Page 53 of Empty Net

She is.

I squeeze my water bottle. Normally, I’d track the streams and droplets that fly into the air, a trick I learned to help me focus, but I don’t bother this time. I’m feeling more dialed in than I have all game. And I think it has to do with the dark-haired beauty who can’t take her eyes off me.

The music swells in the arena, and the in-house announcer comes over the PA system to rile the fans up for overtime. Just as they start their spiel, someone grabs Lilah’s arm, and I notice for the first time that Auden is next to her, Rory on the other side.

Auden leans over and whispers something into Lilah’s ear, dipping her head toward me. She rears back from her friend, her face annoyed, and she rolls her eyes, then slides them back over to me, a smile playing at her lips. I don’t know what’s happening—and I’m not sure I want to—but I do know all the nerves I was feeling earlier are gone, and it definitely has something to do with her.

You got this, she mouths.

I grin, grabbing the top of my mask, ready to pull it down and earn us that extra point. She holds up her finger, then spins around, and that’s when I see it—my name and number right across her back.

Fox

35

I don’t know why I love it so much. I don’t know why it makes my heart race. But I do know one thing, and that is that Lilah is right—I do have this.

I pull my mask over my face and get set for the face-off.

I’m winning this hockey game…and I’m doing it for the girl in the stands.

“Hell of a win, boys!” Lawson claps me on the back, his usual happy-go-lucky grin back in place as he lifts his glass into the air. “To Foxy!”

“To Foxy!” my teammates say, a mix of beers and water being thrust into the air.

We don’t celebrate every win at Top Shelf, our favorite local haunt, but when it’s our first home game of the new year and we take home the W, we’re definitely going out afterward.

“Another round, fellas?” asks Chaz, the guy who has spent far too much time slinging drinks our way.

A few of the guys say yes, and a few say no. I’m in the no category, even though I’m drinking water. My stomach still revolts at the idea of anything involving alcohol.

“I’ll take another,” a smooth voice says from beside me.

I grin, turning my head to find Lilah next to me. Lilah, who isstillwearing my jersey. It did something for me during the game,and it’s doing something to me now, that’s for damn sure. I try to ignore it and the warm feeling coursing through me, but it’s hard to overlook.

“Hi.” She grins up at me.

“Hi yourself,fiancée,” I say back.

Her nostrils flare, eyes widening as they dart around to ensure nobody heard that.

They didn’t. They’re too lost in their own worlds to pay us attention. Auden and Hutch are cozied up together. Rory’s staring at Lawson with stars in her eyes as he regales her with some—I’m sure absurd—story. Hayes and Quinn are wrapped up in a conversation, and the rest of the guys are sitting around shooting the shit. Nobody cares what we’re doing.

Still, Lilah grabs my arm, tugging me closer, and I go willingly because I can’t resist.

“So, did you have fun tonight?” I ask her.

She nods. “I did. I always have fun at games. The food is the best.”

“Yeah, I heard that’s why you missed warmups.”

I don’t realize the implication behind my words until a catlike smile stretches across her lips. “Why, Arthur, were you looking for me?”

I drag a hand over the scruff on my face that needs shaving. “I, uh, wasn’tnotlooking for you.”

Somehow, her wide grin grows even more, her cerulean eyes sparkling as Chaz slides a fresh drink her way.

“Thank you,” she says to him, bringing the straw to her lips instantly. I do my absolute best not to pay attention to the way her tongue peeks out, sliding around the plastic. Yeah, definitelynotnoticing that at all.

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