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"You know what? You might just be right."
* * *
For the next twenty minutes, the crowd stuck around to watch the Kingsnakes get their Western Conference Champion hats and accept the trophy presented to the winners of the Western Conference.
"Do you think they'll touch it?" Hannah asked, jiggling her leg. "Most teams don't, but some decide to go for it. What do you think, Zoe?"
"You know how Ryder is about superstitions. He hates them. Like the supposed ‘arena curse.’ They busted that one, so yep, I'm totally thinking he'll touch it."
"I hope they do. They should celebrate it!" Bella snapped a few photos of the players on the ice. "I'm voting yes, they'll touch it."
"Guess we'll find out in a second," Penn replied.
Ryder skated over to accept the trophy, and when he rested his hand on it, Zoe burst out laughing. "See? Do I know my husband or what?"
"Yes!" Bella pumped her fist in the air. "That's the way, Ry. Screw all those stupid superstitions."
The rest of the guys surrounded him, and they made no bones about touching the trophy, either. Eli laughed and pretended to kiss it as they lined up to take their team photo.
"Don't forget, we're headed over to Callahan's after this," Zoe told them. "Ryder rented the whole place out for the team, WAGs, and immediate family. Sort of a ‘we're going to the finals’ gathering. Because you know my husband will say he's not celebrating anything until he's holding the Cup over his head." Zoe deepened her voice and said, "Don't get ahead of yourselves, boys. We haven't won anything yet. We earned the right to compete for it, that's all."
"Okay, that was scarily accurate." Bella laughed. "You do a great imitation of your husband."
She grinned and did a playful curtsy.
"It's going to be a night to remember." Holly slung her arm around Penn. "I don't know about you guys, but I can use a drink."
Bella snorted. "I could, but I'm guessing Brandon's reserved cookies and milk for me instead."
Hannah grinned. "Only the best for you, Bells.Chocolatemilk this time."
"Oh, whee." Bella shook her head, then pulled out her phone. "Come on, ladies, let's take a selfie to commemorate the occasion. On three, okay? Say chocolate milk!"
"One-two-three! Chocolate milk!" they yelled, laughing as Bella snapped the photo.
Penn winked at Holly. "A night to remember, indeed.”
* * *
"I still can't believe this is happening," Penn told Holly. She took a big sip of her piña colada. "It feels surreal."
"It does," she agreed.
They stood at the oversized bar at Callahan's VIP Room, sucking up the atmosphere. Players, WAGs, and their families milled around the spacious bar, celebrating the win.
Some guests sat at the marble tables scattered around the lower level, munching on appetizers and drinking beer, while others engaged in a game of pool or bubble hockey.
They'd been here for forty-five minutes, and she'd barely seen Eli since the end of the game, other than a quick glimpse of him in the hallway near the family room. He'd been busy with interviews and talking to the media, so she'd bummed a ride with Bella to Callahan's.
Holly flagged down the young woman helping the regular bartender, Jake, with the drink orders tonight. "I'll take a beer in a bottle. Not picky, whatever you got."
"I'm glad Jake finally got some help," Penn said. "Why Callahan's has so many waitresses and not much help at the bar, I've never figured out."
"Apparently Jake is very particular about his bar. But yeah, I'm glad he's getting help." Holly grinned at Penn. "Cute help, too. Jake is no fool."
Penn laughed, watching as the fresh-faced brunette hustled to and fro, smiling at the customers as she filled their drink orders. "No, he's not."
Holly's phone buzzed with a text, and she glanced down at the screen. "Oh, balls."
