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“Congrats, Captain,” Maddy says with a genuine smile, but her tone drips with disdain as she greets Ryan. It seems their temporary truce has fallen apart. I don’t understand those two. Maybe it’d make more sense if I knew the actual cause behind her animosity between them, but he’s never told me the reasoning.
“Thanks.” I flash her a smile, but my gaze flickers back to Amanda.
“Looked like you owned that ice,” Amanda says, stepping closer.
“I’m soaring, baby!” Not even the lack of my parents’ presence can knock me off this high. Finals are behind us. I’m pretty sure I passed business calculus by the skin of my teeth, but a pass is a pass. With the tournament over, I can’t wait to be alone with my girl.
Amanda laughs, and I love how her eyes crinkle at the corners when she lets loose. She’s got this way of making the simplest joke feel like a stand-up act.
“Well, I hope you don’t expect to be flying through the Gala tomorrow night. You do remember that you can’t dance, right?”
“That hurts, Hoyt.” I feign a wounded look. “You know I have some moves.”
“Yeah, on the ice!” Maddy chimes in. Her laughter is infectious, and even Ryan cracks a smile.
Wit aside, Amanda’s eyes soften with affection as she reaches to lay a hand on my arm. Electric warmth sizzles at her touch, and my heart hammers. “You don’t need to impress me with dance moves, Blake. I like you for who you are.”
Her words shot through me like a puck hitting the net; swift, powerful, decisive. I want this woman more than I’ve ever wanted anything. “Thanks, but don’t be surprised if I sweep you off your feet.”
“Modest as ever.” Ryan’s smirk reeks of condescension as he claps me on the back and strides past to join Maddy. The tension between them is palpable, but their voices fade out for me. My sole focus is on Amanda.
“Seriously though, you were amazing out there.” Her words come sincerely, and I can tell she means them. That matters. More than what she knows.
“Told ya there wasn’t anything to worry about.”
“So cocky.”
I flash her my winning smile. “You wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Laughing at the slight roll of her eyes, I study her. What am I going to do if she leaves? There are so many things unsaid between us, like how much I like her. Or how empty and lonely my life was before she crashed into it. And the biggest secret of how this turned into something real. I don’t know how I will breathe if she leaves.
“Blake?” Amanda looks up at me, eyebrows raised, waiting.
“Sorry, lost in thought.”Lost in her, more like it.But instead of telling her what I want, I shake my head, chasing away those thoughts. I’m the winner tonight, and tomorrow’s worries can wait.
“Let’s get out of here. You hungry?” At her nod, I turn toward Ryan and Maddy. “You up for pizza?”
They both nod.
“Should we ask the other guys?” Ryan asks.
“Easton, Country, and Drew were heading to Dunks. We could go there if you want.” That’s the last place I want to go. It’s clear across town and loud. I was thinking more about cutting the night short so Princess and I could start our private celebration.
“Lead the way,” Ryan says.
We walk together toward the car, and Ryan and Maddy fall into the step beside us. They’re talking, or more like bickering, but it feels like background noise.
I fish the winning puck from my pants pocket, the cool rubber heavy against my warm palm. I was going to wait until later to give her this, but I can’t wait anymore. Taking a deep breath, I hand it to her.
“Forourfuture.” The words tumble out, maybe a little rough around the edges, but honest.
She takes it, her fingers brushing mine, and that electric charge is back. Her eyes spark to life, shining like she’s just caught the game-winning goal herself. There’s no mistaking the joy that spreads across her face, and it does something funny to my chest—like my heart decides to play its own kind of hockey, slamming against my ribs.
“Seriously? You should keep this. It secured your future.”
Ourfuture.
She glossed over my emphasis on a particular word, but I didn’t bother correcting her. Maybe she wasn’t ready for the truth, or perhaps she was hoping to wait until she got confirmation from Memorial Hospital. Instead, I simply nod and say, “The very one.”
