Page 111 of Puck Love

“Congratulations, hockeyhero.”

“I saw your little song there, babe. Nicetouch.”

“I’m so proud of you,” Icrow.

“Wait. I gotta headoutside.”

“Okay,” I tell him, but it’s probably lost to the noise of theparty.

The racket dies down, and his sexy voice comes through crystal clear. “Baby, I miss you so goddamnmuch.”

“I know. I miss youtoo.”

“I’m coming to see you, as soon as I can. Coach has got us training these four days before the cup, but the second that thing is in our possession I’m coming home toyou.”

I smile and fall back on my bed. “Home,huh?”

“You know what Imean.”

“I like the sound ofthat.”

“And I like the sound of your voice in my ear as you come.” He sighs. “I wish you were here,babe.”

“Well, you know I may not be there to come in your ear, but we could always video call and watch oneanother.”

He gasps. “Jesus, Stella, I almost dropped the phone. You can’t say shit likethat.”

“Sorry. I just miss that handsome face, and that great hockeybutt.”

There a beat of silence, and I wonder if he’s lost reception, but he clears his throat and I know I’ve just stunned him into silence. “Are youserious?”

“Maybe?”

“Fuck. I’m in a publicrestroom.”

“Is there a lockingdoor?”

“In one of the cubicles, yeah, but anyone could walk in and hearus.”

“No one has to know. We could be real quiet,” Itease.

“Jesus Christ. I’m so hard just hearingthat.”

“I’m game if you are,” Iwhisper.

He puffs out a huge breath. “Okay. Hang up. I’ll call you back viavideo.”

“I love you, Van,” I say, in as sultry a voice as I can muster without feeling like anidiot.

He groans. “I love you too, baby. So fuckingmuch.”

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