Page 120 of Pucking Revenge

He tears his gloves off and slaps his hands to the glass. I hold mine up to his.

“I heard you the first time, crazy girl. Just wanted to hear you say it again.”

I shake my head, smiling so wide my lips might crack. “I love you.”

He drops his helmeted head against the glass. “I love you too.” He lets out a long, almost relieved breath.

The whistles blow again, and he jumps. He whips his head around, then turns back to me. “I gotta game to play, but maybe we can talk about this later, yeah?”

Elation flows through me, but it’s instantly replaced by trepidation. Because suddenly I realize the entire arena is watching us. Our images are magnified on the Jumbotron. The refs are going ballistic. So is Seb, along with the coaches from the other team.

“Shit. Are you going in the sin bin?”

Brooks is smiling wide as he picks up his gloves. He shakes his head and skates backward toward the net. “Worth it,” he shouts.

Tyler is already headed toward the penalty box. McGreevey’s daughters never schooled me in the protocol for when a goalie delays the game, but I learn quickly that in place of Brooks, one of his teammates must sit for the penalty.

Tyler waves at the crowd as he takes one for the team, quite literally.

I mouth an “I’m sorry,” and in response, he points to me, then presses his gloved hand over his heart.

On my way to my seat, while my heart is still pounding and a thrill zips up my spine, my phone vibrates in my pocket.

It’s a text from Lennox.

Lennox: Shocked emoji. Swooning emoji. Proud of you emoji.

I smile as I climb the concrete steps. Some of the fans I pass cheer, but most are Carolina fans who are sure to boo loudly. Even so, I hold my head high, feeling awfully proud of myself too.

And happy. So damn happy.

FORTY-ONE

BROOKS

“Were the guys pissed?”

Sara and I spent a little time with her family after the game. It wasn’t enough, but the day had been a long one for her brother, and on a selfish level, my sole focus was on getting Sara alone.

One step inside the hotel room, and I’m stripping out of my suit and giving Sara instructions to get in bed in nothing but her underwear. If she’s completely naked, I’m afraid I’ll get distracted, and I really want to talk to her before losing myself inside her again.

I swipe a wisp of hair from her pretty face. The blue is fading bit by bit. It’s a muted tone now rather than the bright Bolts blue. “Don’t care.”

She snuggles closer and huffs a laugh. “That’s not what I asked.”

With a kiss to her lips, I nuzzle into her neck. “Say it again.”

Sara shifts back and looks me in the eye, giving me a coy smile. “That’s not what I asked.”

Sassy thing. I pinch her ass, pulling a squeal from her, then hover over her body, propping myself up on one elbow. “Say. It. Again.”

Warm hand pressed to my heart, she murmurs, “I love you, Brooks Langfield.”

God, it’s the sweetest thing. Those words from her mouth. The way she beat on the glass to get my attention. Even the penalty. I’d endure a thousand of them to hear her tell me she loves me.

“I love you so much, crazy girl.”

“Oh,” she breathes, teasing. “Is that my given name now?”

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