Page 97 of Power Play

“Holyshit!” Maverick yells. “That was un-fucking-believable, Sully, you fantastic fucking goalie.” He kisses Liam’s cheek, and I giggle when Liam rolls his eyes. “A shutout performance. The most saves in NHL history. A win that puts us at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. I’m fired the fuck up, baby!”

“Four minutes until we’re on, Miller,” I call out, and he salutes me.

“Stop manhandling me.” Liam shoves Maverick off of him, but I see the smile he’s trying—and failing—to hide. “I did my job. That’s it.”

God, I love watching him like this.

Unbridled happiness. Joy oozing out of him when he’s surrounded by people who lift him up. Love for the game and the guys who helped get him here.

Liam puts his whole heart into everything he does, and being witness to that work paying off fills me with immense pride.

I love being happy for my friends, and right now, I’m so happy for him and all he’s accomplished.

“You did more than that.” Riley throws an arm over Liam’s shoulder. “One of the greatest of all time.”

“Time to celebrate.” Grant rips off his helmet and chucks it at the wall. I make a note to scoop it off the floor after my interview with Maverick so I can give it to one of the fans waiting outside the tunnel. A group is gathered, hoping to snag some gear from the guys, and I love making someone’s night. “We’re pregaming this wedding at a club. Watching a couple sick in love exchange vows. Then we’re headed to the Strip and burning this place down! An afternoon flight tomorrow means we can rage all night.”

“Coach will chew your ass out if you show up to the plane drunk,” Ryan warns.

“YOLO, Seymour. I don’t give a fuck.”

“The Strip? Really? I thought it would be a wedding chapel and beers after,” Liam says. “Not some EDM club.”

“Dude.” Hudson puts his hand on Liam’s chest. “You know I’m never one to encourage us to get shit-faced, but you have to participate inallthe activities. We have a ton to celebrate.”

“Fine.” Liam pulls off his jersey, makes eye contact with me, and tosses it my way. “But only if Everett is buying. He’s off his rookie salary and can finally afford the good shit.”

“Fuck yes!” Grant lifts his fists in the air. “I’ll buy you a bottle at the VIP section we end up in.”

Liam shoves his way to the locker room. “I regret everything.”

“Ready, Cap?” I ask, and Maverick marches toward me. I motion our cameraman, Bernie, over. He holds up a finger letting me know we have one minute until we’re live, and I nod. “I can’t believe you’re gettingmarried,” I say softly, and Maverick beams.

“Me either. I’m still waiting for the day Emmy wakes up and realizes she can do a hell of a lot better than me.” He laughs and a dreamy look settles on his face. “I love her so much. I saw her six minutes ago, but I miss her. I can’t imagine not spending the rest of my life with her. When we were walking around before we had to head to the arena, I looked at her and told her I wanted to marry her today. She thought I was kidding, so I went in and bought two shitty rings from a gift shop on the corner, took her to the marriage license bureau, picked one up, and now here we are. Hours away from tying the knot.”

It’s hard not to be emotional when you hear the infatuation infused in his words. The deep joy she brings him and how without her, he’d be incomplete. I’ve never been a big believer in soulmates, but these two were destined for each other.

Thisis what I was talking about to Liam the other night.

In every lifetime, in every reality, in every version of their story, Maverick is going to pick Emmy.

She’s it.

His top priority.

His only focus.

The owner of his heart.

If she disappeared tomorrow, he’d burn the world down to find her.

And if he couldn’t?

He’d leave Earth before living without her.

It hurts my soul to be sohappyfor them but so envious too. To desperately want what they have while simultaneously being terrified to try again and fail… again.

Could I learn to trust? Could I learn to believe? Could I feel lovable and like I’m enough?

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