Page 66 of Delayed Offsides

With one last look at Callie, I drop my stare to the puck. Breathing out slowly, I circle the blue line, go wide and around to grab the puck with my stick, heading up the ice toward the Penguins goalie, poised and ready for me, rocking back and forth. I train my eyes on the puck and the chopping motions like cutting vegetables. My skates glide over the ice unheard, because of the screaming fans and my heavy breaths. When I get within five feet of the goal, I stop completely, stick handling, chopping back and forth, fake right, then left and back right before raising the puck up, using my poise and patience before lopping it in over the line.

Goal!

I circle around the Penguins bench, toward Rozen, and smile. “Eat that, fucker.”

Good thing the game is over because I would have earned myself a major for taunting. Again.

* * *

Ikind of expect Callie to be waiting when I get done with the press and showers. After all, she wore my jersey to the game for the first time this year.

To my surprise, okay, relief, she’s waiting outside the locker rooms for me.

“Hey,” I greet her, leaning into the brick wall with my shoulder.

Callie does the same, smiling, her brown eyes on mine. “Listen…” My heart drops, thinking she’s going to tell me we can’t date. Her gaze falls from mine to the ground. I want her eyes on mine, so I reach over and touch her cheek, sweeping my fingers under her chin to force her to look at me. “I’m sorry I ignored you… and you found out so suddenly about the baby. I realize after you brought the flowers over, and the chocolate, that I… it couldn’t have been easy for you.”

I nod, knowing she never intentionally wanted to hurt me or withhold anything from me. We went from fuck friends to feelings, and no way of knowing how to handle them, and Dave, and New Year’s. And then an unplanned pregnancy. Of course she’s hesitant to tell me. “I—”

She reaches up and touches her fingers to my lips. “Don’t say anything. I just wanted you to know that.”

I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her against my chest. “It might not mean anything at this point, but I’m sorry for the way I acted. It wasn’t right for me to be upset at first.”

“I know you are,” she whispers into my chest, her voice wavering. “And I’m sorry for the way I reacted. I think it was hormones.”

“I’m all for hormones, as long as you don’t push me away.” Pulling away, I cradle her face in my hands. “Can we go on a date on Friday when I get back from Nashville?”

“I’d like that.” She smiles, with no hesitation to her answer.

I can’t tell you how many dates I’ve asked Callie on. And now she’s agreeing? Maybe that skate with Ryland scored me some points. “Is it because I dropped gloves tonight, huh?” I wink at her. I haven’t fought on the ice in a long time, and she almost got a peek at the scrappy side tonight. Maybe that did it.

“Wow.” She laughs, taking a step back. “You’re really full of yourself after the win, aren’t you?”

I lean in. “Or maybe I just want to fill you.”

Callie chuckles, shrugging casually as her eyes flash up to meet mine. “Nah.” She winks and leans in even closer, her lips at my ear. I want to spin her around the door behind me and into the locker room. “It’s because I’m hoping you drop gloves tomorrow night.”

Oh shit. It’s looking up for me. “You can count on that,” I whisper, angling my head to the side to kiss her cheek. My body instantly wants to take this further, but my brain tells me to control it, wait until I treat her right, and take her on a date.

CHAPTER15

DUMP AND CHASE

LEO

An offensive strategy used to get the puck over the opposing team’s blue line and into the corners where players can race to get it, thereby moving the play into the attacking zone.

Two games on the road,St. Louis and Nashville, and then it’s back home Thursday night and a home game on Sunday. But before that, I’m taking Callie on a date.

I met Callie during my first game with the Blackhawks. She gave me head in the parking lot of the United Center that same night.

Now our situation is completely different. None of this is about getting her in my bed. Though I want that, it’s about showing her I’m going to be here for her. No matter what.

I’m a very confident guy. My body is my tool, and I stay in the ultimate shape. I take care of myself, and it shows. I get the ladies with my moves on the ice first. My body is just icing on the cake. And let me tell you, this isn’t something where I tell you I’m the hottest man alive, but I bet you I can make the top twenty.

With that said, Callie is the one girl who’s ever made me question that confidence. I don’t know what to think when I’m around her. She plays me like that, uses it to her advantage. Hey, more power to her, though. I’m okay with that. It’s hot to be challenged.

Am I nervous? Yep.

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