Page 157 of Desperate Pucker
When I turn around, her eyes go wide. “No way…”
A second later, Bella and Maya walk up. When they see me wearing Ryker’s jersey, they both gasp.
Maya squeals. Bella blurts out, “Are you kidding me?” with a huge smile on her face.
“You and Ryker are together?” Maya says.
I nod. “We are.”
“Remember at Casino Night when we were all teasing you about him, and you said you were just friends?” Dakota wags an eyebrow at me.
“You went from just friends to wearing his jersey in a month. Impressive,” Bella says.
My cheeks heat as I smile. “You guys knew better than I did.”
Abby walks up a minute later. “Hey, ladies.” Her gaze falls to my jersey. Her eyes widen as she smiles. “Oh!”
“Ryker and Maddy are boyfriend and girlfriend,” Dakota announces excitedly.
Abby hugs me. “Aww that’s wonderful. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. I’m excited to see his reaction when he sees me in his jersey.”
We all sit down in our seats as fans start filtering into the arena.
“He hasn’t seen you wearing it yet?” Dakota asks.
I shake my head. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”
The look in her deep brown eyes turns teasing as she grins. “Best feeling ever is when your hockey guy sees you in his jersey for the first time.”
Maya and Bella nod along.
Abby smiles shyly. “Very true.”
“You wore Coach Porter’s old hockey jersey for him?” Dakota asks.
Abby nods. “I wore it for him when we went to Paris together the night he proposed to me. He went nuts.”
Her cheeks flush. I bite my lip, my entire body buzzing with anticipation.
Warmup starts, and I spot Ryker stretching on the ice. He skates over and takes a practice shot at Braden in the net.
He looks over, and I wave at him, then stand up.
He stumbles to a halt on his skates. Even from this far away, I can see the second his eyes widen. His lips part open, and the corner of his mouth lifts.
He skates over to the glass and beckons me over with a gloved hand.
My face is sore from how hard I’m smiling as I step up to him. Heat simmers in his bourbon brown stare.
“You look hot in my jersey, princess.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah. Turn around for me.”
I do what he says so he can see his name and number on my back.
