Page 84 of Cold Feet
The overhead speaker crackled. "Media check commencing in five minutes."
Right.Work. The thing I was supposed to be focusing on.
As Katie hurried off, I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. I could do this. I was Lana Decker, youngest PR Director in the league. I'd built my career on maintaining composure in high-pressure situations.
So why did the thought of seeing Cam in action tonight make my heart race like I was sixteen again?
An hour later, I stood in the executive suite, supervising the final preparations. The catering staff arranged elegant platters of hors d'oeuvres while bartenders stocked premium spirits. Every detail was meticulously planned, from the branded napkins to the overflowing gift bags filled with Slashers merch.
"Lana, sweetheart!" My mother's voice carried across the suite like a bell.
I turned to find my parents entering, my mother radiant in a custom-tailored teal dress with subtle black Slashers accents, my father looking distinguished in his gray blazer and the Slashers tie Zayne had given him when he got drafted.
"Mom? Dad? I thought you were watching from Marcus's box tonight." I hurried over to embrace them, genuinely surprised to see them in the VIP area instead of the GM's box.
"We were," my father explained, his eyes crinkling with amusement, "but your mother insisted we be moved to this box instead."
"I told Marcus we needed to support Cameron with these sneaker people," my mother said, waving her hand excitedly. "And besides, we wanted to sit with you."
"You mean you wanted to meddle," I corrected with a knowing smile.
My mother patted my cheek. "I prefer to call it 'supportive participation.' You know we'd never miss Zayne's season opener, sweetheart. This year we just have two reasons to celebrate."
I felt a headache forming behind my eyes. "Mom, please don't call him Cameron. And please, please don't mention the wedding to the Redline executives. This deal is really important to Cam and the team."
My mother gave me a knowing smile. "I'm not going to embarrass you, Lana. I'm just here to support my future son-in-law. And your brother, of course."
Before I couldspiral further, Coco breezed in, looking effortlessly chic in fitted jeans and a stylish Slashers jersey knotted at her waist, her auburn hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail.
"Diana! Frank! What a lovely surprise," she exclaimed, embracing my parents warmly. She turned to me with a grin that held a hint of mischief. "Quite the family affair tonight, huh?"
"Apparently." I forced a smile, mentally rearranging my plans for the evening. With my parents here, the pressure to maintain our "engagement" performance had just doubled. The sapphire ring on my finger suddenly felt a whole lot heavier.
"You look amazing," Coco whispered, linking her arm through mine as we walked toward the window. "That's not your usual game-day outfit."
"Just trying to make a good impression on the Redline people," I replied automatically.
"Mmm-hmm," she hummed skeptically. "And the extra mascara and that lipstick you only wear on dates has nothing to do with a certain number 22?"
I felt heat rise to my cheeks but was saved from responding when Coco gasped, pointing to the ice below.
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I could see the arena slowly filling with fans. The energy was palpable, even from inside the box. On the ice below, players had begun to emerge for warm-ups, their skates cutting crisp patterns across the fresh surface.
My eyes automatically found Cam, unmistakable even from this distance. He moved with fluid grace, his tall frame powerful yet agile as he worked through his pre-game routine. The way he handled the puck, like an extension of himself, was mesmerizing. Each stride showcased the athletic perfection of his body, the result of countless hours of training and natural talent.
God, I could watch him play all night.
As if sensing my gaze, he glanced up toward the executive boxes. Even from this distance, I felt the intensity of his eyes as our gazes locked briefly before he returned to his drills.
"He looks ready," my father commented, coming to stand beside me. "Focused."
"He's been working on that adjustment you guys talked about at the beach house," I replied automatically. "Said it made a big difference."
My father nodded with approval, almost imperceptibly to the untrained eye, which was Frank Decker's way of showing he was impressed. "Good. It'll create more shooting lanes, against Montreal's defensive system."
Thesuite began to fill with executives, media partners, and VIP guests. "Knock 'em dead, sweetheart," my dad whispered with a kiss to my temple. I slipped into professional mode, making introductions and ensuring everything ran smoothly.
"Mr. and Mrs. Decker, may I introduce James Whitley and Vanessa Cheng from Redline Athletics," I said smoothly, leading my parents toward the executives. "They're here discussing a potential partnership with Cam."
