Page 18

COLE

O ne week later…

NOAH: Listen, if Shaw shows up in the damn locker room today pregame, someone just locks the door. Problem solved. #GHOSTHOCKEYDADDIES ASSEMBLE!

HUNTER: That’s Avengers Assemble, LeCav.

NOAH: Who’s Iron Man in this scenario?

THEO: How did we get here? Cole. He has the toys.

NOAH: Why can’t I be Iron Man?

COLE: Why does anyone get to be Iron Man? And what the hell is going on now?

I was just about to freak the fuck out, when Noah responded. I didn’t have time for this shit. The police called this morning and only had one lead, but it turned out to be a dead end. The detective on the case asked if Eden and I were connected in any way after someone left a note on my SUV outside the cafe with Eden’s pink drink. She was at the bookstore nearly everyday this week, and I grabbed a few things and dropped them off for the entire team of the bookstore while they finished setting up the event space next door.

We both know I deserve to get the girl.

And this morning, after I dropped Eden off and came back from my run, there was one on the fucking front door. The scary part is it could’ve been there for at least two days, because we never used the front door, and I only had this morning because the security company was running a test on the upgrade to the system and the back door was locked down.

Hands off what’s mine. One warning.

NOAH: Shaw freaked out after a meeting with upper management and trashed the training room and the locker room before security escorted him out. They finally dropped the hammer. Ooh, Thor. Claimed.

Ever since it came out that Zoe and Coach were dating, and she had been seeing Shaw before, upper management was trying to find a way to release Shaw. They tried in preseason to release him on waivers, but his lawyer found a loophole in his contract that kept him on the team.

Sounds like they finally closed it.

COLE: No shit.

HUNTER: It was wild. But are we talking chubby Thor or in shape vs Hulk Thor?

THEO: Trav says you're all crazy and I am Hawkeye cause I never miss.

NOAH: Nice one, Trav! DAD POINTS SCORED.

HUNTER: At least Coach doesn’t have to hold back anymore. These past three weeks have been fucking rough.

NOAH: Groin pull my ass. Some girl probably kicked him in the balls. At least he went home after the Seattle game and the rest of the swing was peaceful.

HUNTER: Is Walker even in the chat anymore?

WALKER: I keep trying to leave but LeCav keeps adding me.

NOAH: ZOE WILL GET MAD IF I DON’T. She says you need to socialize more. Or something.

I roughed a hand over my face, and eyed the door to the butler’s pantry. The door to the panic room was behind one of the sets of cabinets on the inner facing wall. After the last creepy text message and the psycho involving me, I showed Eden how to get in using her fingerprint and how to get in. At first she resisted, but when I teased her about putting Junior Mints down there along with a fuzzy blanket if she ever wanted to avoid the world.

I hoped to God she never had to use it. And I didn’t let her know about the ones he sent me. My girl did not need anymore shit added to her plate.

WALKER: I socialize.

HUNTER: OOOOKKKKK.

WALKER: Fine, Hunter. Just remember, you asked for it.

NOAH: WHY AM I NOT INCLUDED?

WALKER: …

NOAH: Eden just texted and said to remind you all that you need to be at the auction at 6 pm, no later. And she also said to say hi to Cole.

Fucking Noah.

EDEN: I did not tell him that.

COLE: Is he texting you?

EDEN: He can’t help himself. Zoe is off on a media day with Lanie promoting the auction with Theo, and Oliver is ignoring him because he’s having tape time with Corey. Don’t ask. I think he’s jealous.

Noah hoarded tape like a goddamn goalie dragon. And he was the only one I’d ever played with who taped up his stick. Goalies were a different breed.

THEO: Zoe said to tell you all to be good and not make Lanie mad tomorrow night.

WALKER: Tell my sister I am still not doing it. Even if she calls mom.

THEO: I have enough family drama, Wolf. That’s all on you.

NOAH: And Eden also said she’s wearing my jersey number tonight.

EDEN: Please ignore Noah. He’s having a sugar rush induced fever dream from too many sprinkles on his ice cream last night.

At this point I wasn’t sure if I should chuck my phone or take away Noah’s. Either way, I was in trouble. I went down the stairs to the panic room, and checked the laptop the security company hooked up to the entire system, and went over the footage in the drive for the last few days, then checked to make sure Eden was still at the bookstore. I hated her being anywhere without me, but realistically, unless I locked her in this room, it was hockey season and we both had to be places.

The feed from the house was linked to the app on my phone, but the outdoor footage was only processed on the server at the security company and accessible on this laptop. Keeping an eye on Eden when I wasn’t with her had been top priority until now, and I’d foolishly thought she was safe here.

An hour later, my eyes were burning from checking the tape, but then, I hit pay-dirt. Last night, a figure in all black. On the front porch, sticking something in the front door .

I emailed the footage to the police detective and the security company.

No one stalked my girl. Except for me.

“You are wound tighter than a fucking top,” Theo said as he edged forward on the bench next to me. “The penalty box is not the palace to score a goal, Sunders.”

“I fucking know that,” I growled at my line mate. Even Noah avoided me in between periods. There was something I was missing, I was sure of it. Right out of my reach, but fuck if I knew what it was.

We were down 3 to 2, and the energy in the arena was getting more and more aggressive. Eden and Zoe were in the suite for this game because I wanted her locked up and out of the open. Izzy had called earlier in the day and asked to come to the game with Eden, and my baby sister was none too impressed with not being in the lower seats.

Eden had been finishing up for the signing tomorrow at Book Boyfriends and Lattes and had run by to pick up Izzy. I was jumping out of my skin because I hadn’t seen my girl face to face since early morning when I dropped her off.

For once in my life, I wanted the game to be over. The lines changed up, and I went over the boards. One more time in the box and I’d hit my record from my rookie year when I’d been trying to prove myself. The rest of the period flew by in a blur and when the final whistle sounded, I congratulated Noah on his saves and Theo on his two goals in the third off of Killian and hurried to the showers to change .

Gus greeted me at the door to the room with the rest of the families.

“All clear, no issues, Cole.”

“Thank you for-”

The former special ops team veteran held his hand up. “No need. Plus, she brought cookies.” He patted me on the shoulder. “Maybe look less like you’re going to kill somebody after that game.”

Shit. I nodded and thanked him one more time before making a beeline to my girl.

Fuck it. We’d been keeping things a secret long enough. I was done, and ready to claim my girl. I took her face in my hands and kissed her in front of Theo and his kid and the rest of families, including Izzy.

“About time, Romeo,” Noah called as he entered the room with Zoe in tow.

I pulled back, and swept her bright pink and purple hair behind her ear. “Hey, Bunny. I can’t wait to get you home and fu-”

“Cole,” she started to worry and alarm lit her green eyes.

Next to her, Izzy shifted from one foot to the other. Someone cleared their throat behind us, and I turned to find myself face to face with Eden mother. And my father.

Shit.

‘Why are you kissing your sis-”

Eden went to open her mouth, but then her mother placed her hand on Eden’s arm. “Randall, they aren’t related, never knew each other, and I swear to the Lord above if you are as blind as you are obviously being and haven’t figured out that your son has been in love from the moment he saw Eden and have an issue with it, I will make you sleep on the couch. In the guest house. ”

“Mom?”

Annabelle Sunders placed her hands on her daughter’s shoulders and smiled. “Eden, if you really think I didn’t see the way the two of you looked at each other, and the way you light up every time I mentioned him, you are sadly mistaken. Plus, Izzy is not as good at keeping secrets as she thinks she is.”

Izzy threw her hands up. “I didn’t say a word!”

“You didn’t have to. Now,” she said to my father. “Stop being an ass. Cole, your father has been watching all your games and loves you. He was an idiot, and regrets it all. And we came to tonight’s game so he could tell you face to face after seeing you do what you love so much.”

My father still looked like he wanted to say something about Eden and I, but then he let out a sigh. “Cole, I was an ass.” Annabelle patted him on the arm. “And I know I can’t expect you to forgive me right away, but I really want the chance to get to know my son better. And I am so proud of you. Of everything you’ve accomplished.”

Noah came up and threw his arms around me and Eden. “And I didn’t have to make Eden wear my number tonight to get this all out in the open. I say we get ice cream. With sprinkles.”