Page 33 of My Athlete Neighbor

"Oh! Yes, of course." She dug in her massive purse and pulled out a small wooden box. Inside, nestled in what appeared to be a hand-knitted cozy, was the puck.

Allison cradled it, torn between relief and lingering frustration. "Please don't ever do anything like this again."

"I am sorry, dear." Mrs. Peterson's eyes welled up. "I just love this team so much. And seeing everyone so happy."

“I’m going to bring the puck for all the games for the rest of the season,” Allison said.

“You are?” Mrs. Peterson’s jaw dropped.

“Yes. I had decided that at the party last night.”

“So I didn’t have to commit a crime?” Mrs. Peterson clutched at her pearls in dismay.

“No.”

“Oh my. Can you ever forgive me?”

“Yes, just please don’t ever do it again,” Allison repeated.

“I won’t.” Mrs. Peterson wobbled away, looking both frightened and relieved.

After she was gone, Kane pulled Allison close. "You okay?"

"Yeah." She traced the puck's worn edges. "I get it, you know? Not the stealing part, but this team means everything to so many people. The building really has become a family."

"Speaking of family..." Kane's voice was careful. "What you said about your grandfather..."

"He’s going to love all of this when I tell him about it. The superstitions, the community, the way everyone believes in a little magic."

"Even you?"

She stretched up to kiss him softly. "I believe in us.”

His answering smile was better than any victory. "Me too."

Later, after they'd returned the puck to its display case and Kane thoroughly distracted her from any lingering anxiety.

Chapter Thirteen

Kane stared at his stall in the locker room, taking in the pre-game chaos around him. Playoff anxiety manifested differently in each player, and after months as captain, he could read every tell. This game would decide the AHL championship. It had been a long time coming. A lot of ups and downs, mostly ups once Allison became a part of his life.

Dmitri had progressed from his usual pre-game ballet stretches to what appeared to be a Swan Lake rehearsal—in full hockey gear. He'd already knocked over two water bottles with a particularly enthusiastic pirouette.

"Analytics show seventh attempt at triple axel increases shooting percentage by four point two percent," Marcus called out from his stall, not looking up from his tablet. His usual pre-game calculations had expanded to cover three whiteboards.

"The hashtag ChillPlayoffs is trending," Oliver announced to no one in particular, thumbs flying across his phone screen. "Fan predictions have us at—"

"No phones," Kane and Coach Vicky said simultaneously.

And Liam... Kane sniffed the air. Somehow their goalie had smuggled a portable oven into the trainer's room. The smell of fresh baked cookies wafted through the locker room, accompanied by what sounded like Spanish prayers.

"Interesting pre-game routine you've got going here."

Kane turned to find Coach Vicky watching the scene with raised eyebrows. Her game day blazer was a deep forest green that meant business.

"The team's fine," he said automatically. "Just pre-game jitters."

"Mm." She gestured around the room. "Is that what we're calling this?"

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