Jade speaks up. “I can keep an eye on Lily and get her something to eat.”

Chase sighs. “I need to get back to the clinic.”

I nod, looking away as Millie kisses Chase goodbye. The thought of sliding my hand between her thighs and seeing if she’s wet hits me out of nowhere.

Jade tells Millie, “Is it okay if I take Lilly to get something to eat.”

Millie looks at me. “Is that fine with you?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

Millie smiles. “Lead the way, then.”

We walk down toward the rink. Millie looks down at her high heels, worried that she might fall.

“If you don’t mind, I can carry you across,” I offer.

“Okay,” she says, a bit nervously.

I lift her into my arms and skid across the rink, loving how she feels and smells in my arms. She’s light and the warmth of her body against mine sends a thrill through me.

“You’re good at this,” she murmurs, holding onto me.

“Years of practice,” I reply, grinning.

We reach the other side and I set her down gently. She looks up at me, gratitude and something else in her eyes.

“Thanks, Declan,” she says softly.

“Anytime,” I reply, feeling a strange mix of emotions.

She takes a deep breath, then smiles. “Let’s do this.”

We make our way to a quieter area of the arena, where Axel and Troy are already waiting for us. They’ve changed into their casual clothes, but still look every bit the athletes they are. Millie sets up her camera and mic, checking the lighting and sound.

“All right, guys,” Millie says, her professional demeanor kicking in. “This won’t take long. Just a few questions for my Instagram followers.”

Axel grins. “No problem. Fire away.”

Troy nods, adjusting his baseball cap. “Yeah, let’s do this.”

Millie gives me a quick smile before turning back to them. “Okay, first question. What was your mindset going into today’s game?”

Axel leans back, crossing his arms. “For me, it’s always about staying focused. Blocking out the noise, the fans and just zoning in on the game plan that Coach Nate laid out for us.”

Troy adds, “Yeah and also trusting each other. We’ve been playing together for a while now, so we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. That chemistry is crucial.”

Millie nods, clearly impressed. “Makes sense. Now, what’s your favorite part about playing for the Chicago Icebreakers?”

Axel’s eyes light up. “The fans, hands down. They bring an energy that’s unmatched. When you’re out there on the ice and you hear them cheering, it gives you that extra push.”

Troy smiles. “And the team. We’ve got a great group of guys. It’s like a family.”

Millie glances at me, then back at them. “Speaking of family, how do you balance your personal life with the demands of being a professional athlete?”

Axel looks thoughtful. “It’s tough, but it’s all about priorities. My family knows that this is my job, and they support me. But I also make sure to carve out time for them whenever I can.”

Troy nods in agreement. “Yeah, same here. It’s all about finding that balance and making the most of the time you have with your loved ones.”