Page 48 of Broken Promises

“Or not,” Kai mutters when Chicago’s defense immediately gets it out of their zone.

By the end of the first period, the score is at zero for both teams, but the frustration is tangible. Any time we were in scoring range, Chicago’s defense stopped us. The same went for them, though. If they managed to get anywhere near our goalie, they were stopped. There hasn’t been a single shot on goal. Which might be the first time I’ve seen that.

I pull my phone out to text Dec. He doesn’t always check in between periods, but I’m hoping he does today.

29 on defense is keeping weight off his right leg when you guys aren’t near him. I think he has an injury. Try to get to that side instead of the left.

Goalie has a blind spot, bottom right. He’s missed most shots during warm up in that box.

88, left wing on the second-string reflexes are slower than the right wing. Tell your guys to outskate his old ass.

This is a guess, but I think the center on the first line is letting Gideon win the face-off. They’re relying heavily on their defense. They’re running an offensive defense, I think. It wouldn’t surprise me if one of the d-men attempt to score the moment you give them an opening.

Hockey Boy

You’re a fucking godsend, Princess. I showed Coach your texts. He might hire you after this.

Win the game, and you can show me your appreciation when we get home.

Fuck, Willa. Do you know how uncomfortable it is to get a boner wearing a jockstrap?

Head in the game, hockey boy.

Yes, Princess.

“I got popcorn, nachos, hot dogs, pizza, and beer,” Cal says behind the pile of food he’s holding. I can’t even see his face. “Oh, and I got you a Coke, Kai.” Cal turns around and sticks his butt out to show the bottle of Coke in his back pocket to Kai, who just sighs and grabs it.

“We had dinner right before coming here.” I don’t know why I bother. Cal eats nonstop.

“I’ll take a beer and a hotdog. Oh, and nachos!” Maggie says. I hand her what she asked for from the stack.

“I like you, Maggie,” Cal garbles around a mouthful of pizza. Maggie blushes into her beer, and I roll my eyes.

“I got you and Gideon tickets and backstage passes,” I tell her.

“To what? Isn’t your tour over?” I explain the added shows we confirmed today, and she squeals. “Thank you! I’m so excited!”

“They’re back,” Kai says. I watch the team skate back out onto the ice. Declan and Gideon make a few laps around the rink before stopping in front of us. Declan taps his heart, and I do the same, while Gideon and Maggie just smile at each other.

“Married people are weird,” Cal mutters.

“You’re married, dumbass,” Kai points out.

“Yeah, but like notthatmarried,” he says, gesturing to the four of us.

“I have no idea what the means,” Kai sighs.

“Obviously. You’re not married,” Cal says. “You’re living in sin with my sister.”

I mutter “Jesus Christ,” under my breath right before Maggie starts loudly cackling.

“Your friends are so funny,” she says once she calms down.

“You only think that because you don’t know them,” I whisper. She laughs and lightly slaps my arm. She thinks I’m joking.

“Face-off!” she yells. I look at her beer to see it’s already empty. Maggie is a lightweight. Noted.

Gideon is slow on the snap on purpose this time, letting Chicago win. Martinez gets the puck and passes to Declan, who easily breaks away from their offense and goes straight for 29’s right side. 29 tries to stop him, but Dec checks him, and 29 goes down. Declan quickly takes the shot on the goalie’s bottom right.

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