Page 158 of Of Pucking Course

I start to smile. “I just had a hunch.”

“I’m glad you went with it. There’s no way I could have figured this out,” Coach Porter says.

“I wouldn’t have either,” Sam says, warmth in his eyes as he looks at me. “Dakota’s amazing for putting this together.”

Comfort puddles in my chest at the way Sam praises me.

Coach Porter nods once. “Will is going to be terminated immediately. He’ll be reported to the league and likely banned from ever working in professional hockey again.”

“Good,” I say before I can stop myself.

Sam looks at me, a soft smile tugging at his mouth.

“I’m going to promote the assistant equipment manager, Nathan, to take over Will’s job for the rest of this season. Do you feel comfortable with that?” Coach Porter asks Sam.

“Absolutely. Nathan has always done solid work and will make a great equipment manager.”

Coach Porter glances off to the side. “I’ve been inhockey for the past thirty years, as a player and a coach. I thought I’d seen everything. I was wrong.” He looks at Sam. “Playoffs are stressful. The finals even more so. And then to have a member of your own team staff try to sabotage a player. This is nuts.”

“It is. But it won’t affect my performance on the ice, I swear,” Sam says.

“I know it won’t.” He turns to me. “I really can’t thank you enough for what you did, Dakota.”

“It was nothing.”

“Well, if there’s something I or the team can do for you, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Just then, I think of something. “Actually, my coworker Abby and I are hosting a career day for our students and would love for you to come by and chat with the kids. You remember her, right?”

I hold back a smile when I notice how his expression brightens when I mention her. He definitely has a crush on her.

“Yeah, I’d love to do that. Anytime you want, I’ll stop by. Abby seemed very nice.” He clears his throat. “If she ever wants to come to a game, I’d be happy to get her tickets too. Just let me know.”

“I definitely will.”

He stands up and walks us out of his office. Once we’re down the hall, Sam stops walking, grabs me by the waist, and pulls me against him.

“Thank you thank you thank you.” He kisses me. “I don’t know where I’d be right now if it weren’t for you figuring out that Colin and Will were behind all this.”

I reach up and cup his face in my hands. “How are you feeling about the rest ofthe finals?”

“Nervous, but excited. I can’t wait to get back on the ice and play my heart out.”

“I’ll be right there cheering you on.”

The corner of his mouth quirks up. “Wearing my jersey, I hope?”

I grin. “Of course I’ll be wearing your jersey.”

He hugs me tight and kisses me. My breath catches in my throat. I finally have the happy ending I never thought I’d ever have with the most incredible guy on the planet.

I gaze up at Sam, still in disbelief at how it all worked out for us. The friend I had a crush on for years. The sweetest roommate. The most amazing boyfriend who’s a literal fantasy come to life.

I’m so happy, so in love, I feel like I’m floating.

My heart flutters in my chest as I tip-toe up and kiss my boyfriend, feeling like the luckiest girl in the entire world.

Chapter 56

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