Someone had lit a fire under Finn O’Brien’s skates, and the buzzing in Molly’s chest had her hoping it was the prospect of seeing her. Wishful thinking. The stakes of the game were too high for Finn to be distracted by her lady bits.
The Snow Pirates were 3-1 up nearing the end of the second period. They’d lost Johnny White to a potential wrist injury, and two of the rookies had come down with a case of the shits before practice that morning, so the Pirates’ bench was definitely light. Despite their shortcomings, the Pirates dominated.
Russ crunched another opponent into the boards as Finn skated toward their net. If they won the game, they were playoff champs. Twenty minutes was all that separated her brother’s team from victory.
They’d come close the previous season, and the one before that, but it always just seemed out of reach. She wrung her hands in her lap and sent up some good juju to the hockey gods. Finn looked dashing with a playoff beard.
Dashing? Fuck. She was spending way too much time with the romantics.
Her stomach jumped. Speaking of romantic, she was going to see Finn after the game. She needed to get a few quotes from some of the players on both teams before she could go home. But Cleo was staying at Linc’s so Finn could stop by and they couldtalk.
Her lips prickled. She was going to talk alright. With her tongue. She was going to get on her knees and give Finn O’Brien the best goddamn blowjob of his life.
Clink.
Finn had hit the crossbar.
“Fuck.”
“Eeeeeeasy, tiger.” Cleo patted her thigh. “Have no fear, this is our year. It has to be.” She rubbed her hands together.
For someone Molly had to drag to the rink kicking and screaming for her first game, Cleo had not only come around, she was an all-out fan. She’d learned the game, the players, and was invested in the team beyond her adoring boyfriend – number thirteen.
Austin slammed some poor fucker into the boards with a hit that was felt collectively around the rink. She couldn’t see who he’d hit, but she imagined he’d deflated like someone letting go of a balloon. Austin had that effect on people.
The final whistle of the period blew and the team skated off the ice. Despite being two periods in, they were light on their skates and an electric energy rippled around the crowd. No one – but Cleo – dared say it out loud, but the hope was tangible. Perhaps it was their year at last.
“You going to get a quote during the break?”
Molly shook her head. “I really want to talk to Seb, but I’m not getting anywhere near his zone while he’s killing it. They’re so fucking hot right now.”
“I’ll say.” She fanned herself.
Molly shoved Cleo with her elbow. “I mean they’re focused. In the zone. And kicking ass out there.”
“AndImean they’re hot as hell.” Cleo laughed. She also wasn’t wrong. “I’m not wrong.”
“I know. I just have a job to do, you know?” Sure, she’d gotten rejections from three internships over the summer. And sure it stung like someone had given her papercuts all over her body then poured vinegar on it, but being a play-by-play commentator was all she’d ever wanted to do. She just needed to be patient, dig deep, and not give up. Someone would give her a break at some point, and she needed to be ready.
“I was thinking of submitting a couple of articles to some of the nationals if we… y’know…” She couldn’t even bring herself to say the word out loud.
“That’s a great idea. Mom has mentioned your last three articles.”
“She has?”
Cleo nodded. “Things still aren’t great between us, y’know… what with…” She waved her tattooed arm at the ice. “But she knows she needs to let me live my life and I think she’s trying. You’re neutral ground, she takes an interest in the team because of Lincoln but uses you, your brother, and your talent with exciting reporting to ask about him in a roundabout way. It’s kinda funny.”
“When faced with the prospect of losing someone, or accepting who they are, the fear of loss can be pretty powerful.” Molly sighed. “I hope it works on Will, too.”
Cleo squeezed her hand.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to make your situation about me. I’m glad you and your mom are talking again. But I’m even gladder that she’s listening. Gladder – is that a word? More glad. I dunno, you’re the wordsmith, not me. I’m happy she’s being less dickish, how’s that?”
Cleo smiled. “Me too. It hasn’t been easy. Papa tried to mediate for a while, but she dug her heels in and refused to even meet me halfway. But she’s slowly coming around to the idea that I can still be a straight-A student, have a jock boyfriend at the same time, and be successful even if it’s not her idea of success.” She rolled her eyes like she’d heard the lectures a thousand times.
“I’m so glad you’re standing up for yourself and not taking any more shit from her.”
“I’m so glad you’re finally opening your heart up to the possibility of L—”
