and I was greeted by the sight of Brooks, who was grinning as he leaned against the door.

Ellie’s cheeks were pink, like we’d just been caught doing something we shouldn’t have been. “Oh, hi.”

“Hey, you two. Want to come inside?” He was dressed like Marty McFly from Back to the Future, and I gave him a nod in greeting. “I told Cap I’d man the door so he and Lauren can be good hosts, but really, I’m just trying to keep her off her feet.”

We walked into the entryway, taking in all the decorations around the house. Brooks wandered off, probably to get another drink, and I had a moment alone with my girl.

“Should we have brought Zamboni?” Ellie whispered to me. “I feel bad about leaving her alone.”

“She’ll be okay, El,” I promised. “She hasto get used to her crate, anyway.” We were crate training her for when Ellie was at work and I was at the arena, and neither one of us was home with her. “It’s just a few hours, and then we can go home.” I ran my fingers through her hair.

We were dressed as Barbie and Ken, which should have felt a little emasculating, but I didn’t really care. We’d picked out the costumes at the last minute, and I was just glad we’d found something that fit me. Plus, I was really digging Ellie in those boots. It was hot as fuck.

She bit her lip, and her eyes flared with heat. Yeah, I wanted to get her alone tonight. To peel that pink outfit off her body and?—

“Behave,” Ellie whispered.

“Can’t help it,” I murmured, cupping her ass and then squeezing it. “You look so hot right now, Ellie baby.”

She stood on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek, and then said low against my ear, “You can show me just how hot you find me later, Hockey Boy.”

I smirked. Damn right I would. “Let’s go, baby.” Threading our fingers together, I headed towards the living room. “Time to meet the rest of the team.”

She’d met some of my teammates that night at the bar, and a lot of their wives and girlfriends, but it was a big team. And everyone was here for our Halloween party—even Coach Donovan and his daughter, Sophia. Victoria Monroe, our assistant coach, was chatting with Lauren Kovac in the living room. I was pretty sure it was the first time I’d seen her with her hair down, since she normally wore it in a braid or bun for practices and games.

Everyone was in a costume, and I grinned. Rhodes was dressed as a grumpy lumberjack, though the grumpy part was one hundred percenthim, while the Captain and his wife were dressed as skeletons, complete with a little skeleton baby over Lauren’s bump. We also had a doctor and a nurse duo, some zombies, a sexy firefighter, and more.

This was one of my favorite events of the year with everyone, because it was an opportunity we all had to relax and unwind during the season, and we could just be ourselves. No press, no hockey, no PR—just the guys, our girls, and a giant spread of themed snacks and drinks.

I took her around, pointing the rest of the guys out to her by name and introducing her to everyone as my girl. My boys Brooks and Maverick were both wearing identical, shit-eating grins as they saw me with Ellie. Rolling my eyes, I tried not to focus on how different the party felt this year. Of course, this was the first year I was bringing anyone with me to team events.

I’d never had a girlfriend to bring before. No one to sit in the wives’ room waiting for me, or to cheer me on in the stands. Maybe because I knew that anyone else would pale compared to Ellie.

Ellie, practically beaming at my side, was dressed in hot pink and looking as stunning as ever. It wasn’t a color she wore often—maybe because it was her older sister, Abi’s favorite—but I liked the glow she had. It was kicking my heart into overdrive, and I hoped she couldn’t hear how rapidly it was beating in my chest as I looked at her. Obsessed was an understatement.

Maybe that was why I was ignoring the fact that there was fringe on my matching costume.

“I’m gonna go say hi to Sophia,” she whispered to me, seeing the coach’s daughter in the other room.

I kissed the top of her head. “Okay. Have fun.”

She smiled, heading off towards her friend, and I grabbed a beer from the kitchen.

“I’m happy for ya,” Reid said, patting me on the shoulder as he joined me. He was dressed in a traditional Scottish kilt. I almost teased him for using his heritage as his costume, but damn, the guy pulled it off well. We all liked to poke fun ateach other on the team. After so many years playing together, most of the guys were used to giving each other shit.

Taking a long pull of my beer, I couldn’t help but grin. “Thanks, man.” I’d been worried that she would be a distraction, but so far, everything was amazing.

We’d won our home game this week, and we had another one tomorrow. One that Ellie would be in the stands at, hopefully wearing the jersey I’d just given her.

“I can’t believe you got a puppy,” he said, running his fingers over his red beard.

After Ellie had come home, I’d texted my group chat with the guys and sent them a photo. “I’ve wanted one for a long time,” I admitted. “Couldn’t imagine leaving one behind during road trips, though.”

“So what changed?”

My eyes drifted over to Ellie, who was smiling and laughing with Sophia. I chuckled. “She did.” I couldn’t imagine her being alone in my big empty apartment, either. I’d been lonely, but I didn’t want her to be. Taking another sip of my drink, I turned back to my teammate.

“Big sap, that’s what you are,” Brooks said, sliding in next to us.

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