Page 86 of Breaking the Pucking Rules (LA Vipers #1)

CASEY

“ O h my god, Case. This is crazy,” Parker screams as we attempt to make our way into the arena.

This is the Vipers’ first home game since the news broke about our relationship, and it’s wild.

There are reporters and fans everywhere.

Everything has been a whirlwind since those first images were released and we were forced to confess to Dad.

The next day, Hailee turned up at Kodie’s house along with a photographer and her social media manager, ready to spin up the best love story the world had ever seen.

Kodie was grumpy as hell having others in his home. He reminded me so much of the man I used to admire from afar. Now, though, I know differently. He is so much more than the grump he portrays. I can’t deny that version of him is just as sexy as the others, though.

After they selected the perfect spot, they had us pose before we worked together to write up an approved CliffsNotes version of our relationship.

The internet was already buzzing with the news, but the moment Kodie posted our official announcement, things hit a whole new level.

I get it. If I were still just a Kodie Rivers’ fan and I was watching all of this unravel, I would be losing my mind. I’d also be incredibly jealous. Thankfully, though, and by some kind of freaking miracle, I wasn’t sitting at home reading the article. I was the woman in the photograph.

People scream and shout. I hear my name above it all. Demands for me to look their way. Questions about our relationship, about the season, and how Kodie was feeling before this game.

A wave of nerves rushes through me.

We’re playing Vancouver again tonight, which means Kodie and Nash are going to be facing off.

Their rivalry is no secret. Everyone who follows ice hockey knows that there is no love lost between the two of them.

I don’t know Nash. I’ve never met him. But something tells me he’s going to be gunning for Kodie tonight. Especially after all the press he’s got this week.

Up until this week, Kodie’s only weakness has been his daughter, and while hockey players can be brutal, generally they’re decent people and will leave young kids out of their chirping.

A new girlfriend, though…I can only imagine the kinds of things Nash is going to say tonight to try to rile Kodie up.

My stomach knots, dread sitting heavy on my chest.

Kodie has been killing it this week. They’ve already secured one road win because of a hatty from him.

He was on fire, and I was gutted that I was forced to watch it through a screen.

There was one bonus, though—I had the best and most excitable buddy to watch it with.

It was also my first night staying at Kodie’s without him.

It was weird. Although, I can’t deny that it felt so good to crawl into our bed for our celebratory phone sex after he gave a press conference that was almost as hot to watch as his game.

The second his raspy voice hit my ears, even through the screen, I was burning for him.

I don’t respond to any of the questions. Instead, I smile for a few photographs before Parker and I walk into the arena arm in arm.

“It’s like you’re a freaking celebrity,” Parker shrieks once we’re safely inside.

“I’m not, but I’m dating one,” I counter .

“I can’t believe it’s official. This is so exciting. Your first home game wearing a real Kodie Rivers jersey as his girl.”

My stomach flutters wildly.

For years, I’ve worn Kodie’s jerseys, but they’ve always been the ones from the team store. But not tonight.

Tonight, I am literally wearing one of Kodie’s jerseys.

It’s massive and completely swamps me, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

He’s played in this jersey. He’s won in this jersey. And now, it’s mine.

I brush my fingers over the stitched number fifty-five on my front. It’s stupid, it’s only some fabric, but wearing this makes me feel so much closer to him.

“Are you ever going to stop smiling like that?” Parker teases as we make our way toward the rink.

I always have good seats thanks to Dad, but now I’m even more hooked up than I was before.

Tonight, we have front-row tickets.

Okay, so it has more to do with Hailee than it does Kodie. She wants to drive the fans wild with footage of us being cute, and that wasn’t going to happen if I was a few rows back.

Instead, I’m on the bench..

I’m going to be able to touch him when he walks past.

This time, it’s not only the butterflies in my stomach that are fluttering.

“Smiling like what?” I ask innocently.

“Like a lovesick fool,” Parker laughs.

“I really hope not. Just think, if we can find you a man then we can have matching grins.”

“Not happening,” she sings as the sound of blades on the floor hits my ears.

I twist around, watching as the Vipers emerge from their dressing room to come and warm up.

Fletch is first, followed by Linc, and Kodie.

His face is stoic, focused, until his eyes land on mine. Everything about him lights up in that moment, and I swear, it almost makes my heart explode in my chest.

I push to my feet, needing to be closer to him.

“Casey,” Fletch says with a respectful nod as he passes me. Linc, on the other hand, he decides to play up to the cameras that are no doubt pointed in our direction. Opening his arms, he pulls me in for a hug.

“Donnelly,” he grunts over my shoulder when he spots my best friend probably glaring at him in distaste.

One second Linc is there, and the next he’s not—he’s being dragged away by a very sexy, very pissed-off Kodie.

“Get your motherfucking hands off my girl, Storm.”

“Oh shush,” Linc teases. “It’s not my fault I have more to offer. Someone needs to make sure Casey is aware that she’s settled with second best.”

“Fucking asshole,” Kodie grunts, shoving his teammate toward the ice and stepping closer.

The entire arena and all the noise surrounding us fades to nothing as he steps into me. His scent floods my nose, and heat floods between my legs.

“Nice jersey,” he rasps, his eyes holding mine captive.

“Thanks,” I say, biting down on my bottom lip coyly. “It’s my boyfriend’s.”

Desire darkens his eyes as he wraps a hand around the back of my neck, pulling me in for a kiss.

He’s usually well over a foot taller than me, but with his skates on too, I practically need a ladder.

“Get a move on, Rivers,” a familiar voice bellows from the tunnel.

“Gotta go, baby. I love you.”

“I love you, too. Go beat Nash’s ass.”

“I don’t need telling twice,” he says, continuing toward the gate.

The rest of the team must have slipped past while he’d stolen my attention, because they’re all out on the ice already, leaving only the coaching and medical staff to follow.

“Are you distracting my players?” Dad asks, coming to stop in front of me.

“As if I would,” I tease, batting my lashes innocently.

“If we lose tonight, I’m placing the blame solely on Hailee for thinking that putting you in his eyeline was a good idea.”

“Nah, if we lose tonight, it’s because your team isn’t up to it, old man,” I say, patronizingly tapping his chest.

“Watch it. I can still trade his ass.”

I smile up at my dad, not believing a word of his threats. I might have been nervous—okay, terrified—about his reaction to Kodie and me dating, but he’s proven to me in just a few days that he’s more than happy with welcoming Kodie into our lives in more ways than just being a part of his team.

“Then you’d definitely lose,” I point out.

He smiles down at me, and I eagerly return it.

Any concern I had about his feelings toward my boyfriend has long vanished. I’m excited about our family dinner on Saturday night. I have a feeling it’s going to be the beginning of something beautiful.

“ Y es, come on,” I scream, my palms slamming against the plexiglass as Linc shoots across the ice in front of us. The game is tied at three apiece, and there are only two minutes left on the clock.

Vancouver has played dirty, taking their lead from Nash. But our boys have hit back just as hard.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard a whistle blown or seen as many penalties in a single game before. It’s as exciting as it is nerve-wracking.

Every time we take the lead, they come back at us, leveling the score.

“No, you fucking asshole,” I bellow as a Vancouver defenseman crosschecks Linc and sends him flying. He hits the ice hard, causing the entire crowd to gasp, but apparently, it looked worse than it was, because he’s back on his feet almost before the ref has had a chance to blow his whistle.

The clock continues to count down as the D man earns himself a minor and stalks toward the penalty box like a petulant toddler. I swear, the girls take their punishment better than that asshole.

There’s just over thirty seconds left as Fletch gets into position for the last face-off of the game.

“Come on, we’ve got this,” I scream, my eyes on Kodie.

He’s focused, his eyes locked on where the puck is going to hit the ice, ready with whatever play Fletch called.

My heart slams against my ribs, and I swear it stops altogether when the game restarts.

Fletch wins the puck, fakes right and shoots left, sending it directly to Kodie.

Time slows to almost a stop as I track the puck across the ice.

It hits Kodie’s stick, and he taps it a couple of times, lining up the perfect shot.

Nash is right on his ass, but Kodie is stronger, faster, and he pulls back and shoots a second before Nash takes him down.

Kodie hits the ice at the same time the cherry lights up and the arena erupts.

“Kodie,” I scream despite the fact he won’t be able to hear me.

He shifts his legs and then rolls over so he’s facing me.

The moment I see his wide smile and the excitement in his eyes, I know he’s okay.

Lifting the arm he’s not lying on, he points at me. “For you, baby,” he mouths before his teammates pile on him.

He humors them, celebrating that incredible last-minute win, but the second he can break away, he’s shooting across the ice, his sights set on me.

“Goddamn, I want a man who looks at me like that,” Parker mutters.

I laugh. She might claim she’s not interested, but I call bullshit. She’s just done with sifting through the fuckboys to find the one.

Despite knowing it’s about to happen, I startle when Kodie collides with the plexiglass, his helmet abandoned somewhere on the journey over.

His curly hair is dripping with sweat, his eyes are electric, and his cheeks are glowing.

“We did it,” he shouts.

“Hell yeah, you did.”

I mirror his movements as he edges toward me. The second he’s there, I jump into his arms, his lips finding mine.

Another round of cheers erupts, and when he finally lets me up for air and I glance at the Jumbotron, I find the whole thing was broadcast for everyone to see.

Previously, that would have terrified me. But nothing seems so scary now that I’ve got Kodie by my side.