Page 28 of Broken Promises

“They did it!” I scream, leaping up and hugging Maggie. Our guys both point at us with their sticks moments before they’re surrounded by their team. “He listened,” I say, surprised. He always takes my critiques after a game, but I’ve never seen him actually listen to what I’m saying.

“Let’s go get to them before the press wants to talk to them,” Maggie says, grabbing my hand. I follow her, feeling happier than I have in weeks.

FOURTEEN

declan

“What didWilla do to get your head on straight?” Martinez asks.

“She showed up,” I shrug. I’m smiling. I have been since I saw her face in the stands. Gideon catches up to me as we make our way down the tunnel and back to the locker rooms.

“Dec!”

“Giddy!”

We both turn and see our wives holding hands and running towards us. Willa has her wig in her other hand, letting her lilac locks fly freely behind her. I drop my stick and gloves and run for Willa. Well, run as much as you can in skates on a rubber floor. She leaps into my arms like she always does, but I hold her extra tight this time.

“I missed you so fucking much,” I say into her hair, breathing in that candy apple scent that’s become an addiction. “How are you here?” I don’t give her time to answer before I crash my lips into hers. She hesitates for a moment before she lets me in. I kiss her like I’m trying to memorize the feel of her lips, the tiny noises she makes, just her. She feels right in my arms, even with all my gear in the way. Kissing her makes my chest constrict andmy heart beat faster than it was while I was just skating. And I know in that moment how absolutely fucked I am.

“Monroe. Banks. Get moving. You have press in five minutes. Bus leaves for the airport in thirty,” Coach barks.

“Fuck,” I mutter, pulling back from Willa, but then going in for a quick kiss before I put her down.

“That was some kiss, hockey boy.” Willa’s voice is playful, but there’s a small crease in her brow that tells me she’s confused. I grab her face and kiss her again, slowly and with a softness I hope she understands. From the look on her face when I pull away, she’s not feeling the same things I am. That’s okay, though. I have plenty of time for her to catch up.

“I’ll call you when we land. Thank you for coming.” I kiss her temple. “You’re the best surprise.”

I turn from her and jog to the locker room, Gideon on my heels. “Let’s go, Giddy!”

I hear him curse under his breath. I just laugh him off. This was one of the best nights of my entire fucking life.

Now I just have to figure out how to ask my wife to date me.

The reporters were brutal. All they wanted to know was who the blonde woman was and how she got me to pass the puck instead of shooting. No matter how many times Gideon and Coach tried to help me divert the questions, they wouldn’t give up. I got up and left, not willing to give them anything until Willa is ready.

“You would’ve lost if she didn’t show,” Finn says. He’s walking towards me, probably having watched that nightmare.

“Probably,” I admit.

“Definitely. You were playing worse than I’ve ever seen you.”

“I scored on you.” I cross my arms and frown.

“Once and it was a fluke. If I had known you suddenly remembered how to play hockey, I would have seen you as more of a threat,” he says with a small smile. “You didn’t get another chance.”

I curse him out under my breath and then hug him. Finn hates hugs, so he’s stiff at first before patting me on the back. “I miss you too, buddy.”

“Monroe!” Coach barks.

“I gotta go. I’ll call you soon.” Finn shakes his head and leaves me to my verbal beating.

“Sorry, Coach. I couldn’t handle all their questions about Willa.”

He sighs, looking exhausted. “I get it, son. I understand why you two want privacy, but you’re going to need to go public. And soon. I’m already getting emails from PR wanting information. The team wants your image clean and even though you’ve stayed out of the press like you promised, it won’t be good enough. They want the wife and the story.”

“I can’t force her to do that just to protect myself,” I argue, even though everyone on the planet knowing Willa’s mine is becoming more appealing by the minute.

“No, but you can ask her. She’s your wife. She comes to your games. It’s not going to stay a secret, Declan. Figure it out.”

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