Page 187 of Cold As Ice

“For some of you, this is the last time you’ll ever put on your Lakers jersey. For others, it’s the start of a long road ahead. But whether you’re a freshman or a senior, I want each of you to know how proud I am.

“This season hasn’t been easy. We lost one of our best players.” His gaze landed on Connor. “It’s not easy to bounce back from that kind of loss. But Connor is a part of this team whether he’s on the ice or not.

“Now I could stand here and talk to you about last-minute strategy or give you some long motivational speech that you’ll forget the second you get out on the ice and hear the roar of the crowd. But instead, I’m going to tell you what my father told me on the night before my first college national championship.

“Not every victory shows up on the scoreboard.” Coach Tucker took time to look at every player in the locker room, letting his words settle. “You all made sacrifices to be here. You all put in the work. You all earned your spot. Now let’s go out there and show everyone what the Lakeshore U Lakers are made of.”

* * *

The atmosphere in the PPG Paints Arena was electric. There wasn’t a spare seat in the house and if the noise was any indicator, everyone had come ready to cheer for their favorite team.

“Holy shit,” Leon said, whizzing past me as we warmed up.

Holy shit indeed.

“Lap it up, brother.” Noah clapped me on the shoulder.

“It’s something, huh?” I scanned the crowds, trying to spot my girls. But the lights made it difficult to see anything beyond the swathe of indigo and cyan.

“Any regrets?”

“None. You?”

“Not putting a ring on your sister’s finger on Valentine’s Day.”

“Are you trying to give me a heart attack before I play the biggest game of my life?” I huffed.

Noah’s laughter grated on my last fucking nerve. “You should see your face. I’m only half serious. But I figured it can’t hurt to get you fired up.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“And yet, you’re stuck with me.”

“Can you see the girls?” I scanned the front rows again. Family and friends had preferential seats, so they had to be down there somewhere.

“Relax, they’re here.”

Easy for him to say.

He hadn’t watched a mad man wave a knife at the girl he loved.

I didn’t let Madison see it, but that shit had messed with my head. I wanted eyes on them both at all times, especially at something as huge as this.

“I still can’t—”

“Hi.” Madison mouthed as I spotted her.

I skated in their direction before Coach had a chance to tell me to stay put.

“Austins, Austins.” Imogen jumped up and down, banging on the plexiglass.

But it wasn’t her broad smile that melted my heart. Or the way Madison looked at me with nothing but love and adoration. It was what they were both wearing that stopped me in my tracks.

“Surprise,” she mouthed, giving me a little twirl.

Fuck.

The sight of them both in my jersey, number thirty-one blazed across their chests, did things to me.

---