Page 39 of My Pucking Life

My mind tries to escape to worry about everything we still have to overcome, but I won't allow it. Instead, I choose to focus on my miracle who wanted to return the favor and scrub my body clean as well.

When all the suds have been rinsed down the drain, I swing the shower door open and grab a soft white towel for Leera first, then grab my own. She moves to step out of the shower onto the tiled floor, but I scoop her into my arms and set her on the bathroom counter. She giggles and tucks her towel into itself under her armpit while I run our toothbrushes under the tap, adding toothpaste and handing it to her.

The quiet and happy routine of this morning is wonderfully domestic and unexpected, and I vow to create more of these moments intentionally.

Today, I convinced Leera to walk into the game with me on my arm. Usually, we get ready together, and then the men and I arrive separately for the game day walk-in in our suits. The whole thing has always felt ridiculous. Why do people care what we wear before a game? The twins used to be the ones who seemed to enjoy it the most, with Benny running a close second.

But today, with Leera on my arm in our almost matching outfits, I find I might actually love this. The couple of cameras awaiting our arrival begin clicking as we cross the cheesy maroon carpet they've started laying out for this. In the middle of our walk, I lean down, scooping Leera into my arms so that I can kiss her for the cameras. I would have tried to lean in and drop one on her if her perfect little cheek wasn't so far down.

After dropping my bag off in the locker room, I have enough time to walk Leera to her seats where Fran and a surprise are waiting. I managed to snag some seats near the end of the team bench, closest to the net, for this game. The further we walk to her seats, the more excited she gets about the seats, not even knowing there is a surprise waiting for her.

The fans are slowly starting to trickle in, all decked out in their maroon, black, and white Predators gear. The Zamboni is making its last turn on the ice, and the music is blaring through the speakers. The chill of the hockey arena nearly matches the current conditions outside, though the energy in here is incomparable. The excitement of the fans is already palpable in the large space.

When we finally reach the seats I got for Leera, Fran stands and nods curtly, not saying a word, but Leera still tries. “Hey Fran! Are you ready for a good game?” she asks her cheerfully, not having yet noticed the other person. “I feel like I haven't seen you in forever. What have you been—”

Leera's words are cut off by her own squealing when Fran rolled her eyes and gestured around her to the unnoticed individual. The squealing is then joined by jumping and clapping because she's so happy. I knew she'd be excited to spend some time with Willa, but I didn't realize just how happy. “Oh my gosh! It's so good to see you!” she raves, launching herself at the witch for a hug before whipping her head around to face me. “You did this?” she beams.

I pull her up and into me, nodding with a chuckle. “I did this. I thought you'd like to spend some time with her at the game, and if you get bored, you can talk about Sabbax.” I kiss her on the cheek and pull away. “I've gotta get ready before Coach comes looking for me.”

“Oh, right, of course! Have fun.” She waves after me before shouting, “I love you!”

I stop dead in my tracks.

We've told each other we love each other plenty.

We've completed our mate bond.

We're solid.

But she has never been the one to initiate public displays of affection.

I slowly turn to take her in with what must be the goofiest smile on my face. Fans with their phones and the team's cameramen are capturing everything, but I don't give a fuck.

She notices the cameras and phones pointed in our direction and puts the pieces together, realizing what she did. She blushes a furious red and practically hides behind Fran.

If she wants some PDA, she's gonna get it.

I march right back to where she's standing, frozen in place. When I reach her, I lift her again, wrapping her legs around my waist this time, and bring her in for a burning kiss that has her panting when I pull away and rest my forehead against hers for a moment. The moment is broken by whoops and hollers all around us, and she's a blushing mess all over again.

I laugh as I set her back on her feet and hustle to the locker room just in time for Coach to tear me a new one for being late.

29

“Do you keep up with hockey?” I ask Willa once we're settled in with our snacks and drinks. The game just started, and already the energy feels off, like it did the last game.

I keep my eyes on Roman and the guys, worried about the level of intensity this match will bring. If I'm right about the energy, it's not going to be fun. Don't get me wrong, I love watching them brawl while they play, don't we all? But this…this is different. It doesn't feel…fuck, what's the word…it doesn't feel natural.

Trying to avoid the uncomfortable and foreboding nagging at the back of my neck, I lean into conversation and snacks with Willa, who now also seems a bit on the distracted side.

We're both quiet for a moment, watching the game with the wind whipping around the arena. It almost feels as though even the fans can feel it this time. All around us is a foggy swelling of apprehension while the air closer to the rink is thick with the unnatural hostility.

“Please tell me you feel any of this,” I whisper to Willa, tossing in a nervous giggle in case I need to act like I was joking because I'm just letting my anxiety get the better of me.

Her eyebrows draw together in what I can't decide is either confusion, concentration, or irritation. “Unfortunately, I do.” Her dark eyes slowly begin to scan the crowd, Fran also now on high alert.

Releasing a startled scream when Benny is driven into the boards and scares the bajeezus out of me, also managing to startle Willa and Fran. They both jump and take battle stances, which causes us all to break into a fit of laughter among the mayhem. Our laughter is extinguished by gasps all around us.

We'd only stopped watching the game for a moment. I fear the worst, flinging myself around, searching for Roman's eyes until I find them staring directly at me, full of concern. When I finally notice one of the other team's players is laid out on the ice. He's convulsing, and there's a dark gray tint to his veins.

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