Page 77 of From Ice to Home
“Sharing a room with EJ is not nearly as fun as sleeping next to you. I just started sharing a bed with my wife and now I have to leave.”
His eyes turn darker as he looks down at me, his gaze dipping to my mouth. He leans closer and I tilt my head up, the sudden need to kiss him surging deeply through me. Being with Lucas after we’ve been apart for so long has intensified every single emotion, every single feeling of longing and love I’ve ever felt for him. It’s hard to accept the fact that there’s nothing standing between us anymore, we’re together now.
We’re married. We can be together.
And yet, somewhere there’s still something that’s holding us back.
I push the thought aside, instead focusing on the man infront of me. The man who I’ve given myself to in every way that matters, the man who has promised to always be there for me.
“Lucas, I lo—“
“There you are,” Harry Matlock interrupts, his voice loud and commanding from further down the hallway. “I have somewhere I need you to be.”
“Harry, not now,” Lucas says, his gaze locked on mine, the moment between us heavy with emotion as we try to hold onto it.
“Yes, now, Walker. This is important.”
Just as Lucas is about to tell him that he should give us some more time, two people step into view. A guy fully equipped with a microphone and video camera, while a woman dressed impeccably gives us a giant smile.
Without thinking about it, I step closer to Lucas and he puts his arm protectively around me. The warmth from his body seeps through me, comforting me in the face of this reporter whose presence is filling me with nothing but dread.
“Just a few questions,” the woman says. “Please. You guys came out of nowhere and the fans are thirsty for more info on the newest couple of their beloved Rangers.”
They sure know how to spin words.
I look up to Lucas, who has somehow managed to school his features into an accommodating smile. Although I don’t miss the slight tension in his jaw.
“Just a few minutes,” he says, looking down at me.
I nod in agreement. Lucas grips my hand, squeezing it reassuringly as we follow Harry and the reporters toward a quieter section of the restaurant. It’s clear this space was set aside for media—tucked away enough to allow for some privacy, yet still offering a view of the team celebrating across the room.
As we take our seats, the woman fromSportsNewssmiles, an eager glint in her eyes. I’m more nervous than I thought I’dbe in this situation. I don’t want to say something that can be twisted into something else entirely.
“Since I’m only allowed five questions,” she says, throwing a quick glance over her shoulder at Harry before shifting her attention back to us, “I’ll have to make them count.”
A part of me wants to shut down the rumors swirling about me and Lucas, to set the record straight. But another part of me knows better. People will believe what they want, and no amount of explanation will change that. All we can do is tell our story and let the rest fall where it may.
Taking a deep breath, I squeeze Lucas’s hand, making sure he doesn’t let go.
“So, Lucas, you scored the winning goal tonight,” she says, smiling brightly. “Would you say that’s because of hard work and training or perhaps because you had your wife up in the stands, cheering you on?”
Lucas smiles, a practiced smile as he keeps his eyes on the reporter.
“Well, it’s never just one man out there. My teammates are all a part of the win tonight, as well as the coaches who have a hand in everything that happens on the ice. We were locked in, from the start, playing perfectly together and capitalizing on the Leafs’ mistakes.” Lucas looks down at me, his eyes filling with affection. “But having Hannah there was special in a different way. It definitely influenced my play. God knew how much I needed her here and He made sure that our paths crossed when it did.”
The reporter nods, her lips tightening at the mention of God but she doesn’t say anything. Instead, she smiles and fires the next question.
“The two of you have caused quite the stir in the world of hockey. Hannah, you’re first official Ranger wife, how does it feel to be a part of all this? Especially since you got married in Vegas, it must have been a sudden change?”
I take a deep breath, not dropping my smile or eye contact. Lucas squeezes my hand next to me, grounding me while his warmth comforts me.
“I didn’t think I’d be the first one, it was a bit of a shock.” A small laugh escapes me. “But it’s a great feeling to be a part of something so special. The people I’ve met have all been amazing to me. It’s only been a short while, but I already feel so welcomed by everyone.”
The woman looks pleased, as she looks at Lucas next. She asks him about his thoughts on the upcoming Vancouver game. But instead of listening to his answer, my gaze lands on the GM who’s standing behind the reporters. His arms are crossed, his expression serious but there’s a glint of approval in his gaze as he looks at both me and Lucas.
We answer the next question relatively easily, and I’m somehow more at ease than when we started. I lean into Lucas, waiting for the final question.
“Hannah, our sources say that you’ve been appointed as the new Head Counsellor at the Youth Counselling Center in Durham. That’s an amazing accomplishment. How do you plan on juggling your career with your newfound responsibilities as not just a wife, but a hockey wife?”
