Page 58 of Much Ado About Hockey

Karen was missing it.

Again.

Maybe she’d watch it on TV. Maybe he’d return to the locker room afterward, drenched in sweat and victory, and find a handful of texts waiting for him, her excitement captured through a screen instead of from the stands.

But it wasn’t the same.

Jett shook his hands, his weight shifting from one foot to the other. Everyone had their ‘thing’ to calm them before launching onto the ice in what he called ‘Game Mode.’ Once you were on the ice, it wasn’t about you – but the team. You were there to be in it, to be present in the game, and to give it your all for a couple of hours.

And let’s welcome our hometown left wing, number thirty… Jett Acton!

He pumped his legs, racing onto the ice with experience, and bolted out there – holding up both hands in expectation. He wanted that welcoming, that dull roar, to get outta control. Working the crowd, he vaulted his hockey stick into the air, catching it like he was holding up an Olympic torch, and his eyes were drawn to the side, unexpectedly, and glided completely dumbstruck as he saw Karen standing there.

In his jersey.

His heart flopped wildly in his chest at the sight. He gave a massive push, sending him careening toward his wife instead of taking his place or working the crowd like usual. No, he was focused on the one person that mattered – his wife.

“Hey,” he exclaimed, smiling and yanked off his helmet. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to watch the sexiest player on the ice win this game,” Karen yelled doggedly, her voice hoarse as other women around them started to call out. “How’s this look on me?” – and to his disbelief, she turned to show him their surname on her back.

Over here, Jett!

Can I get your autograph?

Jett! Jett! I wanna have your baby…

And he ignored them all.

They weren’t his beloved Nutella.

“I love you,” he said openly, staring at her. She hadn’t shrugged him off or abandoned him. This wasn’t a case of his father leaving, his family unable to attend because of the distance or scheduling, or anything his insecurity could think up. She was here –for him– and he could see in her eyes.

“I love you too,” Karen replied tenderly, touching his cheek as she gazed at him.

Jett! Up here! I wanna have your baby…

“Oh my gosh,” Jett exclaimed, horrified and embarrassed. Time was passing much too quickly, and they were almost done announcing names. He was going to have to get his rear end in Game Mode.

“Do you know that woman?” Karen asked warily.

“Heck no – and why would I touchgarbagewhen I’ve got my sweet Nutella?”

“That’s my man,” she praised. “I look okay in this? Does it look better on me than that floozy who wants to have yourbaby?” Karen said dryly, giving him ‘the look’ and lifting an eyebrow… so he did the same.

“There’s only one woman I want to have my baby someday.”

“Win the game,” Karen countered, almost like she was laying down an ultimatum.

Wait a second, was she saying that if they won this game, they would start trying?They’d just finally started sleeping together, they were finally clicking, and he didn’t want to mess things up or throw a wrench in the mix.

“What are you saying?” he asked baldly.

“I’m saying if we are jumping… let’s bungee, husband,” Karen whispered, taking his hand and putting it onto her stomach. “I have your heart, and you have mine. Let’s see where things go from there.”

His heart slammed in his chest with an awareness that was all-encompassing.

“Acton! Let’s go!”

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