Page 115 of The Christmas You Crash

“Yeah, well, that’s practically a prerequisite for that team, isn’t it? God, have you ever seen so many massive, sexy men in one place?” Isla fans her face. “Obviously, I’m partial to my grumpy giant, but you’d have to be blind not to recognize the hotness on that bench.”

I shrug. “I may have noticed. Even though I tried really hard not to. I dated a hockey player in college. He was a real asshole. It put me off hockey players for a long time. I even tried to ignore Ryder’s charms when we got snowed in together, but I’m weak.”

They laugh. Isla nods. “I know how that goes. I tried to resist Maddox after our first disastrous date. But he worked hard to prove he’s a great guy. And really good in bed. That helped his case.”

We laugh throughout dinner. Conversation flows easily, and by the time we’re ready for the check, I’m flying high. I have two new friends who understand what it’s like being with a professional hockey player, and they’re both genuinely awesome people. The laughter doesn’t stop as we pile into the back seat of a ride-share. It evenalmostovershadows the buzzing of my nerves as the car pulls up to the arena and we spill out in a tangle of giggles.

Almost.

The roarof the crowd is less overwhelming in the semi-enclosed family box. It’s still loud enough to vibrate through my bones, but muted enough that I don’t have a problem hearing Isla or Mira.

The guys are killing it. Every single one of them is playing like they have something to prove. And maybe they do. I’m not blind to the wild gesticulations of my father or how red his face grows when he’s shouting at his players. It doesn’t matter that we’re up by three at the top of the third period. He’s not happy, especially when he notices Ryder’s gaze sliding up to the box where I stand, cheering.

“Girl, he cannot keep his eyes off you,” Mira says. “It’s cute as hell.”

It is cute. My stomach somersaults every time he looks my way and grins. Maddox does his share of looking up at Isla, too, but Ryder is way more obvious about it.

Isla clasps her hands beneath her chin. “Ah, new love. It’s the sweetest, isn’t it?”

Mira snorts. “New love? As if your love is so old?”

“You know what I mean.”

The crowd roars as Logan gains control of the puck and the Rogues kick it into high gear. Everyone in the box screams as the Rogues pull off a perfect odd man rush, taking the other team by surprise. Logan passes to Maddox, who passes to Ryder. He’s not normally on the first line, but my dad has him there now.

Ryder handles the puck with confidence and ease from the defensive zone, passing it back to Maddox when one of the opposing players gets too close. But instead of staying back by the Rogues’ net, Maddox nods at Ryder to head down the ice with them as Griffin gets caught up in a scuffle. Logan checks a defenseman into the boards, and then Ryder is wide open in front of the net. With expert precision, Maddox slaps the puck to Ryder, who lines up his shot and lets it fly.

The scoreboard lights up, the siren blares, and we all hop up and down, cheering right along with the rest of the crowd. Logan and Maddox clap Ryder on the back. Pride fills me. Then Ryder turns toward our box, stares right at me, and points.

“For you, baby,” he mouths. I know that’s exactly what he says because the camera is on him, and it plays in high definition over the jumbotron. The camera cuts to the box, and I see myself blushing furiously, a big, goofy smile on my face.

“Oh my god,” Mira says, clapping. “That’s so cute!”

I barely hear her. I’m too busy floating. I can’t believe he just did that.

My father turns, craning his neck to see who Ryder is pointing at. As if it would be anyone besides me. As if my face wasn’t just plastered, larger than life, on a huge LED screen for everyone in the arena to see. Even from the box, I can tell he’s pissed. His face flames red, and he turns, yelling at Ryder and the rest of the team.

“Uh-oh. Daddy Cross looks mad,” Mira teases.

I shrug, despite the nerves that begin to churn in my stomach. “What else is new?”

Dad calls for a line change, and Ryder and the guys hop over the boards while the second line surges onto the ice. I watch as my boyfriend squirts water into his mouth, a huge grin on his face as his teammates congratulate him on the goal. They slap his back, and all of them laugh. Until my dad turns their way and points a finger at Ryder.

“What a dick,” I grumble, watching. I want to climb out of this box and demand my father stop being such a condescending, retaliatory prick. But I know that wouldn’t help. It would probably just get me thrown out of the arena.

I can’t tell what Ryder says, but he fires something back at my dad with a roll of his eyes. That doesn’t go over well with Arthur Cross. My dad shouts again, wagging that damned finger in Ryder’s face. Maddox holds up a hand and tries to defuse the situation, but it doesn’t seem to calm my dad down.

There are only four minutes left in the final period of the game, and the Rogues are up by four. It wouldn’t be completely impossible for the opposing team to pull off a win, but it’s unlikely. That my dad is letting himself be distracted from the game isn’t a great sign. He doesn’t do distractions. Not when it may mean his team loses a game.

“What’s going on down there?” Isla asks. Her eyes are locked on the bench with mine. So are Mira’s. My dad gesticulates wildly, and every single player on the bench stares at him likehe’s grown a second head. He and Ryder exchange more words, and soon, Logan and Maddox join the conversation. If you can even call it that. Argument is more appropriate.

“I don’t know,” I say. “But I’d guess my dad’s not happy at the little goal dedication Ryder did for me.”

Mira rolls her eyes. “No offense, but your dad needs to pull the stick out of his ass.”

“Oh, I don’t take any offense. Unfortunately, I think the stick up his ass has fused with his spine. If he pulled it out now, he may not survive it.”

Mira snorts. “I don’t get it. You’d think he’d be thrilled his daughter is with someone who loves her the way Ryder loves you.”

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