Page 213 of Pucking Wild

That was the last time she mentioned it.

I find the date on the form and my smile spreads. This is dated from over a month ago. These are the copies she already submitted that carry a government seal and signature.

That’s when it hits me. She’s notchangingher name. She alreadychangedit. I think she changed it the day after we discussed it. She’s Teresa Langley now.

Yeah, nothing is going to keep me from getting to this game. And Tess better be there, ready to get on one knee.

“What’s up with you?”Sully says, lacing up his skates. “You’re being weird today.”

“Leave him alone,” Jake shouts from across the locker room. “He’s a man in love.”

“We know,” says Walsh on my other side.

“Yeah, but tonight Tess finally makes an honest man out of him,” Jake calls to the room.

Sully looks at me wide-eyed. “Wait, is he serious, Langers? Are you finally joining the Married Men Club?”

“We don’t call it that,” says Jake.

“Oh, but we should,” says J-Lo, stuffing his head inside his jersey. “It’s the most exclusive, most elite club.”

“How do we know Tess is gonna ask you tonight?” Walsh asks, snagging my stick tape.

“We know,” Jake and Sanny say at the same time.

I just roll my eyes, letting the guys tease me as I punch Walsh and steal back my stick tape. I’m halfway down the blade when a very confused looking Teddy comes stumbling in. “Uhh…guys? Is this allowed?” He steps back and four men in sparkly red and white striped suits and straw hats come marching in.

“What the fuck is this?” says Novy, getting to his feet.

But I already know what this is.

“Please, God, no,” I mutter. “Anything but this.”

“Hello,” the tall man with the ginger mustache calls out to the room. “We’re looking for Ryan.”

The whole locker room hoots and hollers as they point me out, because apparently there’s no sense of brotherhood left in this damn sport.

I get to my feet, already in my skates. “Listen, you really don’t need to—”

“You’re Ryan?” Mustache asks.

“Oh, yeah, that’s him,” says Sully. The asshole is way too gleeful about this.

All around the room, the guys are getting their phones out. My gaze flashes to the corner where Doc is leaning against the wall by Mars, her arms folded. Catching my eye, she winks.

Oh, fuck her. She is so dead.

Mustache blows on some little flute thing. “Ready, boys?”

And then I’m knocked to my ass on the bench as the quartet breaks out in boisterous singing and arm-swinging:

Bum bum bum bum.

Tonight’s the night that Tess will get on one knee.

Bum bum bum bum.

And you and she will live oh so happily.

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