Page 71 of Banter & Blushes #1

EPILOGUE

MIA

TWO MONTHS LATER…

T he cool air of the arena sends a chill through me as I search the ice for Ethan. In the row in front of Sophie and me, a little boy wearing a miniature Sun Kings jersey jumps up and down with an oversized soft pretzel clutched in his hand, even though neither team has scored yet.

Ethan skates by the plexiglass and winks at me as he takes the puck behind the net and back into the fray of players waiting to steal it from him.

He passes the puck to Payton, who fires a one-timer into the net.

Ethan and several other players fly over and crowd around him in celebration—or a ‘celly’ as they call it, according to Ethan.

He’ll get credit for the assist, adding to his already impressive record.

The fans continue to shout and applaud, making the arena seem fuller than its current half capacity.

If the Sun Kings keep playing this well, the fan base will surely return to its pre-scandal level.

Ethan’s been teaching me all the ins and outs of ice hockey, and surprisingly, I love it.

But if you were to ask me if I loved hockey simply for the sport or because I happen to be in love with a hockey player, I’m not sure if I could answer that.

Ethan and hockey are one and the same, I’m realizing, so I guess I can say with a clear conscience that I love both.

Still cheering, I bounce on my feet, clenching the bottom of my jersey, relishing that I’m wearing his name because, in a few months, I’ll wear it officially, too.

Sophie grabs my left hand, studying the engagement ring Ethan gave me when he proposed last month. Fast, I know, but when you know, you know, right?

“I still can’t believe you’re engaged already.” She giggles, squeezing my hand to let me know she’s happy for me.

“I know. Me, too.” Took me a day to tell my best friend about it since we both had a string of failed relationships and dating disasters.

And things happened so fast for Ethan and me.

I was afraid she’d wind up sad or depressed, but I should have known Sophie would be nothing but ecstatic for me.

She even offered to help me plan the wedding, which I jumped on in a hot minute.

Planning a wedding in a few months is borderline crazy. Doing it alone is just plain insane.

Scanning the arena, I search for Ethan, as always. He’s back on the player’s bench beside Elias, waiting for their turn on the ice. The new guy, Luke Jameson, is sitting next to him.

I nudge Sophie’s arm with my elbow. “So, how are the team interviews going? Did you pin Luke down yet.”

She groans. “No, I’m avoiding him, to be honest.”

“Why?”

“Because I need more definitive answers to my interview questions than grunts.”

“Oooh, he’s one of those.” I giggle, enjoying her latest rant over the one player who’s driving her batty.

Her words. And yeah, I know I kind of poked the bear here, but I do love hearing her complain about Luke Jameson because I suspect he’s becoming more than the bane of her existence, as she calls him.

She lets out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t think he knows how to smile.”

I swing my attention back to the ice just as Luke climbs over the wall, pumping his legs to catch up with the puck flying toward our end. “Is that him?”

“Yeah, number twenty-four.” There’s no missing the way her eyes kind of light up as she watches him.

Luke winds up in a battle for the puck in the corner with two players from the other team, one of whom crosschecks him hard enough to throw his helmet off.

The plexiglass rattles when Luke shoves him against the boards.

The ref blows the whistle, stopping play, but Luke already dropped his gloves, ready to swing at the opposing player.

“He’s not hard to look at,” I drawl.

“Just wish he wasn’t so grumpy.”

He definitely looks the part right now, scowling at the opposing team member as well as the ref.

I nudge her again. “Does that mean you think he’s cute?”

She blinks her ginormous eyes at me in disbelief. “I’m trying to interview him, not date him. I know better.”

Mocking a gasp, I catch her eye. “What are you saying, Sophie Adams? ”

“Nothing. Ethan’s great.”

“You mean, as far as hockey players go.” I dip my chin and look up at her in anticipation of her answer.

Sophie snorts. “As far as men go.”

“Such a cynic.” I laugh.

“I earned it.” She sounds borderline perturbed.

“So, don’t let him stay grumpy around you.”

She side-eyes me. “And how do I do that?”

“Push back. Let him know you won’t put up with it.”

Her chin tugs up as she thinks about it. “That just might work.”

Sophie watches Luke disappear into the penalty box, her brow furrowed. “He’s infuriating.”

I smother a grin. “And kind of hot?”

She scoffs. “I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

She shakes her head, but the corner of her mouth twitches. I know that look. It’s the same one I probably wore when Ethan first got under my skin.

I squeeze her hand. “Just don’t let him be a grump around you.”

Sophie leans back in her seat, eyes still on the ice. “He has no idea what he’s in for.”

The buzzer sounds, signaling the end of the period, and Ethan’s gaze finds mine as he skates toward the tunnel. He taps his stick to his heart before disappearing from view.

My heart does that silly flutter thing it’s been doing since our first date. Fast? Maybe. But loving him has been the easiest decision I’ve ever made.

I glance at Sophie, who’s still pretending not to watch number twenty-four.

Love catches you off guard. Sometimes, when you least expect it.

But when it hits?

It’s a hat trick straight to the heart.

The End…