Page 105 of Broken Promises

Hockey Boy

I’m sure as fuck trying.

Please tell me you have some winning play in that beautiful head of yours.

I wish I did. You’re both playing to borderline perfection.

I don’t point out that being this far away is putting me at a serious disadvantage if he wants my observations.

I was afraid you were going to say that.

I love you, and I’ll only love you a little less if you lose.

Very funny, Princess.

“Lady bits,” Kai whispers out of the side of his mouth like it would make it so no one else hears him. I roll my eyes, but decide to try it, anyway.

I’ll let you take my ass if you win.

Fuck.

Holy fuck, Willa. Are you serious?

Only if you win, baby.

I’m going to fucking win. I’ve wanted to claim your ass so bad.

I know. And you can tonight. After you win.

Fuck, Princess.

I need to get back out there. I love you.

I love you too, hockey boy.

“Yeah, that will definitely get him to score,” Maverick says, laughing so hard he snorts. “He’s going to score twice.”

“Mav!” I scold, clutching my phone to my chest. “Don’t read my texts.”

“You can’t score twice in overtime,” Kai says.

I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. I watch Belle explain it to him, and his eyes widen.

“I didn’t think she was going to do it!” he says, trying to defend himself.

“They’re back,” Jo says, getting everyone to turn their attention back to the ice.

Declan is staring right at me. He points his stick at me and even though I’m not close enough to see the look in his eyes; I know the heat that’s burning there for me. I’ve seen it and felt it enough to have the image of how much he wants me etched into my brain.

I blow him a kiss. He pretends to catch it and holds to his chest. Then he skates off to join his team where they’re gathered around Coach at the bench. I watch him lean in to listen, nod, and then skate straight to his position.

Gideon wins the face-off and passes it straight to Ivanov. I watch the predictable play unfold. It’s the one they’ve been trying the entire game. Gideon to Ivanov. Ivanov back to Gideon. Gideon back to Ivanov, who will shoot on Finn just to have his shot blocked.

And that’s exactly what happens.

But San Diego is pulling the same plays when they win the face-off too.

“This is going to take days at this rate,” I grumble, watching Bouchard stop an easy shot. Declan is on the bench, chewing on his mouth guard, eyes focused on the puck at all times. I know because the cameras keep finding him or Martinez, who looks like he’s about to break his stick over his knee.

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