Page 102 of Broken Promises

I can feel my face burn with all the wolf whistles filling the locker room.

“So if we can get it together to win the cup for me and Coach, I’d appreciate it.”

Everyone cheers again. I smile. That smile doesn’t leave my face while I change or when I shower. It just grows bigger the moment I see my wife waiting for me. Willa is leaning against the wall across from the locker room. She’s wearing my jersey and a pair of ripped black jeans. Her lilac hair is down in waves around her beautiful face. She takes my breath away.

“You’re sure smiling a lot for a guy that just lost,” she teases me before jumping into my arms and snuggling into my neck.

I pull her away so I can kiss her. “No matter what happens with hockey, you’re still my wife. Why wouldn’t I be smiling?” I say against her lips. She kisses me. “I win no matter what.”

I get lost in her. The softness of her lips, the noise she makes when I run my tongue along her neck, the way she pants myname. A throat clears, and I groan before looking over at Belle and Kai. They’re both smirking, and Belle looks like she’s a second away from bursting out in laughter.

“You guys will see each other tomorrow,” Kai says. They’re flying out with Willa right after they leave here. I don’t leave with the team until tomorrow morning, but then I have two days off. “Plus, the next two games are home, so I think you can stop making out like teenagers now.”

Willa sticks out her tongue at him and then turns to me. She kisses me too quickly and I let her wiggle out of my arms.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, hockey boy.”

“I love you, Princess. Be careful.” I tighten my grip on her hips, and she smiles up at me.

“I love you too, baby.”

I watch her walk away after one more kiss and sigh. She has Kai and Belle with her plus the security I hired.

“She’s safe,” Ben says. I jump and look over at him. He laughs. “I called your name, but you were so focused you didn’t hear me.”

“Sorry,” I mutter.

He shrugs. “I get it.” He claps my shoulder. “Let’s get on the bus and go back to the room. You can watch her flight, and I’ll order food.”

“Tacos?” I ask, following him out of the arena and to the waiting bus. He lifts an eyebrow, knowing I’m not supposed to be eating unhealthy food right now. “I’ll agree to chicken tacos, but I need the grease.”

Ben snorts but doesn’t argue.

“You’re the best.”

“Tacos?” Gideon asks, looking at me over his seat in front of us.

I sigh. “Get enough for him too,” I tell Ben.

“Fuck, yeah,” Gideon says, turning back around.

We pull away from the arena with a warmth in my chest that’s been absent with how anxious I’ve been. I have great people around me.

FORTY-EIGHT

willa

“Willa,I swear if you don’t stop,” Belle threatens, staring at me like she’s thinking about smacking me. I slowly remove my hand from the table in front of me where I’ve been tapping my fingers.

We’re in a hotel in San Diego. Games four, five, and six of the finals are here. Game six is tonight, and Boston needs to win to tie it up and force a game seven. It’s making me anxious, but that’s only part of it.

Theo called this morning and said that he’s still keeping an eye on Eva and her communications. She’s getting desperate in her search for Ezra and even though she hasn’t found even a hint of his location, he’s worried she’ll do something drastic to find him. Which is why Maverick and Jo are also with us on this trip. If Eva was going to do anything, it would be to Maverick.

Cal and Harlow have been checking in. It’s been weird without them, but I’m glad Cora isn’t near any of this.

Belle slaps my hand away from my mouth where I was trying to chew on my cuticles again. I glare at her but put my hand down. Declan is either going to speak to Sinclair tonight if they lose or three days from now after game seven. I half want it to be tonight to get it over with, but I don’t want him to lose.

“You’d think for a place that charges a year’s mortgage for a week’s stay would have a better selection,” Maverick grumbles as he looks through the mini bar.

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