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I’ve watched the games on TV at the Badger Den and came to the family event a few weeks ago, but nothing matches theexhilaration of watching the sport in action. The guys are fast. Rough. Sweaty. I can’t keep my eyes off of Reid as he skillfully commands the ice.

“I think I lost my voice.”

Twyler looks exhausted, like she played the game herself. Her high pitch scream is still rattling in my ears, even after the final buzzer and I think my arm is bruised from where Nadia’s fingers squeezed me in a death grip every time the puck got near Axel.

“You picked a doozy for the first game,” Nadia tells me as we start up the stairs. “The guys are going to be wild tonight.”

“What do you mean ‘wild’?”

“All that adrenaline running through them…” The girls share a look. “Just prepare yourself.”

I have no idea what that means, but we dispatch to the Badger Den to wait for the guys. Apparently, after a game like this there will be extra press and time with the coach. The fans are already lined up behind the arena, waiting for the players to come out.

“Shouldn’t we wait?” I ask.

“Nah,” Twyler fluffs her hair, “we’ll save them a table, then order some food and beer.”

The Badger Den is wild when we get there, stuffed with fans from all over. Mike and Josie give me a quick wave as they manage the crowd near the bar.

“Saved you the long table in the back,” Josie says on her way to a table carrying a tray of drinks.

“Thank you.” I shrug off my jacket.

She notices the jersey, grins and says, “Nice.”

The compliment hits me in a weird way, and I mull it over as I walk to the table. There’s a sign marking it reserved. Once we sit, Nadia asks, “What’s that look about?”

“I’m just thinking how no one ever talked to me like that about my promise ring from David. I mean, I got congratulations from church ladies and stuff like that, but no one ever looked…” I search for the word, “impressed.”

“David is a dud,” she says with authority, although she’s never met him. “I’m sure there’s some girl out there for him, but Reid Wilder? He’s a catch. Darla was a fucking fool to let him go–”

“Thank god, tho, right?” Twyler adds, opening her menu.

“For real.” Nadia looks at me. “You bagged yourself a future NHL star who is also an amazing artist, and is also the biggest, sweetest, Teddy bear, who–”

“Gives amazing orgasms,” I blurt. A second later my face burns hot. “Oh my God, I can’t believe I said that.”

Both girls lean toward me. “How amazing?” Nadia asks, but Twyler definitely also looks interested in the answer.

I grin, thinking about how weird and wonderful and exciting my life is now that I’m not bound with the rules and expectations I grew up with. Still, some things are just between me and Reid, so I just reply, “Pretty fucking amazing.”

My truth bomb shocks them as much as it does me, but thankfully there’s a diversion. I don’t even have to look to see that the guys have arrived. The cheers and shouts are deafening. My heart hammers just knowing he’s here. I haven’t spoken to him since I got on the plane from Texas. By the time he, and the others, work their way to the table they have drinks in their hands and wide smiles on their mouths. Then it hits me. It’s the first time we’ve been out together as a couple, and I have no idea how to do that.

They converge on the table, my brother making a beeline to Nadia and Reese pressing a slow kiss on Twyler’s temple. I feel that panicky heat until Reid’s eyes land on me, and the sweetest, sexiest smile curves his mouth.

“Hey.” He skims a hand down my throat, resting it at the base. “Have a good time?”

“It was incredible. You were incredible. You guys killed it.”

“It helped having you there.” His thumb rubs the neckline of the jersey. “Just knowing you were back and sitting in those stands made me able to focus.”

Wow.

Josie and the other waiter start delivering the massive amount of food we’d ordered. Wings, fries, cheese sticks and beer, of course. Nadia had been right. The energy put off by these guys is amazing. They’re obviously tired. A few of them bruised, but they’re all running on endorphins and adrenaline, replaying the game and strategizing for the next.

The entire time, Reid has me as close as he can get me.

“Anything else?” Josie asks, while picking up empty bottles and baskets.