Page 18 of Penalties and Proposals

“Good.” I hold up my camera bag, which had been slung over one arm. “Working, but looks like you are, too?”

“New client,” she says, nodding in Cooper’s direction. “This one’s a wild card.”

I’m about to pull her away so I can get the scoop when the man I’m here to meet waves and walks over to join us.

“Hey,” Noah interjects, stepping around Cooper and grinning easily at me. That smile of his. I’d rob a bank for it.

“Hi.” I take in the team jersey he’s currently wearing and nod my appreciation. “The Ice Breakers jersey looks good. Mind if I take a few photos of you in action here before we wander off?”

“Not at all. Gives me time to finish up.” Noah turns around, tapping one of the other guys standing at the back on the shoulder. “I’m going to leave here in a couple of minutes. You guys covered?”

The young player nods; he’s an up-and-comer I recognize. Appreciating the fact he’s here, I motion for him and Noah to get closer. “Let me snap a picture of the two of you.”

The guys lean in and grin, and I click away. As Noah moves around the booth, signing a few more autographs and talking to the folks who’ve waited in line for their chance to rub shoulders with a celebrity hockey player, I continue snapping.

True to his word, within a few minutes he’s on my side of the table, pulling his jersey off and throwing a sweater on over his head. It’s a nice one; the green matches the flecks in his eyes.

“I brought more clothes, too.” He grabs a backpack, showing me as his evidence, and tosses it over one shoulder. “Want to walk around before we take these photos?”

“I’d love to,” I say, but I hold my camera up. “However, as long as we’re walking, I want to snap. The sooner I can get these pictures taken, the sooner I can relax.”

Noah flicks his hand to his forehead and gives me a tiny salute. “Got it. Well, I want to check out the bobbing for apples station, if that’s okay with you?”

“Lead the way.”

Lucky for us, and for my shoulders because my camera is heavy, the bobbing for apples station is located beside the team stand.

I love the way all the kids get super excited when they realizeNoah is going to compete. As he takes his place in line, all the kids in his line decide to run over to the other one. Thus ensues a great deal of jostling as they all try to push their way to the front, each one wanting a chance to take on ice hockey’s bad boy, no doubt.

My chuckle becomes a full body laugh when I notice the incredulous look on Noah’s face. As parents and festival workers attempt to bring order to the chaos, my heart melts a little when Noah claps his hand together and gets everyone’s attention.

“Hey, listen up,” he announces, fighting his own laughter. “Everyone who gets in a nice, straight line gets a turn.”

Once the line has formed, Noah claps again and says, “Alright. Let the games begin!”

Then he––literally––dives in.

It could be carnage, but it isn’t. There’s a lot of water, snotty giggles from happy children getting to go up against their G.O.A.T, and did I mention the water? Because it is everywhere.

But the best part? It’s when he slows himself down. I may be the only one who can tell, but I notice that he could have grabbed at least ten apples in the time it takes the winner to get the one apple they needed.

That’s right. He let the kids win and it’s adorable. In fact, after several invitations, he does it again. And again. And one more time.

As the children cheer and celebrate their victories, Noah’s face lights up with genuine joy. He high-fives each of the winners, their smiles reflecting his own. It’s a small gesture, but it speaks volumes about his character. In a world where winning is often everything, Noah’s willingness to let others shine is a refreshing reminder of the kindness and humility that I’m starting to learn define him off the ice.

It’s a part of him I was thinking was there when we’d met prior to this. Now, I’m seeing it in person, like watching Prince Charming come to life. It’s a side of him I’m getting to know and I really think I like.

Walking away, I show him a few of the pictures I grabbed. Holding the camera, his smile stretches across his face.

“These are really good,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand as he passes the camera back to me with the other. “Do you want me to change into another shirt before we do more?”

“Please,” I say with a laugh, finding our banter easy. “If you want to put another shirt on, since your sweater is now soaking wet, that would be great.” Looking around, I spot a sign for DIY Leaf Crowns. Who knew? “We could go make some crowns and take pictures of you. Kind of perfect for the Comeback King.”

Noah throws his head back and that infectious laugh of his is back. “Love it.” He points to a food truck nearby. “Let me duck behind there and swap my sweater.”

I watch as he jogs partly behind the truck, but in reality he’s still in full view for all of us. It’s as if he thinks he’s out of sight and no one can see him. With his back to me, he tugs that gorgeous green sweater off his head and shoves it into his backpack. For a brief moment, I’m left standing in the midst of a crowd of people, gawking at the rippling muscles of this man.

Broad shoulders taper down to a well-defined waist, each movement showcasing the powerful muscles in Noah’s back. The sunlight glistens off his tanned skin, highlighting every sinewy detail, making it impossible to tear my eyes away. And believe me, I am in no hurry to do that.

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