Page 91 of Face Me Off

The game marches on, with Colorado widening its lead as the minutes tick by. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, watching our rivals edge closer to victory. But this proves that we have to come back stronger next year.

I settle back into the couch with Maddy’s warmth on top of me and take in the game’s final moments. My thumb brushes across Maddy’s crotch, causing her to squirm in my lap. With my nose next to her ear, I whisper, “I want you chained to my bed so I can have my wicked way with you.”

Her stuttering breath makes me smirk. “You want that, Toots?”

She answers by wiggling her ass.

My chuckle is low and deep. I move my hands to Maddy’s hips to hold her in place. At this rate, I’ll have a full-fledged hard-on by the game’s end.

The room deflates as the final buzzer sounds, cementing Colorado’s victory.

“Fuckers.” Easton says as the final score flashes on the screen.

“That’s okay. It’ll feel even better next year when we kick their ass, knowing we took out the reigning champs,” I say.

I can’t help myself—I pull out my phone, my thumb hovering over the screen. No new notifications. Almost laughing at myself, I put the phone away. What did I expect? An email sent immediately after the buzzer?

The party winds down as teammates drift off in twos and threes. Looking at Maddy, I subtly tilt my head toward the stairs. It’s a quiet signal, an invitation. And when she nods with a small smile playing on her lips, I feel a rush of anticipation.

We slip away unnoticed, the noise and disappointment fading behind us as we make our way to my room. My phone stays silent. But I refuse to let it shake my resolve. The combine, the future, it’s all out there waiting for me. And I’ll be damned if I let the worrying of it detour my plans tonight.

As the door clicks shut behind us, I turn to face her. And I find solace in the stillness of the room and the warmth of hergaze. It’s a reminder that I’m not alone, even in the face of setbacks and when the future feels uncertain.

“Tough loss,” she murmurs, her hand finding mine in the dim light.

“Yeah.” I brush my thumb over her knuckles. “But that’ll be us on the ice next year. We’ll bounce back. We always do.”

She smiles at that. “I know you will. You’re Ryan Sorenson. Unstoppable on and off the ice.”

I chuckle, pulling her closer. “Unstoppable, huh? I like the sound of that.”

Tracing the line of her jaw, I marvel at the softness of her skin and the way she leans into my touch. “I’m glad you’re here,” I murmur, my voice low in the stillness.

Her eyes meet mine, a flicker of something deep and tender in their depths. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

The words are heavy with promise and hang between us. Everything we’ve been through, the sneaking around, starting the year hating each other—well, it was more her hating me—starting some weird frenemy-with-benefits pact, we persevered. The odds were not in our favor, but we found a way to make this work. There isn’t anyone else I’d want to spend my life with.

“I love you, Madison Grace Grimes.”

“I love you, too.”

I’m about to lean in, to close the distance, when a sudden vibration from my pocket makes me pause. Maddy raises an eyebrow in question. I fish out my phone, my heart stuttering as I read the notification.

“Holy shit. It’s the NHL combine. I got an invite.”

Maddy’s hand flies to her mouth. “Ryan, that’s incredible!”

I stare at the screen and try to process the magnitude of this moment. It’s everything I’ve worked toward—the validation of countless hours on the ice and in the gym, a second chance to prove myself, and an opportunity to chase my dreams.

“I can’t believe it,” I mumble. “It’s really happening.”

Maddy’s arms wind around my waist as she rests her chin on my shoulder, reading the email. “You deserve this, Ryan. You’ve worked so hard.”

Pride and excitement mingle in my chest. I turn in her embrace and slide my hands to her hips, anchoring myself to this moment.

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” I tell her, my forehead resting against hers. “You’ve been my rock, Maddy. Through everything.”

She shakes her head as a soft laugh escapes her lips. “You did this, Ryan. This is your moment. Your triumph.”

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