Page 249 of Pucking Around

I slip past Harrison and Som, waving Halla down. “Hey! Halla, over here!”

He waves in greeting, his gaze trailing down our row. He settles on Juhani and Laura and nods. Juhani has been supportive of my mission to help father and son mend their fences. I think it was Juhani’s interference more than anything that earned Halla a ticket to this game.

“Hello, Rachel.”

“Hey,” I say, feeling breathless. “Glad you could make it.”

Som scoots down a bit to make room for us on the end.

“Did you get to watch the other games,” I say.

“Oh yes,” he replies. “I recorded them all.”

“What did you think of the last game?”

His gaze darkens. “The Swedes played dirty.”

“Yeah, I was gonna kill No. 12,” I say.

“Get in line,” he mutters.

We stand there for a minute, the excitement of the crowd pulsing all around us.

“Well,” I say, feeling nervous. “I should head back to my seat—”

“Price, I—Rachel,” he corrects, his hand on my elbow. “I’ve never thanked you. For any of this—I never—”

“Hey,” I say, patting his hand. “It’s okay—”

“No. I should thank you,” he presses. “You’re the only reason this is happening. You’re the reason he’s letting me get closer. My own attempts have been feeble at best. When you spend so long living in the cloud of your mistakes, it’s difficult to see your way out of the fog.”

“I know what you mean.”

And I really do. I spent so long lost and searching too, wondering if I’d ever amount to anything. Hal Price’s wild daughter. The party girl. The mess. The spoiled brat. I was so bitter and angry and just plain scared.

“We all deserve a second chance,” I say. Feeling like this is a moment of truth, I lean in. “But just know that, if Ilmari is a lion, I’m his lioness. Hurt my husband, and I’ll rip out your fucking throat. Agreed?”

He smirks, giving me a nod. “Joo.”

I still, that simple one-word answer sparking something in my memory. I slip in front of Som to go back to my seat, but then I’m glancing over my shoulder. “What did you ask him?”

He glances my way. “Hmm?”

“That night,” I say, inching closer. “At dinner in Cincinnati…you asked him something. I know enough Finnish now to know his answer was ‘yes.’ What did you ask?”

He huffs a laugh, his mouth tipping into a smile. Raising a hand, he cups my cheek. The tenderness feels strange, but I don’t pull away. “I asked him if he was in love with you.”

I suck in a sharp breath, eyes wide.

He drops his hand away, still smiling.

My heart hammers in my chest. He asked then? He asked in Cincinnati…and Ilmari’s answer was already yes.

Halla gives me a nod, his own eyes teary. “Take care of him?”

It’s not really a question. We both know I will. Ilmari ismine. I will love him and fight for him with my last breath. Slowly, I nod. “Joo.”

“Ohmygod!”I cry, my hands clinging to Jake and Caleb’s arms as we all jump up and down. This game has been out of control. The Canadians want it bad. A gold medal win on their home ice? It’s what dreams are made of. They’re playing fierce and dirty, pumped up by the wild crowd.

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