Page 104 of Don't Look Down

His mom is right next to me. Either I’m extremely obvious or she’s very observant. She meets my eyes and laughs at me. “You can watch your man, you know.”

My head shakes back and forth. “Nope, sorry. Not when he’s thrusting his hips like that, I can’t!” My cheeks heat. I don’t blush, but damn if I’m not blushing next to Landon’s mom.

She pats my leg. “It’s safe now.”

Chuckling, I turn back to the ice. “Thank God.”

The team runs through passing drills, taking shots on goal. Once his routine is done, Landon skates over to the glass in front of us and knocks on it with his stick. Luc is right behind him. He places his hockey stick between his hip and his elbow, mouths what looks like “marry me”to Annie, and raises his hands up in a heart shape that has her cracking up laughing. “Stop being ridiculous, Lucas.”

He nods at her and smirks. “Yes, ma’am. Right away, ma’am.”

Landon’s face is a storm cloud, a furrow between his brows. He shoves Luc’s shoulder. “Fuck off, Leigh.”

Luc hands Landon a warmup puck. Landon balances the puck on the blade of his hockey stick, bouncing it a few times. His eyes meet mine. “Ready?” he asks me.

“Oh, yay! Yes.” Warmth spreads in my chest. It’s something simple, but I’ve never gotten a warmup puck before. He nods and tosses the puck over the glass on his first try. It lands neatly in my cupped hands, and I whoop and hold up my spoils. He winks at me and waves at us before turning and skating away.

My eyes track his movement until he’s off the ice. Finally, I look down at the puck. My heart squeezes in my chest. Now I’ll have something tangible to remember tonight.

When I finally raise my eyes, Annie is watching me with a soft smile on her face.

The arena is starting to fill up; it’s getting closer to puck drop. We decide now is a good time to grab drinks. There’s a bit of a line, but nothing too crazy just yet. Nothing like the lines during intermission.

Annie and I both order hard seltzers and a bottle of water each. We make our way back to our seats just in time for the lights to dim and the National Anthem. My heart beats faster in my chest. This feeling will never get old, but it’s enhanced bysitting in this arena next to my boyfriend’s mom. My boyfriend. The pro hockey player.

The team intro is played, and the Bull Sharks enter one at a time to circle the ice like predators ready to devour prey. Annie is bouncing and shimmying to the music.

She leans over to yell, “I love this intro; it was the smartest thing for them to use this song.”

“Bladeis iconic and this song at the beginning is elite.”

She beams at me. “Yes! I love that movie. And our boys are ready to cause a bloodbath out here.”

The announcer calls, “Introducing your Bull Sharks starting lineup! Your starting forwards, number 9 Chris LeBlanc. Number 7 Lucas Leighton. Number 6 Gilbert Jenkins. Your defensemen Number 18 Landon Spencer. Number 87 Thane Murdock. And we have number 30 Viktor Davidoff in net.”

The audience screams loudest for Davi. He’s been on the team for around ten years.

The volume surprises me. It vibrates through my chest. It must be a headrush hearing the crowd when you’re actually playing the game.

Annie and I whoop and shout along with everyone else. LeBlanc faces off with one of the Tycoons at center ice. The linesman drops the puck, there’s a scramble of sticks, and LeBlanc gains the first possession.

It’s a whirlwind of movement, but from this vantage point, I have a clear view of all of the action. I can see both nets pretty well from here. I’m sure I’m forever spoiled. I don’t know how I’ll ever go back to higher seats after experiencing this magic.

Watching the game with Annie is getting added to my list of favorite things ever. She understands the game more than Addy, Cayden, and I combined. It comes with the territory of being a hockey mom, I guess.

The lines change frequently. One of the Tycoons trips Bash and gets sent to the penalty box on a two-minute minor, giving the Bull Sharks the first power play of the night. Anticipation rises along with the volume of the crowd.

A chant begins, “Let’s go Bull Sharks, let’s go!”

New York scrambles in their attempt to kill the power play, but the boys bring the pressure. Murdock’s bullet is deflected by an arm. Bash snags the rebound and it’s a goal, the puck passing right under the goalie’s outstretched arm.

The goal horn sounds and it’s mayhem. My excitement can’t be contained. I’m out of my seat cheering. Murdock rushes to hug Bash and thump him on the back, then Bash strums his hockey stick like it’s an air guitar and drops to one knee. Celly done, he rises and skates off to fist bump his teammates on the bench. Cow bells, clapping, whistling, and shouting. Pure chaos. And I’m obsessed with this feeling.

New York manages to tie it up with thirty seconds left in the first period, but we score two back-to-back goals in the second period that New York can’t recover from. The Bull Sharks win three to one and I’m buzzing. High with the vibes in the arena. And happy to have fully immersed myself in the moment with Annie.

It’s easy to see us doing this frequently and not getting bored.

The arena clears out quickly, but we remain in our seats for a bit. Finally, Annie stands and jerks her head in a follow-me motion. She leads the way out of the stands, and I follow her to a hallway. We pass staff members who smile and nod at her. Some wave while others greet her by name. I have no idea where I am or how I got here, but everything looks familiar from when I first met Landon.

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