Page 34

CHAPTER 34

THE NEXT LINE

EMORY

How the hell can hockey be this hard? There are actual rules. Even strategies. I always assumed it was just a bunch of people skating around with sticks, trying to either score or murder each other, maybe both. But in the last two weeks of helping Kayden with the practices, I've learned more than I ever thought I needed to know about the sport.

And I've definitely learned enough to know that wasn't interference, and Mia should not be going to the penalty box right now.

"Seriously ref? She maintained her skating lane and was going after the puck. Someone needs to reread Rule 625. I'll lend you my copy of the rulebook after the game. Maybe actually pay attention to it this time."

"Hey." Kayden presses his forehead against mine and it bounces with his laughter. "I appreciate the enthusiasm, but maybe try not to get kicked out of your first game."

"But he was wrong!" I snarl. "Mia didn't do anything to interfere with that other player."

"Do you know how amazing it is that you read the rulebook?"

"Read and memorized it, unlike some people." I shout at the ref one last time as he skates by. His cheeks are red, and I hope it's with embarrassment from the blown call.

Kayden presses down on my shoulders. "Be a good girl, and I'll take you for ice cream after the game?"

I ignore the tug in my chest and glare at him.

He lifts a shoulder. "It works when Mia's dad says it to her. I thought it was worth a try."

I sit back on the bench and turn my attention again to the referee, hoping he notices my ice-melting stare and gives us an entire period of make up calls to earn his way back on to my good side. "What kind of ice cream?"

The wood bounces slightly as Kayden sits beside me. His fingers brush across the top of my hand, and suddenly my heartbeat drowns out the scratching of blades on the ice. I used to hate the way he insisted on holding my hand in public. Now, I wish he would do it right here.

The parents of our team haven't said a word about me and him, or if they have, it's been among themselves and not where we could hear it. But the other people in the arena today have sure made up for it. From the time they realized who Kayden is, they've taken pictures of him nonstop. It wasn't long before I started catching whispered murmurs about his fiancée. Then they started taking pictures of me too. Like I'm some celebrity. I'm glad I took extra time for my hair and makeup today, despite Kayden telling me I didn't need to.

"Any kind you want, Nyx. Have I told you how glad I am that you're doing this? And how glad I am that laser eyes aren't a real thing. I'd be bailing you out of jail right now if they were."

I raise my eyebrows as I look at him. "I will fight for those who cannot fight for themselves, Kayden."

His look softens, and he cups my face. "Be careful in the world of men, Emory. They do not deserve you."

I know this isn't real, but there's something about the look on his face. Something about the way his hand feels on my cheek. Something blazing in this cold arena. "You know the next line in that movie is 'you have been my greatest love.' Right?"

"Is it?" His eyes stay locked on mine.

I nod. I'm vaguely aware of the game being played just ten feet away from us, but if he says the next line, I know I'll lose awareness of everything except him. And I can't. I can't let myself be fooled into thinking he feels this too.

I turn my back to him, only to find a bench full of kids, all under twelve, staring at us. A few of them are giggling. Okay, most of them are giggling, but I ignore them, just like I ignore Kayden.

"Come on, Yeti!" I yell out at the team on the ice, hoping to break whatever this spell is. After a couple more seconds, I hear Kayden clapping on my left, and I know the moment has passed. I wish its passing didn't make me sick.

At the next stoppage in the game, I feel Kayden's attention turn back to me, but I'm not ready for it. I need to distract him before he says something sweet or thoughtful that my brain is going to misinterpret. "I still can't believe you wore that shirt."

"You mean this shirt?" He stands and pulls the front flat, doing a circle so everyone in the small arena can see. On the front, his shirt says "I Skate Like a Girl!" On the back, there's a drawing of a woman in hockey gear flying down the ice with a puck on her stick. Above that, it says Coach B. "Admit it. You love this shirt."

I grin up at him. "I do love that shirt. I'm jealous I don't have one. And I love that you have the balls to wear it. Some men wouldn't."

He sits and takes my hand. My heart flip-flops, warning me—much too late—that Kayden is getting too close. "When are you going to realize I'm not like other boys, Nyx?"

I roll my eyes, and we both burst into laughter. "You're so stupid."

"You mean, I'm so amazing."

"You are amazing." Shit! The breathless words slip out before I know what I'm saying, but their weight hits me like a truck. The smile drops from his face, and I grasp desperately for some way to change the subject. "So, uh…" I look around the arena, hoping to find a small fire, but of course, everything is safely non-combusted. Damn my luck. "So the party tonight… are you ready?"

Lily and Brant aren't getting married until Tuesday, but Kayden and I are throwing their bachelorette and bachelor parties tonight. I already know he's ready because we talked about this on the way here this morning, but it's the only thing that popped into my brain that didn't involve kissing him, or worse.

I can't look at him, but I can feel his gaze still on me. After what seems like a long enough time to play four hockey games, he sighs. "Um… yeah. You know that Brant hates parties, but I didn't tell you he threatened to have me arrested for kidnapping if I make him leave his house tonight. He says he knows a cop, and I don't think he's lying."

"As much as I want to make Lily wear a crown of dildos as we bar hop all over town, she would kill me. Probably literally." I don't take my eyes off the net at our end of the ice. "So we're staying in too."

"I guess that just gives you something to look forward to at your own bachelorette party."

My cheeks burn even though I know I'll never have one. The only man I'd ever want to marry is sitting right next to me, but in three days he'll forget all about me.