Page 33 of One Last Puck

“Trying is all we can ask of you, baby,” Mrs. Margo said. “I promise you he’s not as dumb as he seems, and I’ve already gotten his ass about betting on a woman’s body,” she whispered that last part as she led me to an empty seat.

“And get that shit out of here!” Mr. Jason shouted, making us all turn our attention to the ice.

Jax had just blocked a goal. I jumped up, joining in the celebration. My eyes never left Jax.

“I like our new family,” my mom said.

I smiled just as Jax looked in my direction and blew me a kiss.

“You didn’t haveto do all this,” Faye said, glancing sideways at me as we walked down the long pathway toward the river. “I thought we were just going to talk.”

I stared at her, shaking my head. The hell if I didn’t. She’d given me one chance to have her attention, and I wasn’t going to waste it. Shit, I’d spent both intermissions on the phone setting this up. I didn’t care what it cost. I wanted to show Faye how much she meant to me… how I was willing to earn her love.

“If tonight is all we have, then I’m going to make it special.”

“Okay.” She smiled as we closed in on the riverboat.

I couldn’t believe I was here with Faye. Her showing up for the game had thrown me for a loop, so I hadn’t even thought twice before I ran off the ice after her. I was going to have tosend somebody GZN Sports some flowers because boy did they help my ass out.

She gasped. “A boat, Jax?”

“Yeah. Take a ride with me.”

I extended my arm and helped her on board the boat before I settled in beside her.

“I figured this was the perfect setting for what we need to talk about.” I pulled out a small basket I’d had packed for us. “I got chocolate-covered strawberries and a bottle of wine, and if you don’t like what I have to say, you can toss me overboard.”

Her eyes lit up as she chuckled.

“You’ve thought of everything!” she exclaimed as the boat began to move down the river.

“I did, and did it during a hockey game, too. So, give me my props.”

“Props given. This is beautiful, Jax.”

The way she smiled had a nigga’s heart skipping a beat. I was just as captivated by her right now as I was when I met her.

“So, how have you been? What’s new with you?” I asked, eager to catch up.

She sighed, leaning back against the seat.

“Grinding. The show’s been getting guests left and right.”

“I know. I saw that. Congrats.”

“You’ve been watching?” She shot me a look.

“Faithfully. How else was I going to get my daily dose of you?”

“Oh, I started grief counseling and quit hooking up with randoms,” she replied, making me stare at her, displaying all thirty-two teeth.

“Damn, really?” I looked at her sideways. That was a huge step for her. I was proud.

“Yep. I figured it was time to get myself together. What about you? How have you been?”

“I’ve made some changes, too. I’ve been celibate. I mostly hang out at my parents’ place, so I guess I’ve been in therapy, too.”

We laughed lightly, and I could feel the tension between us disappear.

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