Page 110 of Crack the Ice

“See you later, baby,” I say before turning toward the door. “Try not to think about me too much.”

Do I adjust myself on my way out the door? Yes. Do I look back? Nope, not until I’m in my car with two doors between us. Otherwise, I might go back inside, throw her over my shoulder, and take her to her office that is much too small for the things I’d like to do right now.

I’ve waited years. I can wait a couple more hours, right?

I’ve never been more wrong in my life. Every hour on the hour, I’ve gotten some picture of Cecilia in a suggestive position, bent over the prep table with her finger in her mouth. Standing with her back against the door and her arms raised above her head. If I didn’t know she had a little tripod she used when she’s trying to take videos for social media, I would have already been down there demanding to know who else is seeing her like that.

Have I been able to focus on anything I need to? Nope. I didn’t hear a thing that was said in the meeting with Coach Stevens, Mr. Collins, or Savannah. Savannah seemed to notice, giving me a smirk more than once.

I was off during practice, even if it was light practice. Did my teammates give me shit for it? Yes. Do I care? No. Well, not until we’re getting dressed for the game and Sammy points out the love bite I have under my ear, the one I hoped left a mark. I should get it tattooed on me. The thought should not be as tempting as it is.

“Bloody hell, dude, cover that up. I don’t need to know what you and my sister do.”

My shoulders shake under my pads, a raspy laugh bouncing off the cinderblock walls. “It’s a badge of honor. Like the omegaverse books, now everyone knows I’m taken.”

“Christ,” he throws his hands over his ears. “I should have told you I had a problem with this situation.”

I shrug, pulling my jersey over my head. “Wouldn’t have stopped me. She was mine long before you and I were even friends.”

I’m the first to finish getting ready, which isn’t a surprise. I’m always the first in and the last out. Today, though, I’m going to enlist my team’s help. I clap once, drawing the eyes of all my teammates.

“Alright, men,” I yell. “I’ve got a point to make with a certain someone tonight.” I wink at Sammy, who fake-gags.

“If you could be so kind as to help me score as many goals as I can, I’ll be racking up points, and then victory drinks are on me for those of you who go out. Date night is on me for those that are married.”

“Aye aye, Captain!” Monroe yells before launching into some ridiculous song to the tune of Panama by Van Halen.

Sammy doesn’t drop it, though. “Do I even want to know?”

I chuckle, tapping the front of his skate with my stick. “Probably not, but I’m going to marry the hell out of her one day. Then we’re going to adopt those kids, but man, am I glad you’re going to be my brother-in-law.”

His silver eyes widen before he blinks and they go back to normal. “Our kids are going to be screwed, you know. Between the two of us, if there’s ever another girl besides Lily, they’ll all be screwed for life. She’s already got her own guard dog pack.”

I hold out my gloved hand, letting him tap his knuckles against my own. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Thanks for taking care of her, man. She deserves the world.”

I nod before swiping my helmet off the bench. “I’m going to give her that and more,” I say before pushing through the doors and heading to the ice for warmups. Soon enough, my woman will be here with everyone else who means something to me, and I’ll collect my prize at the end of the night.

And even if I don’t score a single goal, I’ve already won, because she chose me right back.

THIRTY-SEVEN

CECILIA

Four goals, two assists. It’s as if the entire team was in on this, passing to Mav at the last second so that he could be the one to score. Of course, in his unusually gloaty nature, he pointed his stick at me and winked after every single one. The arena still hums with excitement, their mighty captain putting on quite a show.

“You’re so getting some later,” Rory, Lucas’ pink-haired cousin, leans over, not even trying to keep it quiet.

“What’s that mean?” Lily asks, already turning to face Rory, eyes bright and full of curiosity in a way that means she’s putting together context clues she absolutely shouldn’t be.

Rory laughs, making her husband, Chief Garret Mason, chuckle as well. She’s one of my favorite people. Her ADHD and my AuDHD mix so beautifully in the chaos department.

“Nothing, Lil Bit. That’s an adult conversation,” I say, biting against my cheek, barely able to contain my own laughter.

Rory’s mouth gets her in trouble more often than not, but we wouldn’t have her any other way. She’s also Lucas and Lettie’s kids’ godmother, while Markus is their godfather. The two of them have been locked in a three-year, deeply petty war over who’s the best godparent. Don’t even get me started on Christmas, or birthdays for that matter. There should be a truce, but between these two, there’s a better chance of hell freezing over.

“Are you happy to be out of Turtle Bay for a bit?” I ask, steering the conversation back into safe territory.