Page 61 of Fate on the Ice

“I passed,” I confirm.

She takes a step backward, her eyes searching mine, a smile playing on her lips. “I knew you would. Now, let’s watch the men absolutely crush the Bakersfield Condors. Those guys are assholes, especially Baxter.”

I open my mouth to ask why when two bodies slam against the glass in front of me. I gasp, jumping and turning to face the scene. A fight breaks out right in front of us. My eyes scan the men, praying it isn’t Otto.

Every single game, I worry that he’ll reinjure his cheek. If his caged mask comes off, it wouldn’t take much to reinjure him. Thankfully, it’s not him. Unthankfully, it’s Forrest. He’s absolutely beating the other man. They’re torn apart and both taken to their respective penalty boxes.

“God, that’s sexy as hell,” Brooklynn hisses.

I don’t look at her, but I can see everything I need to without even looking. Forrest is staring right at her from across the ice. His eyes are focused, his lips pressed together, and I’m actually afraid I might get pregnant from the moment.

My gaze moves across the jerseys, searching for the name I want. I find it in an instant. Larsson. He turns his head, the cage covering him, protecting that beautiful face. Then I see his smile from beneath said cage. He sees me.

The game continues, making it the best game of his career. The horn blares over the speakers.

A win.

The North Carolina Fury win their first game of the season. The men gather in the center of the ice, their arms up in victory, and the women around me scream at the tops of their lungs.

I almost pinch myself because this doesn’t seem real.

None of it does.

Except when Otto looks at me.

When his eyes meet mine, I know this is real because everything he says in that one look is almost tangible. I love him. Every single part of him. And when he looks at me this way, he doesn’t even have to say the words because I feel them. He loves me, too.

From the moment I met him, I knew he was different. That he was special. I fought us because I thought he deserved better. I didn’t want my lack of relationship with my father to be an issue.

But Otto wouldn’t let me push him away. He wouldn’t walk away. He’s the man who I never thought I could have… but dared to dream.

We’re winning, me and Otto. And I have a feeling that we’re not done yet. Because he won’t rest until we’ve won… well… everything.

Baby, Baby, Ohh…

OTTO

FIVE YEARS LATER

I hitch Camille closer to my neck, and her little arms wrap firmly around me. Henry’s hand curls in mine as we walk toward the salon. The salon door opens just as we approach. A woman smiles, holding the door open for us. Dipping my chin, I thank her as we slip inside.

Brooklynn is the first face that greets me. “It’s my favorite little people,” she calls out as she hurries toward me. Without even a glance at me, she wraps her arms around Camille and takes her from me.

“Where’s Grace?” I ask with a chuckle.

Henry’s fingers wriggle from mine as he rushes over to June’s station, where he knows she’ll have candy waiting for him. “She’s in her office,” Brooklyn murmurs as she coos at Camille.

Laughing, I leave the kids with the women, knowing they are safe with them. Not a single member of the Carolina Fury would hurt my children or anyone else. And they would watch them as if they were their own. Even though not all the women are married to one of the players, they’re still Carolina Fury.

I gently rap my knuckles against the door as I push it open with my other hand. Slipping into the office, I close the door behind me, locking it. Grace lifts her head, and her eyes find mine, and instantly, a smile spreads across her face.

“What are you doing here?” she asks.

My lips twitch into a smirk. “Kids and I were running errands, and we thought we’d stop by to see you.”

She sinks her teeth into her bottom lip, her gaze searching mine. “You’re here for a reason.”

“You got any news for me, honey?” I ask, leaning my back against the closed door.

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