Page 34 of Broken Promises

Princess

What the hell did you do to get benched?

Come talk to me.

“I was already on my way back here when you didn’t come out of the tunnel.”

I look up at her. Her cheeks are red either from the cold of the rink or how angry she was watching the game, but her eyes sparkle when they meet mine. She’s fucking beautiful.

“Hi, Princess.”

She walks over to me and kneels in front of where I’m sitting, taking over taping the ice back on my knees. I shift a little to hide how hard the sight of her on her knees for me instantly made me.

“What happened, hockey boy?” she asks, taking a seat next to me on the bench.

“Coach didn’t want to risk New York successfully taking me out.”

“Why are they after you? You barely played them when you were with San Diego.”

“I don’t know. I wish I did.”

Willa wraps her arms around my waist. The game is playing on a TV across from us. There’s no sound, but we can still watch the third period play out from here.

“You look a little silly wearing a suit with ice taped to your knees,” she says, breaking the silence.

“I would tape ice to my whole body right now if I could,” I admit.

She tries to pull away, but I hold her tight. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You’re not. You’re making me feel better,” I say, dropping a kiss to the top of her head.

“They’re not doing it anymore,” she says, pointing to the TV.

I watch a few plays. She’s right. I’m not there to target anymore and now they’re playing a much less dirty game.

“I really was the target. I don’t understand.”

“Does Bethany have any connections here?” Willa asks.

I shrug. “Probably, but she would have connections with other teams, too, and this is the first time it’s happened.”

“You need to be careful.”

“You worried about me, Princess?” I smile at her, but she frowns.

“Yes, Declan. I would die if anything happened to you.” She looks so distraught that I pull her into my lap and hold her as tightly as I can without hurting her.

“Nothing is going to happen to me. I promise I’ll be careful.”

“Good,” she mumbles against my chest.

“The game is almost over, and the guys are going to be back in here,” I sigh.

“I’ll see you in three days, hockey boy.” She gets up from my lap, kisses my cheek and leaves me alone in the locker room.

I hate this part, being separated from her. I was hoping this wouldn’t be my last season, but I know it is. My knees are hurting worse after each game and are so stiff in the mornings it makes getting out of bed miserable. If this was a year ago and I had to retire, I would have been lost and angry.

But now I have Willa. In whatever way she’ll have me. I’ll travel the world while she sells out stadiums, if that’s what she wants. I don’t care as long as I’m with her.

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