Page 96 of One Shot

“She’s got a bite and a bark,” Liam confirms, sitting down next to her.

“Seriously? They are glaring at me because I’m with him?” My face contorts with confusion as I point to Lucas.

“Hey! You once told me I was a hot commodity on girls’ walls all over campus!” Lucas retorts, throwing a straw wrapper at me.

“You don’t need a bigger ego,” I tease, kissing his cheek, which earns me another glare from the table of girls. Great. This will be fun to deal with.

We order our dinner. The girls decide to make a pit stop at our table before leaving, asking Lucas and Liam for an autograph.

“Is that your girlfriend?” one of them daringly asks Lucas.

“Yes, isn’t she beautiful?”

My heart skips a beat at Lucas’ response. The girl rolls her eyes and walks away with her friends. I look at Lucas and start giggling. These girls are ruthless!

We enjoy our dinner with minimal interruptions until near the end. Liam and Lucas’ phones both blow up with texts. Lucas usually ignores his phone when we are out and about together. He says if it’s important, someone will call him and then he’ll answer. Liam picks up his phone immediately.

“Shit!” Liam exclaims. “Luc, look at your phone.”

“Holy hell,” Lucas reacts as he reads his text messages.

“Someone fill us in please?” Bren asks, annoyed.

“Nathan Kovek is out with an ankle injury. He won’t be playing in East’s semifinal game today or the conference finals if they win this game and play against us,” Lucas responds.

“That’s great!” Bren beams. “Well, shitty for him, but who cares.”

Lucas leans in and kisses me. A huge grin stretches across my face from ear to ear.

“Not that I want to celebrate anyone’s injury, but I’m more than happy we won’t have to deal with him for a while.”

East loses the semifinal game that night. We watch with the entire team and coaching staff. Looks like Nathan wouldn’t have had to play us anyways, but either way, I’m glad I can put him out of my mind for hopefully the rest of the season. I don’t really expect East to make the playoffs.

Chapter forty-two

Lucas

We played the conference championship game yesterday. It was oddly one of the easiest games this season. The West Michigan Wyverns are conference champions. It’s an honor to win, but we’ve won in years past. I still have my eyes focused on the prize: making it to the Frozen Four and winning it all. There is no doubt in my mind we will make the playoffs, but I’m still nervous until we hear the official announcement on Selection Sunday.

The team goes out for a drink to celebrate, even Coach Andres and the rest of the coaching staff join us. It might be more to monitor some of the guys and make sure we only have a few drinks since we still have games to play and teams to defeat. But at least we have a little break.

Laur’s familiar floral scent fills the air around me as her arms wrap around my neck. She’s beaming with pride. “Congrats, Captain of the Conference Champs!”

“Thanks Laur.” Appreciation fills my heart as I beam at my gorgeous girlfriend.

“It must be because I’m good luck,” she jokes, sticking her tongue out.

“I thought you hated that I called you my good luck charm!”

“I never said that! I just am more than that,” she replies.

“Of course you are. You’re the girlfriend of the Captain of the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey WCHA Conference Champions.”

“Wow, that’s a mouthful,” she teases. “Are you nervous for the playoff games?”

I shake my head before admitting the truth, but only to her.

“A little bit. So many scouts will be there. I haven’t had much facetime with any of the Blackhawks scouts this year.”