“What’s six months when you have forever after that?”
I smile and kiss him again. “Get in there with your team and then show New York who’s boss.”
“Yes, Princess.”
“Was the video your idea?” I ask when I take my seat next to Maggie.
“Yeah,” she says, her cheeks turning pink. “Not that last part. Is Declan alright?”
“Not really. He will be.”
“Bethany’s arrest has already gone viral. Her dad can’t control the amount of people that took videos of everything tonight. Everyone knows what she wanted to do to Declan.”
“It’s so fucked up,” I say and pull on my hair in frustration.
The guys are back on the ice warming up. Declan looks sad, and I wish I could jump the boards and hug him.
“Do you think he could still play with me holding onto him like a koala?” I ask Maggie. She laughs but thinks about it.
“Probably, but not well. He wouldn’t want you getting hit.”
“You’re right. Damn.”
My phone goes off like crazy. I pull it out of my pocket, assuming it’s my PR team or possibly Dec’s wanting to talk about tonight. It’s actually the family group chat.
Cal
Tell Dec we love him!
Mav
Yeah and tell him to beat New York because fuck them.
Kai
Let him know he’s family. We won’t let anything happen to our family.
Belle
We love you both so much!
Jo
I’m working with both PR teams. You can both focus on the game. We’ll be good with the videos going viral. No one will come after your marriage again.
Harlow
Cora says “Yay Unca Deeee!”
I smile at my phone and then wave down Declan when he skates near me. I hold my phone against the glass so he can read all the messages. Declan’s smile is so bright it’s blinding, and a single tear escapes from his eye. He looks behind me at the box our family is in and makes a heart with his hands. I can see them return the gesture on the jumbotron. Belle has to elbow Kai to get him to do it, but he does. Cora is bouncing on Cal’s hip and waving at Declan so aggressively, he has to switch his hold on her so she doesn’t fly out of his arms. Declan laughs and blows her a kiss.
I put my hand up to the glass and he puts his on the other side.
“I love you, hockey boy!” I shout as loud as I can.
“I love you, too, Princess,” he yells back. The ref blows his whistle, and Declan skates off.
THIRTY-EIGHT