Page 146 of Forever Wild
I finish making my rounds. It’s not all selfless. Making sure they’re ready helps me focus too. And when all the pre-game events finally settle and I take the ice for the start of the game, I’m ready. I come to a stop in the circle, place my stick on my thigh, glare at my opponent, and then flick my gaze up to the stands.
I barely look, already turning back to wait for the puck drop, when I spot Everly and my dad.
I pull out of position and skate backward. She smiles and waves, and my dad…I swallow down a lump in my throat. My dad gives me a nod. It transports me back to when I was a kid and he’d be in the crowd always ready to remind me I had this. We’ve shared entire conversations through nods. Some I’ve understood; others I haven’t, but today I understand him perfectly.
“You all right?” Leo asks quietly in my ear as he skates to me.
“Yeah.” I tear my gaze away from Everly and my dad. “I’m great.”
But I’m drawn right back to looking at them. My chest expands and my lips curve up.
Leo must follow my line of vision because he says, “Ah. I get it. I know how it is getting distracted by your girl before a game. I know that feeling.”
“Not distracted. Inspired.” I don’t know how she did it, but I know Everly is responsible for getting my dad here. She knew what it would mean to me. She knows just what I need, always.
“Are you ready?” The ref looks to me while everyone waits for me to take my place.
“Forget what I said earlier,” I tell Leo. “Let’s turn it up tonight. I’m not holding anything back.”
EPILOGUE
EVERLY
Pent-up frustration
Two months later
My voice is hoarse, and my throat burns from the yelling I’ve done over the past two months. All of which has been completely worth it to cheer on the Wildcats during the playoffs.
“I can’t look,” Bridget says, bringing her hands up to cover her face and turning around.
“They’ve got this,” I say, smiling as Jack hops over the boards for a shift on the ice.
With less than two minutes to play, the Wildcats are up by one goal. It’s been a tight game. The whole series has been, but there’s never been any doubt in my mind that these guys can do it. They’re playing better than they ever have. Hard work mixed with some playoff magic.
I glance over at Jack’s dad. He and Coach John are standing,along with the rest of the crowd, both with stony expressions that give nothing away.
Typical ex-hockey players, I suppose. I’m not nearly that chill. Every particle of my being bounces with anticipation. I need them to win this thing so I can go down there and kiss the crap out of my man.
As if he’s thinking the same thing, Jack glances up in my general direction. I’m sure he can’t actually see me, but he knows I’m here.
“I love you!” I scream.
It’s so chaotic in here right now, no one even bats an eye except Jade who’s sitting on the other side of me. She’s sometimes as loud as me, but she also has this ability to go completely chill and quiet, which is how she’s been for the entire third period.
“Maybe you should try yelling something more inspiring like, ‘You’re so getting laid if you win!’”
At that, several people do look back at us, but only briefly. The Wildcats goalie makes a glove save and there’s a collective sigh of relief around the arena.
“He’s getting laid either way,” I say.
She nods. “Declan and I had great post-season sex after they lost last year. He really does some of his best work when he needs to work off a loss.”
Piper chuckles from her other side.
“Oh, like you’re one to talk.” Jade looks knowingly at Piper’s baby bump. She’s due next month and I can’t freaking wait.
“It’s true,” Piper says. “They gotta work out all that pent-up frustration or excitement either way.”
