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My brows shot up. “You want me to dress?”
“Did I stutter? I didn’t change the lineup. You better be warmed up because McCarthy is struggling on first line.”
I immediately started removing my tux, causing Sellers to whistle. Normally, I’d wear my underlayer from home, but luckily, I had an extra set in my locker. As I stretched and pulled on my pads, I listened to Coach go over the plan for the third period.
“We’re tied at nothing, and UW shouldn’t be this much of a challenge for us. Tanner, you’re slow off the mark, get your head out of your ass.” I grinned as Reece saluted him. “Klasky, your stick handling has been sloppy as hell tonight. Mase, excellent work. Keep it up.”
I glanced at Mase, but he had his earbuds in. Fifty-fifty he was even listening.
“King, your personal matter better have been worth it,” Coach grumbled.
“It was.” I stood up and grabbed my helmet from the shelf in my locker, then addressed my team. “Are we going to let UW come into our house and push us around?”
A chorus ofhell no’s echoed around me.
“Good, let’s win this fucking game.”
Cheers erupted, and even Mase smiled. Everyone adjusted their gear, and we tromped back out to the ice. A tightness in my chest eased as I breathed in the cold air. I’d never regret going to Dallas for Eva, but I took a moment to stop and take in the roar of the fans, the familiar clunk of our skates, the absolute certainty I belonged there with my team.
When I looked out at the crowd, my eyes locked with Eva’s, sitting in her usual seat with the tiara still perched in her messy hair. As I stared, she grinned and turned, showing me the red jersey she wore over her dress with King stitched across it inblack. Seeing her sitting there in front of thousands of people, proudly wearing my name, sent a chill through me.
She blew me a kiss, and everything just clicked. Whatever happened tonight, whatever Archer had to say to me, I’d give the next twenty minutes all I had. Then Eva would get everything after.
I played like a beast, taking chances I never would have considered before, and right before the buzzer, I made a beauty of a nearly blind pass to Cole who scored the only point of the game.
For a regular season game, we celebrated like we’d won the Frozen Four. We didn’t even make it into the locker room before the guys were dropping their gear and talking about a party tonight. Coach smiled right along with us until a beautiful girl around my age with dark hair and red lipstick caught up to him near the locker room entrance. She said something quietly, gave him a half smile, then walked back down the tunnel in heeled boots ignoring the chaos.
Coach frowned after her, but I’d had enough drama for one night. She wasn’t my business. I glanced at Cole standing next to me, intending to see if they were going out, but his eyes were locked on the girl. Reece yelled for both of us, and Cole shook off whatever spell he’d been under. I waved them off, deciding not to even ask. If they went out, great. If not, Henry would have someone to keep her company because I sure as hell planned to keep Eva busy all night.
Instead of my girlfriend waiting for me when I came out of the locker room twenty-five minutes later, Archer Bolme leaned against the wall at the players’ entrance scrolling on his phone. My steps faltered for a split second as my stomach churned. If he was going to drop me, I couldn’t do anything else at this point.
I’d played the best hockey of my life this season. If he couldn’t see the potential past my history, then fuck him.
“Coach Bolme,” I said in greeting.
He straightened, putting his phone away in his pocket so he could hold out a hand. “Gavin King. Good game tonight. They really rallied when you took the ice.”
I shook his hand, reassured by the smile I saw lurking on his face. “Thanks. It’s nice to see you again.”
“Sorry for dropping in without warning, but I wasn’t sure I’d be able to make the game. I was hoping to have a chance to talk with you. Do you have time now?”
Eva didn’t have a phone, so I couldn’t call her and let her know I’d be late. When I hesitated, Archer held up his hands. “No pressure if you have somewhere else to be. I know how nerve-wracking this process can be, but I’m not about to crush your dreams. We’re excited to welcome you in Dallas. I think you’ll be an asset to the team.”
I tilted my head, trying not to let the wave of relief knock me over. “What did you want to talk about?”
“The short version is we’d like to encourage you to finish your degree. The longer version is I’ve spoken with Carter McKay, who I know is a family friend of yours, and he’s unofficially warned me you might be considering holding out until August and going as a free agent. We don’t want to see that happen.”
Fucking Carter. I’d have to buy him a steak dinner for this. I checked the time on my phone. Eva had been waiting for over thirty minutes. She’d understand if I was late, but Archer was willing to set up another time. I might as well set my boundaries now.
“My girlfriend’s expecting me, but I’m free after morning skate tomorrow. Why don’t I meet you here?”
He grinned. “I heard you’re dating Eva Adams. That girl is a handful, but she’s solid gold.”
Holy fuck, dideveryonelove Eva? The shock must have shown on my face because he clapped my shoulder. “It’s a smaller world than you might think. I’ll see you here tomorrow.”
Archer walked away, and I stood rooted to the spot. My mind whirled with possibilities about Dallas, but I put it aside until later. Tonight was about Eva, and she was waiting.
A few people still lingered around the player exit, but I only saw the tiny blonde with the big attitude. She jumped at me, and I caught her easily. Her arms wound around my neck, and I kissed her, wild and raw, in front of anyone who wanted to see. Eva made a happy noise in her throat and eased back with a grin.
