Page 36 of Playing for Keeps

I clear my throat, take a final bite of food, and ask her, “Have you made a decision about New York yet? I know Brian is pretty pumped for you to join me at the fan fest...”

She nods. “I did. I talked to Lucia and Omar about missing a few days. I want to be with you, to see everything.” She bites her lip. “However, I don’t want to see my parents. And I’d rather not to tell them I’m coming to town.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to call them,” I shake my head. “I guess they don’t follow hockey blogs or look into fan fest VIP events.”

She laughs and stands, reaching for my plate, which I tuck back close to my chest. “Gunnar, you cooked. Let me wash up.” I growl at her, and she laughs. “Okay, fine.” She sets her plate down and fluffs her hair, sending a waft of that amazing scentmy way. “And you’re right. My family definitely won’t come looking for the Fury at the hockey arena.”

CHAPTER 24

GUNNAR

Emerson is absolutelyadorable on the ride to the airport. She’s meeting up with Cam and Essence to fly to New York, and I told her I’d drop her off before I head up to meet the team since we have a chartered flight.

“I’ve never actually stayed at the Plaza before,” she says, fiddling with her purse on her lap. “I mean, why would I when I live so close, right? But it will be so much fun staying at such a fancy hotel.”

I squeeze her leg as I ease over into the lane for short-term parking. I intend to escort her as far into the airport as I’m allowed. “You should have fun. I hope you book a spa treatment or something while you’re there, obviously for a time when you’re not watching me play.” I wink at her, and she laughs.

“I can’t wait to watch with the PAWs,” she sighs. “Cam and Essence said they have a shirt for me for Fan Fest…”

I nod. “Yeah, Cappy mentioned they made some sort of customI Flame N.Y.shirts or something with the Fury logo. I don’t know.”

“I love all the trash talk with sports. You’re sure it doesn’t hurt anyone’s feelings?”

A laugh busts out of my throat. “Babe, everyone is having fun. I promise you’ll see some anti-Pittsburgh shirts. You might even hear some bad language.” I wink and park in the garage near the pedestrian bridge to the terminal. “You have your pre-check stuff all situated? Brian mentioned you weren’t enrolled.”

I was surprised she wasn’t all set up for easy first-class flying since I know she travels for music. I can’t imagine her snobby parents waiting in line with the peons. It’s going to make me even madder if I find out they breeze through all the lines and leave her elsewhere.

Emerson smiles. “I’m all verified. Oh!” She hesitates as I hoist her bag from the back seat and tug it along the walkway. “You’re coming in?”

“I want to make a sex joke right now, but I also want to make sure you find your friends.”

Emerson rolls her eyes and stretches on tiptoe, scanning the security area. “Oh, there they are!” She waves. I nod my chin at Cam, who grins. “Okay, so I’ll see you in a few hours? At the arena?” Emerson bites her lip, and I scoop her into my arms.

“I will see you there.” I press a kiss to her forehead, loving the sigh she lets out when I do. Then, feeling brave, I bend to kiss her mouth. Just a soft little press of my lips to hers, like a husband would totally do if he was really in love with his wife. And she twists her hands in my shirt, holding me close, opening her mouth as if she’s been waiting to kiss me her whole life. I pull back, breathless. “Okay, Salty, they’re going to arrest us for indecency if you keep that up.”

She makes a nervous sound, and I squeeze her backside. “See you soon.”

I watch as she heads down the escalator to Cam and Essence and waves before breezing through the security check.

My own flight is obviously easy since we all are scanned and checked, and our equipment staff deals with all the complicated luggage, like expensive ice skates and goalie gear. I just need to show up in a suit and look good. We don’t even have to check into the hotel or haul our own shit to our rooms. The bus meets us at the airport and takes us straight to the arena to change into jeans and jerseys and meet up with the fans.

I'm not going to lie—I love this. This is a controlled environment where I am prepared to be photographed, and I know nobody is taking anything out of context. These are all fans who either traveled to meet us here or root for us from another city, so that makes them all the more special.

We meet on the mezzanine level of the arena, where, tomorrow, eighteen thousand fans will line up for hot dogs and beer. Today, it’s just the select thousand or so who got tickets. I realize that might be an overwhelming number of people for Emerson. I should have prepared her more that there will be tons of booths and stations where people can meet specific players, shoot inflatable pucks at fake nets, or even get a team tattoo.

I sort of hope Emerson skips the tattoo line, just because I want to be there with her when she gets her first ink. I know that’s selfish, but something tells me she won’t go for a Fury tat today anyway. I spy her, Cam, and Essence sharing a bag of popcorn over by a pen full of actual puppies, and I laugh out loud. Brian must have had something to do with the organization of the event.

Sure enough, when I check my schedule, I’m up first to cuddle puppies and encourage fans to adopt from shelters. Don’t mind if I do.

I make my way toward my wife and love the expression on her face when she sees me. “Hey, Salty.” I toss her a wink as myhandler from the team office tugs at my sleeve and steers me toward the puppies. “Come pet a dog with me.”

She steps toward the pen, where a large crowd of people are squatting and squealing at the cute little dogs. “Hey, guys,” I say to the crowd, both furry and human alike. “Who wants a picture?”

They’re about to open the booth for fans, but I wave at the staff members. “Excuse me, Wanda? Can my wife get in first?”

She looks at the line of fans, now jumping up and down and hollering my name above the din of puppy barks. Wanda frowns.

I frown. “Wanda. She’s my wife.”

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