Page 236 of Branded
“Two goals,” I chirped, tossing my hair over my shoulder. “That’s all.”
And then I brushed my lips to his again and waddled to the elevator, waving to him just before the doors closed.
His smile tucked its way into my heart.
Or maybe painted itself onto a giant canvas which magically hung itself over the hearth in m castle’s family room.
Either way, it was perfect.
The crowd groaned, but I was cheering.
Because Raph had just surpassed my challenge.
A hat trick.
He winked at me as he skated by. No sugarpies through the glass because I was about twelve rows back.
But still close enough to see that smile, that wink, to toss a hat that bounced off my shoulder onto the ice to join the couple of others trickling down to celebrate Raph’s hat trick. I’d known my impromptu trip to DC had been worth it about ten seconds into his first shift.
He was back.
And I…was someone new.
The inside matching the outside for the first time ever.
Grinning, I watched the Breakers trounce their opponents, the crowd thinning as the deficit in score increased, and even though I hated to waste a minute, the babies had decided to play trampoline on my bladder.
So, at the next whistle, I hefted myself out of my seat, grabbed my purse, and waddled my ass up the long, long staircase.
Out of breath, I took a minute to just suck in air at the top, watching as the puck dropped down below and Walker began leading his line on a drive up the ice.
“Excuse me?”
I whirled, realized I was blocking most of the top of the stairs. “Oh, I’m sorry,” I told the woman who’d come up next to me, two young boys at her side. “Here,” I said, “You take my spot. I’m leaving anyway.”
“Oh, please don’t.”
Okay, that was weird.
“Um,” I glanced at the usher whose gaze was on the game far below.
“Please stay.”
Yeah. This was giving me all sorts of vibes…and not any of them were good.
I backed up a step, debating on whether I should move back down the stairs or just sidle away and use my pass to take the elevator back downstairs.
A glance down to the boys at her side. “Please.”
“I’m sorry, I really should go.”
“How is he?”
I frowned.
“My boy.” A beat. “How is he?”
That was the moment my heart began pounding, thudding against my ribcage.
