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THIRTY-THREE

MADELINE

Blond Bombshell

Where do y’all want to sit tonight? In a suite? Upper bowl? Near the ice?

Me

A suite is not necessary. I think Lucy would love to be close to the ice so she can feel like she’s part of the action. She loves when people get rammed into the glass. I’m still trying to figure out the appeal.

Blond Bombshell

She’s definitely going to be a hockey player. I put y’all in row two. The first row filled up, but you’ll still be right there. I also snagged you some passes so you can come and go wherever you want in the arena.

There’s a lounge with food, snacks and drinks you’ll have access to. It also has a soft serve ice cream machine.

Me

How many times have you visited the ice cream machine?

Blond Bombshell

Not answering that.

Me

Sounds like we’re getting the VIP treatment.

Blond Bombshell

All first-timers should. We do warmups an hour before the puck drops, so I’ll have a chance to see y’all.

Me

I can’t believe it took us until February to go to our first Stars game. Lucy is determined to get on the big screen.

Blond Bombshell

I’ll put in a good word with the camera guy.

See you out there, Galloway.

Me

Have a great match, hockey guy!

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN(DAMENTAL RIGHTS) AND GOOD SEX

Me

Help! What do I wear to a hockey game?

Piper

Are you coming tonight!!

Me

Hudson got us tickets. I’m going to surprise Lucy!

Lexi

Jeans and a sweater. And bring a jacket! It gets cold in here even with twenty thousand fans crowded in the arena.

Emmy

Try to get there early. You don’t want to miss the warmups.

Maven

They’re the best part of the game.

Piper

You’re so right. Last night, I watched a video some girl on social media put together of Liam stretching. I was almost jealous, but then I remembered I get to climb into bed with him every night.

So climb I did.

Lexi

That’s our girl!

Me

Wow. Are all of you having regular sex?

Piper

Yup.

Emmy

Sure am.

Lexi

If men can fuck whoever they want, so can I.

Me

My celibate ass can’t wait to see you all tonight.

Emmy

I’m mad I’m in Texas.

Maven

And I’m mad I’m at a soccer tournament.

Not really. I love watching my kid play.

Me

That’s so sweet.

Lexi

I’m jealous I’m NOT in Texas. The state where everything is bigger? Sign me up.

Piper

See you soon, Madeline! You’re going to have so much fun!

Being at United Airlines Arena for a sold-out game is different from the Friends and Family night Hudson brought Lucy and me to.

It’s also different from the game we went to back in Vegas. The crowd was sparse. Our team sucked, and there was hardly any cheering.

The arena tonight is packed. Everywhere I look, fans are decked out in their Stars gear. The team’s mascot—a bear wearing sunglasses and a jersey—skates across the ice with a Stars flag, and I didn’t realize sports could be so fun .

Lucy got a fist bump from every player when they came out for warmups, and even now she has her nose against the glass, watching the team finish up a drill.

“I see why you girls told me not to miss the stretching. It’s almost pornographic,” I say.

“Look at Liam.” Piper grins and points at the goalie with the hand not holding her microphone. He’s in a full split in front of the net, and my mouth drops open. “His flexibility is also fun off the ice.”

“I’ve never been able to stretch like that, and he’s doing it in pads and a helmet. And the rest of them? It’s like free entertainment.”

My eyes wander over to Maverick and Hudson. They’re both on their knees with their legs spread, and they’re almost thrusting into the ice. I’m sure there’s a physical benefit to the move they’re doing—something that makes some sort of muscle limber and warm—but it’s indecent enough to take me back to the last time I got off with my vibrator.

I thought about Hudson that night.

I’m thinking about him every night I touch myself lately.

I pictured the toy as his fingers as I circled my clit, and when I fell apart on the silicone—over the span of three separate orgasms—it was a feat not to yell out his name.

Watching him stretch is giving me a new visual: us on a bed. Him holding himself above me as he slowly rocks his hips, burying himself inside me. The hint of a smirk when he asks how much I like being his friend.

“Almost makes me want to date a hockey boy,” Lexi says, and I crash back to reality. “Too bad they’re all fuckboys.”

“That’s not true. There are a lot of good guys on the team,” Piper challenges. “Wholesome men who won’t forget to text you back.”

“And if I don’t want wholesome?” Lexi gives us a wicked grin. “Then what?”

“Then have fun, Lex. I’m rooting for you.” Piper pats her arm then taps Lucy’s shoulder. She kneels down to her level, careful to not wrinkle her bright pink dress. Are you so excited for tonight? she asks, and Lucy nods.

Some of them autographed my jersey. She points at the signatures on her sleeves. I’m going to bring it to school next week.

Your classmates are going to be so jealous . Wait until they hear you live with a hockey player too! Piper laughs, and Lucy grins at her. Your seats tonight are very good. I’ll come say hi at intermission, okay?

Okay. Lucy throws her arms around her in a hug, and Piper strokes her hair. Your dress is pretty. You look like a princess.

So do you. Piper stands, looking at me when Lucy goes back to waving to the players. “If you need anything, send me a text. I’m only busy right at the end of the period when I’m trying to wrangle someone for an interview, so I’ll be easier to reach than Hudson.”

“I’m sure the game is going to be fun, but I’m more excited to see you all in action,” I say to her and Lexi. “A rinkside reporter? The head athletic trainer? You two are incredible. If only Emmy was playing against the Stars tonight. Then I could cheer on three badass women.”

“Denver’s assistant head coach is a woman.” Lexi points across the ice to a woman with blonde hair and a clipboard in her hand. Her blue suit is tailored and fitted to her toned thighs, and she’s deep in conversation with one of the players on her team. Every few seconds her eyes flick up. She scans the ice, and I wonder if she’s looking for someone specific. “It’s so fucking fun to see us succeed. There’s room for all of us in this sport. Forget what the men say.”

“Here, here.” I pretend to lift an imaginary glass. “Go do your important jobs. I’ll catch up with you later.”

They leave with a wave, and Lucy leads us to our spot in the second row. I sit next to her, nervous and excited. This is the first time it’s felt like I’ve had a stake in a game, and it’s an entirely different vibe than watching on TV.

Hudson skates by us and taps his glove on the glass. The women in the row in front of us jump to their feet and wave, but he shakes his head.

He lifts his stick, points right at me, and gestures for us to come down to the glass.

Four heads turn to look at me, and I give the women a sheepish smile when we walk down the two steps it takes to reach the barrier.

He waves hello to Lucy and she beams, pointing at the miniature jersey of his I bought specially for her to wear tonight.

He’s so big , Lucy tells me, and I nod.

He’s very tall, isn’t he? I ask.

As tall as the ceiling! she says, and I laugh.

“Are you two talking about me?” he yells.

“She said you’re so big,” I tell him. “And you are. Even more so with all those layers on. You could take a bullet to the chest and not feel a damn thing, couldn’t you?”

“It’s like Fort Knox over here.” He lifts up his jersey to show off the gear I’m not familiar with, but I’m distracted by a bead of sweat dripping down his stomach. “Hey.” He knocks his stick against the glass again, and I jump. “My eyes are up here, Galloway.”

I blush.

I can’t believe he caught me staring.

I can’t believe I was staring in the first place.

“I thought I saw a bug,” I say.

“Nice save.” He lifts his chin. “Whose jersey are you wearing?”

“Oh. Um. Riley’s?” I turn so he can see the name on the back. “Lexi grabbed it for me. I don’t own any Stars gear, and there weren’t many options in the team store.”

“Interesting.” His eyes blaze with heat when I look at him over my shoulder. “Guess I’m going to have to make a call to our merchandise folks. Enjoy the game, Mads.”

With a wink, he skates away from us to join his teammates lining up. When he pulls up next to Maverick, takes off his helmet and looks back at me, there are butterflies in my stomach.