Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Normal stuff. Friend stuff. Hockey player stuff.
The kind of relaxed, team-building night in that I wasn’t sure I’d get a chance to be a part of if Garcia had his way.
And I’m more grateful for it than ever.
CHAPTER 18
TANK
Later, as Steph and I head for her car and my bike—both parked in the lot across the street from Stone’s high rise—I feel lighter than I have in days.
Maybe weeks.
“So, what now?” I ask, reaching for her hand.
“Now, I swing back by the studio to grab Mr. Sniffles, and I meet you at home.” She sighs, before adding, “Unless you wanted to go out for ice cream or something? I’m tired, but I could rally.”
“No, I meant…” I pause, turning to face her. “You still up for me moving in? If so, I could start tomorrow while you’re teaching. My contract allowed me to keep coaching private clients until camp started, but now I belong to the Badgers. I’ll have a lot more free time on the weekends from here on out.”
Steph shakes her head as she moves into my arms. “Nope. You don’t belong to the Badgers. You belong to me, and in light of that very exciting fact, I’m going to cut down on work on the weekends, too.”
My brows lift. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” she says, brushing my hair from my forehead with an affection I’m determined to keep deserving. “I’ll still do Saturday mornings for all the die-hards who can’t make it any other day of the week, but I’ve already talked to Jessa and Nick about taking over Saturday afternoons and Sundays. And I’m going to keep an eye out for another part-time teacher, so I’m not gone every night while you’re home alone.”
“I mean, I would love that,” I say, “but I don’t want you to feel like you have to rearrange your entire life for me. I can make changes, too. I can come help out at the studio after work or—”
“It’s not a sacrifice,” she cuts in. “It’s a realignment. Turns out I have dreams that are just as important to me as building a beautiful business.”
“What kind of dreams?”
She lifts a shoulder, a shy smile curving her lips. “Just dreams. Relationship dreams and free time to enjoy my man dreams. And maybe…family dreams, someday.”
“I have those dreams, too,” I murmur, falling for her all over again. “And I want to make them all come true. With you.”
Her expression softens. “Yeah? So, we’re a team?”
“Best team I’ve ever been on,” I say, meaning it.
And I know that’s not something that’s ever going to change.
Even when I breeze into the locker room on Monday morning to find Garcia’s locker empty, the weasel long gone, and camp suddenly a much nicer place to be, Stephanie is still my number one.
Even as the season moves forward and my bonds with Stone and Cruise deepen into real friendships, my girl is always at the top of my mind.
Even when we have a season for the record books, the Badgers missing a slot in the Stanley Cup Finals by the skin of our teeth, the knowledge that I’m headed home to the sexiest, sweetest woman in the world banishes the sting of defeat.
The loss sucks, sure—I’m still a competitive asshole—but as I clean out my locker for the summer, I feel something I never expected to feel after falling short of our goal…
Contentment.
“Next year,” Stone says, clapping me on the shoulder with a rueful smile. “We’re taking it all the way next year.”
“All the fucking way,” I agree, tossing my worn gloves into a bin for donation. I’ve already packed my lucky pads, the ones that saw me through the best season of my career, into my gear bag. I’m not superstitious—okay, maybe a little superstitious—but there’s no way in hell I’m giving those up.
“Any big plans for the off-season?” Stone asks as we head toward the exit.
I shrug, but there’s a smile tugging at my lips as I say, “Nah, nothing too crazy. Unpacking all the shit we haven’t unpacked since we moved last month. Maybe a vacation somewhere sandy and sunny. Taking it easy. You?”
“Actually, I’ve got a date. My first date in over a year. Tomorrow night.”
My brows shoot up. “Yeah? Good for you, man. It’s about time you got back in the ring. Who’s the lady? Anyone I know?”
“Um, no, not really, but…” He rubs the back of his neck, pausing beside me with a pointed look at the players leaving the locker room in front of us.
I stop, waiting until we’re alone before I ask, “What’s up?”
He shakes he head. “It’s nothing, just…” He laughs. “No, it’s not nothing. This woman is trouble, man. She’s trouble, and she brings out the dumbest side of me. Like, really dumb. Crazy dumb. But…” He shrugs. “Fucking on the DL just isn’t enough anymore, you know? I want more. I want feelings, more time with her.” His shoulders hunch closer to his ears. “I don’t know, maybe a house and a dog or a cat someday. Like you and Steph.”