Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“Fuck yes you are!” Donovan cheers.
“Mads will love it,” Hayes adds.
I tug it on over my head…my boyfriend’s jersey that I’m going to wear to his game. Even thinking that is a rush.
As we head out Hayes says, “Hey. We just came out of the closet together,” and the three of us break into laughter again.
*
The Rebels are playing Vegas tonight, and there are quite a few of their fans in the stands. Vegas is close enough that I’m sure the situation would be the same if the Rebels played there. How fun would that be to take a Jilted Exes trip, plus Eric, to go see the guys play when they’re there?
Stop that. Stop planning ahead.
So far, no one has noticed me. I don’t know why I was thinking that out of the thousands of people here, a lot of them repping my boyfriend, that people would take one look at me and know who I am. It was my mind playing tricks on me, and a few minutes into the first period, I’ve already relaxed.
I hold my breath as a Vegas defenseman steals the puck from Volkov. He immediately passes to their center, who flies down the ice toward my man. Rylan is on him, trying to keep between him and the goal, as they fight for the puck. Rylan is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, total golden-retriever energy, but he’s a beast on the ice. I wouldn’t want to go up against him.
The next moment, though, he’s knocked out of the way by another Vegas player, and then the one controlling the puck pulls his stick back and shoots. The damn disk flies so fast, I lose it, but somehow, Kason doesn’t. His padded arm shoots out at just the right time, in just the right spot, and he blocks the goal.
I’m on my feet in no time, arms in the air, screaming and cheering for Kason’s save. My heart is beating like a stampede, so hard I swear it feels like it could burst. Eric is beside me, cheering just as loudly. “Hell yes!” He claps his hands together. He’d picked us up to bring us to the game, but I’ll go home with Kason afterward, and Hayes with Rylan.
The game continues at a fast pace, a defense-led match, and at the end of the first period, neither team has scored. I can’t bring myself to leave with the others during the intermission. It’s like my brain is afraid if I get up, I’ll miss something. Instead, I alternate between watching them resurface the ice and looking up highlights from the first period of a game I’ve literally had my eyes glued to the whole time. Hockey is already an exciting sport, but that exhilaration is next level when you’re dating the damn goalie.
And falling for him…
The guys make it back just in time for the second period.
Volkov wins the face-off and instantly breaks away. Kennedy is in front of him, Volkov sending a sweep pass straight for him, and so quickly I almost miss it, Kennedy shoots, the puck flying between the goalie’s legs, the lamp lighting up.
“Fuck yes!” I scream, on my feet again, the arena erupting around me.
Vegas wins the next face-off, and my stomach twists into knots. Rylan’s line isn’t on the ice, and as ridiculous as it sounds, I feel better having him out there to protect my guy.
One of our second-line defensemen is knocked away from the player he’s guarding and into the boards. The Vegas guy is immediately swarmed but manages to break free, shooting to another, who skates behind the back of the goal, sends a tape-to-tape pass to their right winger, who catches it and makes a shot on goal. Kason falls to his knees, legs pressed together, blocking the shot.
My heart nearly explodes with excitement, sweat beading on my brow, muscles feeling all jittery like they might vibrate out of my skin. Eric wraps an arm around me, cheering with me, Hayes doing the same from the other side, congratulating and celebrating Kason with me…because Kason is mine, and damn, that’s an incredible feeling.
By the end of the second period, we’re up two to zero.
The third they’re really going at Kason. They take more shots on goal than in either of the first two periods, but he’s in the zone. Nothing gets past him. He’s so fluid out there, so beautiful, like he’s dancing in his own way, and God, I can’t wrap my head around the fact that the man wants to date me.
When the final buzzer rings, I’m not only cheering the Rebels’ win, but that Kason got a shutout. I didn’t do a damn thing, but somehow, I feel like I’m flying and nothing can bring me down.
Donovan and Eric head out. Hayes and I have passes and are able to get down close to the locker room to wait for the guys. I’m leaning against the wall, wearing the biggest smile I’ve ever had, when Hayes says, “I think you’re in love.”