Page 84 of Rinkmates

“He’s fine,” she says, and at first I don’t know why she would say that, but then I see the picture of me displayed on the TV above. I’m shocked and then I’m shocked at how shocked I am, but I have no time to reflect because there’s this cold anger flashing in Riley’s whiskey eyes, and for a moment I fear he’ll retaliate and cost us a penalty.

He starts skating hard for the tunnel and I spring to my feet.

No, no, no!Slamming my palms against the glass, I catch his gaze, silently begging him to walk away.

And thank the heavens he retaliates with a quick counterattack. I let out a sigh and watch Riley weaving through the defense and beat the goalie with a perfectly placed shot. Before I can even process what just happened, Riley turns to me and mouths what looks a lot likeThat was for you.

I sit down again. I don’t know if my heart will survive another live game.

When intermission arrives, I get a text from Riley.

Puckster: How are you up there?

Liora: Dying. This tension kills me.

Puckster: Sweet. You’re worrying about me.

Liora: I am not, just waiting for another goal for me.

I’m totally worrying about him.

Puckster: Coming right up, baby.

The second periodsees the physicality ramp up, with big hits and aggressive forechecking. A fight breaks out, but not between Riley and Houston. It’s Colton and Houston. The crowd roars as gloves are dropped and punches are thrown. The referees break it up, sending both to the penalty box.

The Bears break away with a smooth tic-tac-toe play, the puck effortlessly passing between their sticks before landing in front of the net for a tap-in goal and I’m screaming my lungs out.

And in the last seconds of the game, I watch Jayce nodding to Riley just before swiftly dodging an opposing player’s flying elbow and passing the puck off to him. Riley takes off down the ice and scores his third goal.

Yes! I pump my fist, pride surging through me. “That’s my man!”

“I manifested it,” I hear Priya say to Nina, but I’m glued to Riley. I don’t hear anything. “They even are star aligned. Their signs match perfectly.”

The ref’s whistle pierces the air.

Riley throws his head back in relief.

The red goal light flashes.

The buzzer sounds.

We won.

Leaping up, I hug Priya as we jump up and down. We fucking won!

Twenty-six

RILEY

The first thing I think about after we win is Liora.

And I see her waiting there for me with the other family members of the players, and we stupidly grin at each other. Oh, I could get used to this.

Behind me, I hear Colton whisper to Jayce. “Do you see how he’s looking at her?”

“Yeah,” Jayce whispers back.

I’m tempted to ask about how I look, but she’s heading my way, and I can’t help but feel giddy because I get to kiss her again. I want to take her to every game, spending every day together outside, just to play the perfect fake couple—it’s becoming a fun game.

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