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DECLAN

I push through the heavy double doors leading out of the conference room, my mind only half-focused on Coach Belanger’s strategy rundown for tonight’s game against the Bears. The other half is stuck on Victoria—her soft admission this morning that she’d join me on the road trip. The thought of having her with me for the next five days has me walking on air.

I pull out my phone and fire off a quick text:

Me: Have fun getting pampered with the girls today. You deserve it. See you at the game tonight. Wear something sexy under that professional outfit... I have plans for after

I don’t even care if she texts back right away. Just knowing she’ll be at the game tonight—wearing something sexy, no less—has my whole body buzzing with anticipation.

I’m still grinning at my phone when Callum appears beside me, goalie pads tucked under one arm as he heads toward the equipment room.

“That smile can only mean one thing,” he says, nodding at my phone. “Victoria?”

“Maybe,” I reply, tucking the phone away. Callum might be one of my closest friends on the team, but I’m still protective of what Victoria and I have. It’s too new, too precious to share with everyone.

Callum’s usually serious expression softens. “She’s good for you. Never seen you this focused before a game. Your stats have been through the roof since she started with the team.”

I feel a surge of defensiveness, ready to argue that Victoria is more than just some good luck charm for my gameplay, but Callum continues before I can speak.

“And not just the hockey stuff,” he adds. “You seem... I don’t know, more grounded? Less like you’re putting on the Declan O’Rielly show all the time.” He shrugs, looking slightly embarrassed. “It’s nice to see, that’s all.”

The sincerity in his voice catches me off guard. Callum’s not typically one for heart-to-hearts. “Thanks, man,” I say, genuinely touched. “She’s... special.”

“I can tell.” Callum adjusts his grip on his pads. “You hold onto that. Not everyone finds someone who looks at them the way she looks at you.”

“Is Callum Sinclair secretly a romantic?” I tease, falling back on humor to hide how much his words affect me. “Who would’ve thought?”

He rolls his eyes, but there’s little to it. “Maybe I am. Maybe one day some gorgeous woman will come dancing into my world and turn it upside down, too.” There’s a wistfulness in his voice I’ve never heard before.

“Please,” I scoff, nudging his shoulder. “You already have half the female population of Sugar City chasing after you. Isn’t there literally a fan account dedicated to ‘Callum Sinclair’s Magnificent Glove Hand’ or something?”

A flush creeps up Callum’s neck. “It’s called ‘Catching Callum,’” he mutters, looking like he wishes the floor would swallow him whole. “And it’s embarrassing as hell.”

“Right, embarrassing.” I laugh. “That’s exactly how I’d feel if some superfan—who could be gorgeous, by the way—spent hours creating content about how amazing I am. That account has more followers than the rest of us combined.”

Callum grumbles something unintelligible, clearly uncomfortable with being the one on display.

I throw an arm around his shoulders as we walk. “Relax. You know the entire organization loves you. It’s the quiet brooding. Chicks dig a brooder.”

“Whatever.” He ducks out from under my arm but can’t hide a small smile. “You want to grab food before we rest up? I’m starving after Coach’s marathon meeting.”

“Hell yes.” I fall into step beside him. “I need to carb-load before tonight. I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be a big game.”

As we walk, I can’t help smiling again. Everything in my life feels like it’s clicking into place. I’ve got a dream job, playing the sport I love with teammates who’ve become family. And now I’ve got Victoria—my gorgeous, talented, incredible Victoria—who’s slowly letting me past those walls she’s built around her heart.

This morning, tangled in her sheets, she’d said she loved what we have together. It wasn’t quite an ‘I love you,’ but it was close enough to send my heart soaring. I’m pretty damn sure she loves me, even if she’s not ready to say the words yet. And that’s OK. I can wait. I’ve never been more certain of anything than I am about us.

Life is good. Actually, scratch that. Life is fucking amazing. And part of me still can’t believe how fast everything shifted. Like I blinked and suddenly had something real. Something that matters.

And it’s only going to get better from here.