Page 271 of Power Play

The word carried everything hockey had meant to him since he was young enough to need somewhere dependable to belong. His arrogance and swagger had disappeared, leaving me with the part of Ryan that had spent his entire life working toward one chance.

My chest tightened. “How huge?”

“If I have a good game, really fucking huge.”

I smiled before I could stop myself.

Ryan narrowed his eyes. “Why are you smiling?”

“Because admitting you’re good at hockey sounded physically painful.”

“I know I’m good.”

“How good?”

“I’m fucking excellent.”

“Much better.”

His dimple appeared briefly before his expression grew serious again.

“I want everybody there.”

“The guys?”

“All of them. Cade, Briggs, Rider, Easton, and the girls. Whoever can make it.”

His fingers moved slowly over my waist.

“Fury doesn’t play that weekend. There are cabins near the arena. I was thinking everyone could come up Friday and stay through Sunday. The game is Saturday night. We could do food afterward, maybe skate Sunday, and whatever else people do when they voluntarily spend an entire weekend together.”

“That sounds suspiciously like you planned a group vacation.”

“Don’t call it that.”

“You found cabins.”

“I know how Google works.”

I laughed softly, but Ryan continued watching me.

“I need you there.”

My laughter disappeared. “I said I would be.”

“I know, mi hada.”

His hand rose and touched my cheek.

“I need you there with me, knowing what that means.”

My breath caught.

“There will be media. Frost posts everything. People will take pictures, and if I have the game I’m supposed to have, there could be interviews afterward. Social media and whatever other bullshit comes with it.”

His thumb moved across my cheekbone.

“I’m telling you now because I don’t want you walking into that arena and realizing too late that you might end up in a picture beside me.”