Page 81 of Blue Line

What is going on there?

“Fine. Fine. Sorry, mate.” Sebastian puts up his hands in surrender. “I’m just gonna …” He points toward the ice but doesn’t wait for anyone to respond, simply hops over the boards and skates away.

Good call, man.

Good call.

I turn back to where Ansley and Elias are having a staring contest.

“Fine,” Ansley says, looking away. “You might as well skate since you’re already dressed for it, but then afterward come to my office. I’m not chasing you around.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Elias salutes her before he hops over the boards too and skates away.

She shakes her head at him, then turns her attention to the rest of us. “What?”

“Nothing,” I mutter, glancing at Hadley, who is fiddling with her camera, trying to act as though she’s not interested in what’s going on, but I see the way she’s biting the corner of her lip. She wants to say something. She’s probably wondering the same thing I am.

“You need me, Ansley?” I ask.

“No.” She blows out a breath, shooting a glare in Elias’s direction. “Unless you can talk some sense into him.”

“Huh?” I scratch my head.

She waves me away. “Nothing. Never mind. Besides, I can handle grumpy broody hockey players.” With that, she turns and goes back the way she came.

“I’m gonna go too,” Coach Jackson says, standing. “See y’all around.”

“Bye, Coach,” I say as she walks away.

“Was that? Did that …” Hadley asks when we’re alone.

“I thought the same thing.” I shrug. “Come on, let’s get this show on the road.”

She follows me toward the ice, and I unlatch the half door so she can step out. No way am I going to ask her to jump over the boards.

She spends the next hour directing me on how and where to skate. Shots she wants. We even get Elias and Sebastian involved at one point for a few group action photos.

She’s in her element in the way she lines up the shots and directs us where to go.

I wonder if the Storm is hiring, because I think she’d be a great addition to the team. Not that I know anything about taking photographs for the Storm besides what I’ve observed from our team photographers.

Is it selfish of me that I want her to work for the team? That I want her to stay here?

With me.

I want her forever.

I am one hundred percent in love with Hadley.

I want her to be my real fiancée.

And then my wife.

Is it too fast? Too soon? I don’t know, but it’s how I feel.

I just hope she feels the same way.

“Want to see the pictures Becca sent me earlier today of Hazel? She’s so adorable.” Hadley asks me as I’m eating the last bite of dinner later that evening. She’s on her feet and going over to the island to grab her phone before I can answer.