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She turns her head my way. “Yeah… just reliving that. I’m so happy for Drake.”
“It was a pretty cool proposal, I’ll admit.”
“He’s always been a family man. The settling-down type. When things didn’t work out with Crystal, my heart broke for him. As much as he tries to act all gruff and standoffish, he’s a teddy bear on the inside. His circle is definitely complete now.”
I don’t reply because I can’t tell if that’s wistfulness in Kiera’s tone. Is she wondering if she’ll have that one day? I’ve come to know the woman well the last several weeks and I know marriage has never been an immediate goal. But admittedly, I have no clue how she really feels about settling down now that we have a kid in the picture. I know we’re giving the relationship a go, but should we consider something more permanent?
The wordmarriagemakes me feel off balance, but the answer is elusive and nothing feels right.
But then again, my life is incredibly tumultuous right now. Other than committing my support for the baby, all other decisions will have to be made when they do feel right.
CHAPTER 24
Kiera
It’s girls’ night.
Not at the club, but in the Pittsburgh Titans’ owner’s suite.
Normally, Brienne uses this space to entertain business guests and sometimes conduct meetings, all while watching her team play. Tonight, though, it’s closed off to all business acquaintances and more importantly, open to her closest friends.
Over the last year since the crash, Brienne’s circle has grown. Once she stepped into the shoes of her late brother as the sole owner of the Titans, she became more personally invested. That included bringing all the significant others under her wing.
It was hard for her at first because she’s never really had time to cultivate personal relationships and she works in such a ball-busting career, it’s awkward sometimes for her to let her hair down.
But tonight we’re all carefree laughs as we cheer on our men.
The suite is beyond luxurious. It’s located at a premium vantage point, offering unobstructed views of the ice. At the front is a balcony with three rows of leather seats so plush you sink into them. That spreads backward into a living area with sofas and chairs to relax in as well as round dining tables and high tops. Large screen TVs dot the walls so you can watch the action while getting a drink from the open bar.
The walls are covered with personalized memorabilia and other Titans decorative elements, including the logo recessed into the ceiling and outlined in neon tubing.
The food is the best and tonight we’ve got a buffet of sliders with a build-your-own taco station, warming trays of loaded potato skins and hot wings. For the more health conscious there’s a massive veggie platter and a Caesar salad. And if that’s not enough, an array of chocolate brownies, cheesecake bites and fruit tarts for dessert.
I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but ever since finding out I’m pregnant, I’m hungrier than ever. I think about food a lot.
I think about sex a lot, too, but that’s just because it seems to have gotten better and better with Bain. Which I’m not even sure how since it was the best I’d ever had. Maybe it’s hormones. Maybe it’s an increased intimacy based on sharing something so personally deep.
Regardless, I can be bought with food or sex with Bain at this point in my life.
I’m sitting in the front row of seats with Danica, Tillie, Harlow and Stevie. Behind us sit Brienne, Sophie, Jenna and Ava.
It’s pure coincidence that we’re sorted with us in the first row dating players and the second row coaches. Of course, Brienne is unique, given she sits above everyone on the food chain.
She is, however, my friend and secondly, she’s going to be a sister to me when she and Drake tie the knot.
The first period is winding down and neither team has scored. We’re playing the LA Vipers and they’ve been having a rough season with injuries. Their goalie, however, is hot this year and it’s hard to get anything by him.
The players converge on the defensive zone face-off circle after a TV timeout. Drake rolls his shoulders and crouches, ready to stop a quick shot.
I fix my gaze on Bain, positioning himself nearer to the net. The deafening cheers of the crowd reverberate through the arena, fueling my excitement. Twenty-five thousand cheering people coalesce and that massive buzz of excitement is how I feel every time Bain is on the ice.
The ref drops the puck and Stone reaches it first, but there’s a scrabble for control. It squirts free and Bain gives chase, managing to collect it off the boards and shovel it to Kirill just before he’s slammed into the glass. I wince but he’s fine, pushing off and giving chase as the Titans race down the ice toward the Vipers’ net.
We’re quick to capitalize on the transition. Coen charges forward with lightning speed, accepting a quick pass from Kirill. Stone matches Coen’s strides along the near side with Boone just opposite him, their movements synchronized beauty. Bain and Kirill hover back to defend if we lose the puck. Coen jukes, fakes a pass to Stone, but sweeps it cross ice to Boone with pinpoint accuracy as he makes a beeline for the net. The cheers intensify with each passing second and all of us women stand up in a giant wave of frenzied support.
“Go, go, go!” Harlow screams. She’s so fashionable in her gray blazer over a white blouse, paired with black pants and ankle boots. She’s wearing a purple beanie with the Titans’ logo on it, her crimson hair in a fishtail braid down her back.
Boone Rivers has really stepped into his position. Last season, he took Coen’s spot after Coen’s suspension, and Boone did so well, they kept him on the first line after Coen returned, moving Boone to a winger position.
