Page 41 of Playoffs & Promises

"Get a room!" Dan yells across the ice. Echoing the taunt I'd thrown at him and Alexis not long ago.

I tuck Maria under my arm, wanting to make it even more clear to everyone that she's mine. At least I'm pretty sure that's what that kiss meant, because I'm definitely hers. Her wide eyes scan the sugary battle field, taking in the smashed cupcakes and scattered frosting.

"You aren't pinning this on me," she says, but there's a mischievous glint in her eye as she retrieves the box she dropped earlier.

"Oh?" I challenge, grinning as I scoop her up in my arms to skate back across the ice. If I thought I could get away with it, I'd leave with her and take her on a proper date. But from the look Coach is giving, I have a feeling we're going to need to have a chat first.

As I near the scene of the crime, still covered in the spray from the fire extinguisher, the guys on the team are chuckling and taking selfies, their jerseys streaked with frosting.

"You!" a hateful screech yells.

I turn with Maria still in my arms to see my ex stomping toward us, furry all over her face, security right beside her. I set Maria down tucking her protectively behind me, but I don't need to worry. The sound of skates closing in around us signals that the team is closing ranks. They form a barrier, blocking anyone from getting to her.

Coach steps up beside me, calm as can be. "Now, Carrie. What's the problem?"

Carrie, turns to security, voice dripping with venom "Get her out. She's banned, I want her sued. I want her paying for damages."

I glance around at the mess. It's not great, but it's nothing worse than I've seen left behind after a game with rowdy fans. The curtains are a loss, and possibly one of the lights, but the rest of it can easily be taken care of by a clean-up crew.

Maria, unfazed, chirps up from behind me. "Looks to me like your plan was a smashing success."

My ex's face turns red, the kind of red that comes from being caught off guard and not knowing how to respond.

Maria keeps going. "You wanted the team to smash the cupcakes on the ice. They did. And the new machine is cleaning it up."

Glancing over my shoulder to where the driver is indeed working on cleaning the ice. The machine is humming along quite nicely from the sound of it.

"You ruined the plan!" my ex screeches, her voice going up an octave.

"Was it in writing?" Maria asks, and I want to kiss her again. "Because I don't remember a sparkler being part of the plan."

Coach smiles, inserting himself into the conversation. "She's right. Sparklers were never part of the plan I agreed to. They're a serious safety hazard."

Carrie pales. "But."

"Not the cupcake's fault," I add, and out of the corner of my eye I catch one of the news station's cameras is pointed at us, capturing every word. "Plus, you wouldn't want to mess with our good luck charm would you? The team wouldn't do well without our steady supply from La Petite Bakery."

Coach shuts down any further conversation. Saying something to Carrie that has her backing down and in a hurry to leave.

Turning back to us, Coach shakes his head, his no-nonsense attitude returning. "The Playoffs will be here soon enough and this arena needs cleaning. You made this mess, get to work."

Maria kisses my cheek, "I need to get cleaned up and check on Isa at the bakery."

I smile and brush a bit of white frosting off the tip of her nose. "Well I tried to get your name out there."

She smiles. "I appreciate that, but now I don't know what to make you."

"Coach had a box of cupcakes, there was this pink one with a little heart on top..."

Her face lights up with recognition. "I know just the one." She lifts the poor box that has a few more dents from being dropped and picked up more than once, and lifts the lid. Inside is a familiar assortment of cupcakes from the duct tape practice. Except they're much worse for wear, and a lot of the frosting now sticks to the lid. "Tell your coach I'll get him new ones."

Her phone rings from her pocket. "That would be Charlotte here to pick me up."

She leaves with her travel cupcake containers, and a smile on her face as she waves her fingers and blows a kiss at me.

The team and I get to work, brooms in hand, clearing the ice. The task reminds me of when I was a kid, skating around with a broom in the street during the summer. Simpler times, before hockey became everything.

Later, after I've finally managed to shower off all the frosting, I head to my car. That's when I see her—Carrie, standing in the parking lot with tears on her face, clutching a box of her things. I don't want to talk to her, but something makes me pause.

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