Page 125 of Love Me Like You Do

Enough. Worry about that after the game.

Time to focus.

Adrenaline coursing through him, he spread his feet and got low. And when the puck dropped, he smacked the other center’s stick away and sent it back to his defenseman. With tons of speed, he swung up the left side of the wall and got the puck. Now, it was him and his teammate on the other side of the ice against the Viper’s two defenders. Once they crossed the blue line, Cole and his guy skated in a criss-cross and switched sides of the ice. He dropped the puck to his teammate.

The other team’s defender tried to jump the pass, but it was too late. He was out of position, and now, they had two against one.

Fuck, yeah. I’m open.

I’m on my one-timer side.

I need this pass.

This is the game.

Stick in the air, ready to rip the puck into the empty net, he shouted for his teammate. “Benson.”

His buddy dropped his shoulder to fake the goalie into thinking he’d take his shot but then quickly slid into Cole’s wheelhouse.

The goalie never had a chance.

Game over.

We won.

Waving his stick in the air, grinning wide at the crowd, his only thought was the girls. He skated across the ice, tugged off his glove, and kissed two fingers. Pressing them against the Plexiglass, he waited while all three of them reached up to meet him. And the connection—even though not physical—was electric.

He couldn’t stop grinning at them.

Never had a win meant so much now that he had family here to witness it.

After a shower and a quick team meeting, Cole met up with his girls right outside the locker rooms.

“You were amazing.” Hailey hugged him with one arm since Evvie was slumped against her chest. “I’ve never been to a hockey game. That was so much fun.”

“Other than my dad, I’ve never had family here before.” He grinned. “It didn’t suck.” Tugging Paisley’s braid, he said, “We won because of you.”

“Me?” She sounded incredulous.

“Yep. You’re my good luck charm.”

She beamed a smile at him.

He picked her up and said, “So, what do you think? Grab some dinner?”

“Yes. Can I get my frappe now?”

“Oh, no, honey,” Hailey said. “We’re not having milkshakes this late.”

“But Cole promised. He said I could have a world-famous Boston frappe.”

“I did, but we can get them tomorrow morning before we leave for New York. We’ve got a fun weekend planned.”

Since New York was only a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Boston, he’d arranged a driver for the long weekend. It would streamline travel with two little girls.

He hit the release bar, and they stepped out into the freezing cold parking lot. Fortunately, the car was waiting, so they all climbed in. He got Evvie settled in her car seat, and across the way, Hailey got Paisley in hers. Once the driver took off, the girls immediately fell asleep.

Hailey shifted over, slipping an arm through his. “You were so hot out there.” She rose to whisper in his ear. “I got all tingly inside.”