Page 77 of As You Ice It

“Looking sharp,” Van says with an approving look. “Good way to lock that down.”

I roll my eyes and walk on by and pause by Felix. “Need me to bring anything?”

Finally done with his post-game ritual, he stands, stretches with a groan, and starts to remove the rest of his pads. He grins. “Nope. As long as you bring the woman and kid who reminded you how to play hockey, I don’t care if you come in your underwear. Though the suit does look nice.”

As I push my way through the door, I give his bare shoulder a shove, then have to listen to his laughter as I make my way down the hall to find Liam and Naomi.

* * *

The look on Naomi’s face makes wearing the suit worth it. When I walked into the family suite, she dropped her phone but didn’t even seem to notice. Her eyes went hazy, and she bit her lip in a way that made me really have to hold back. Because a few other people are still in the family suite. Including Liam.

He definitely didnotcare about the suit and practically knocked me over when he threw himself at me in an unexpected hug. This isn’t the first time he’s hugged me, but this hits different somehow. I swallow, hugging him back as I meet Naomi’s gaze over the top of his head.

She still looks a little dazed, and the smile she gives me promises a better greeting later. When we’re alone.

If we’re alone. Going to this party with Liam in tow won’t exactly afford us any privacy. And with Mike at my place and Liam at hers, I guess that’s the way it’s going to be.

Better get used to existing in a state of wanting what I can’t have.

He releases me quickly and starts babbling about the game, his whole face alight with excitement.

“The way you laid that guy out at the end was awesome! And two apples—clutch.”

“Apples?” Naomi asks.

“Assists,” Liam and I say at the same time. He laughs, and Naomi looks between us, smiling as she shakes her head.

“No chance he’s getting over hockey,” she says as I bend down to pick up her phone. “Not now.”

“I was never getting over it,” Liam says. “Get used to it, Mom. Are we really going to Felix’s house?”

“Are you more excited to hang out with Felix than me?” I tease.

“No way. But … he’s really tall.”

“And I’m not?”

Liam scrunches up his face. “I mean, you’re six-one. He’s six-five.”

“I’m not sure you’re one to talk, bud,” Naomi tells him.

“I’m just saying. Cole—I mean, Coach Cam—is hockeyaverage.”

“Hockeyaverage?That’s it. Hold this.” I hand Naomi back her phone, making sure my fingertips brush over her palm a little longer than necessary. Then I toss Liam over my shoulder, balancing him against the weight of my bag, and march out of the family suite. “Someone needs to be thrown in the ice bath.”

I don’tactuallythrow Liam in the ice bath. But I do walk him down there and threaten it, holding him over the water while he squeals.

Then we make our way out in the cold to the parking lot where I finally set Liam down at the car. “Oh, I brought you something,” I tell him, pulling a puck out of my bag. “It’s the game winning goal. Logan signed it for you.”

Liam goes still, staring at me with wide eyes. “Seriously? He didn’t want to keep it?”

“Nah. He’s already got enough pucks.”

I don’t look at Naomi, but from my peripheral vision, I can see her pressing a hand to her chest. Tentatively, Liam holds out his palm and I drop the puck into it. He turns it over, running his finger over Logan’s messy scrawl in silver Sharpie.

“He wrote my name,” Liam says.

“I told him it was for you.” This earns me another hug, this one tighter and longer.

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