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I take a deep breath and wrap my hands around her wrists. Slowly, I pull them down until we’re holding hands between us. At a decent distance. Our big off-campus date is tomorrow, and honestly, I’m looking forward to that a lot more than to this game.
Married to hockey, my ass. In a matter of months, Tinker Bell has dethroned what, for years, I believed to be my one true love.
Sighing, I say, “Condition’s fine. The issue is more that I keep getting distracted?—”
“I know you must be nervous because they’re all here, but don’t give them that power.” There’s a big wrinkle between her eyebrows. Her lips pinch with all the seriousness of her feelings. “Listen, Max. You’ve been appearing in those articles about up-and-coming talent for years. Even your lousiest performance is stellar compared to everyone else’s. You don’t have to try too hard to impress them, okay? Don’t go and get injured on me because of some outrageous play.”
A funny pang in my chest leads me to bend down again. This time, I place a quick kiss on her lips. “Thank you.”
“Did that help? Because I can still hype you up some more.” She pulls one hand away to count with her fingers. “First, you’re a S’more, remember? Who doesn’t like S’mores? Second, you’re my S’more, which is even better.” By that point, I’m a hairbreadth away from losing my mind, but if Luz notices it, she ignores it. “Third, you’re a really, really sexy S’more. I’ve been trying really hard not to stare at you, but I’m failing?—”
“Wait, what?” I start laughing. Like a hyena.
In contrast, she frowns. “Did you not see yourself before stepping out of the locker room?”
I didn’t have time to. Before she started shouting for me, I’d been about to put my top pads and jersey on. Right now, I’m in full uniform and skates from the waist down and a performance shirt above the waist. The top is thin and very tight, and I’ve noticed how her dark eyes keep straying down every so often.
I cock an eyebrow. “Eyes up here, Tinker Bell.”
“No.” If anything, her expression looks even grumpier. “Let me just get my fill for a second.”
I step back and stand up straighter, bending an arm one way and the other in the opposite direction like body builders do. Luz snorts through her nose, but she doesn’t stop staring. I know that Coach and the rest of the staff are in the locker room already, and this area isn’t accessible to the wider public. So I get a little more daring. Her eyes pop open as I lift my shirt just a little bit, enough to expose the abs she seems to like so much.
“Was that enough or do you need a little more?”
Fast like lightning, Luz jumps at me to stay my hands. Her breath is rushed, as if she ran a mile instead of just one step. “Are you trying to kill me?”
“I thought people called this fan service.”
“Big fan, the biggest, but—” She shakes her head. “I’m here to hype you up, not the other way around.”
“But what if I don’t feel sufficiently hyped?” My exaggerated pout makes her frown.
“You mean my grand speech wasn’t enough?”
“It was a great effort. But something’s missing.” I lean back against the wall and pull her up against me. Her hands fall against my chest, which I also know she likes. And sure enough, she can’t help splaying her fingers wider and pressing a little harder. I wrap my arms around her waist just enough to leave no room between us, but without hurting her.
“Hmm, what’s that?” Luz leans against me until only the wall behind me keeps us upright.
My answer is leaning down for a kiss. Her hand is warm as it holds the side of my face, tilting it so I can kiss her deeper.
That’s when Nate chooses to walk out. “Ugh, stop being so damn in love in front of other people! It’s offensive.”
“Stop being so jealous,” Conor calls out from nearby.
I pull away, my forehead against Luz’s. “Ignore them.”
“Always.”
Now, more seriously, I say, “Thank you for being my person.”
She offers a dazzling smile. “Always.” Reaching on her tiptoes, she pecks my lips. “Now, suit up and go kick ass.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I do quick work of suiting up all the way but still end up at the back of the line on our way over to the ice.
“How do you even have time to date, man?” Nate shakes his head beside me. “I can barely keep up with school and training.”
