Page 105 of Behind the Bench

Once Lincoln blows the whistle signaling the end of practice, the team exits the ice, leaving only the rookies behind to clean up the pucks.

Hunter follows the rookies off the ice once they’re done, but Lincoln hooks his stick around my waist before I can step off the ice behind them. I turn around and he pulls me toward him.

“Listen, just because the guys know doesn’t mean I wantany PDA. Especially at work.” I stick my glove up, blocking his face.

Lincoln laughs and that smile I dream about lights up his face. He puts his hand on his chest and pretends to be insulted. “You wound me, Coach.”

Rolling my eyes, I put my hand on my hip. “I highly doubt that. Now what is it that you want? It’s been a long day and I have a bacon chicken ranch pizza calling my name.”

He starts to skate backward and pulls a puck out of his track pants. “I know you do not have dinner plans that don’t include me, Montgomery. What do you say we play for it? Loser buys the pizza.”

I’m never one to back down from a challenge, which Lincoln is fully aware of. Without giving him an answer, I sprint toward the puck that’s sitting between us and race down the ice.

We go back and forth down the ice a few times, each hitting the crossbar and one goal post.

“Next one to hit a goal post wins,” he reminds me—as if I don’t know the rules.

“Thanks, Coach. I’m well aware of how the game works. Considering I kicked your ass last time.”

Smirking, Lincoln skates toward me, and I crossover backward to keep up with him. Closing the gap between us, I reach my stick out just as he goes to drag the puck back to try and deke around me. I steal the puck and take off down the ice.

Because I like to show off, especially for him, I wind up and take a slap shot from the top of the circle, striking the left post dead center. I raise my hands in victory as I circle the net, only to be thrown against the boards in the corner.

“Nice shot, Montgomery. But I let you win.”

Lincoln’s lips hover close to mine, and I can’t quite remember why I was so against PDA a few minutes ago. Thesmell of mint invades my space and it takes every bit of self-control not to crash my mouth to his.

“Yeah, right. I saw you pumping your arms trying to catch up. There’s no way you’d let me win anything. Admit it, I win. You lose. Pay up, buddy.”

Lincoln’s eyes drop to my mouth and his breath kisses my lips as he talks. “I may have lost the game, but I won something so much better.”

My heart skips a beat, but somehow I manage to ask, “Oh yeah, what’s that?”

“You. I won you.”

The intensity of his stare has me nervously laughing and shoving at his shoulder. “You’re so cheesy.”

He grabs my wrist before I can skate away and pulls my body until it’s fully pressed to his front. I can feel his heartbeat against my chest and mine begins to thump in response.

Lincoln’s hand finds my cheek and he smooths his thumb over it. “I love you, Ellie.”

All the air is sucked from my lungs.

The edges of his mouth quirk up and a devilishly handsome smile stretches across his face. “I mean it, Ellie. I love you. There is no one else I want in my life pestering me for the last slice of pizza or using every last bit of hot water in the world’s longest showers while you sing completely off key to Eric Church. You make everything better. You make me better.”

I try to say it back, but I’m still trying to catch my breath. Something unintelligible comes out of my mouth.

Lincoln laughs and shakes his head. “I’m not sure what you said but you don’t need to say anything right now.” Bless his heart.

“I had some giant plan to buy one of those Bobcats jerseys with your name on it for myself and show up to a game with it on or something. Hunter and Sadie were adamant it would be hot, but then I realized you’d absolutely hate every second ofthat and probably wouldn’t speak to me for a week so I called off the whole thing. After everything that happened this morning and after telling the team, I couldn’t waste another minute of not letting you know how I feel. I love you, baby.”

Tears sting at the back of my eyes. He went to my best friend for help on how to tell me how he feels. He is constantly putting me first and lifting me up. He is my biggest cheerleader and the best partner. Once the realization sinks in, I blurt it out.

“I love you so fucking much, Lincoln.”

He dives forward, placing a claiming kiss on my mouth. I part my lips to allow his tongue the entrance it deserves. We devour each other and forget about everything else.

Suddenly, cheers erupt, echoing throughout the empty arena. We pull apart and look around to see where it’s coming from.

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