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Chapter Twenty-Five

STEVIE

I ’m nervous. I wish I weren’t, but I am. Nerves and excitement have been competing in my belly all day. I’ve never been to a hockey game before. Now, my first ever is one where I’m dating one of the players? Are we dating? We haven’t put a name on what we’re doing, but it feels like we’re dating. Actually, a lot more than just dating with the way I’m feeling about him.

I want to be with him all the time. I love getting to be with him, and I’ve never felt more at peace than I do when I’m with him. Like Bode calms me in a way I never knew I needed.

Parking my car, I take a deep breath and try to push down all these emotions. Grabbing my bag, I step out and shove the key in the lock—not that anyone would try to steal this old thing in a parking lot full of much nicer cars—then head inside, following the groups of people. Bode told me exactly where to go.

The doors automatically open to an elaborate lobby. It’s business-like, but everyone is decked out in Knights gear.

An older woman is sitting at a desk. “Hi there. Bode Adams left a pass for me.”

“Name, please?”

“Stephanie Campbell.”

She taps away on her tablet before looking up at me. Grabbing a pass hanging on a lanyard, she hands it over. “Here you are, ma’am. If you’ll take the elevator at the end of the hall up to floor three, they will show you to the suite.”

“Thank you.”

I smile at her as I follow her directions. I blend into the crowd with the people here. Bode got me a red Knights ball cap to wear. Paired with a black bomber jacket and jeans, I felt cute when I left the house. Now I’m wondering if I should have splurged on a jersey. Because when the elevator doors open, I’m swept into a sea of them. Every player is represented. It’s overwhelming. The sound of the crowd erupts. I have no idea what is going on, but I find a desk in the center of the room.

I planned my arrival as close to the start time as I could. I’m nervous being here on my own.

“Hi. I’m looking for suite…” I look down at my badge. “Seventeen.”

The man with red hair smiles at me. “Yes. If you follow this hallway down, it’s halfway down on the right.”

“Thank you.”

When Bode said he got me a pass to the game, I didn’t think it’d be in a suite. I would have been just fine in the nosebleed seats.

But as I find the suite in question, my nerves are ready to jump out of my throat.

What am I even doing here? Groups of people are lingering with drinks in hand. Chafing dishes hold all sorts of food. The back wall holds a counter with a sink and various drinks. Grabbing a seltzer, I stand in the corner.

It seems like everyone here knows each other. It’s one of those times I’m thrust back to that girl who worries about everyone else liking her. Some days I feel like a confident woman, and others, I’m that girl struggling with a mother who didn’t care.

“Hi.” A woman with stunning looks and blonde hair walks over to me. “Are you Bode’s guest?”

“Is it that obvious that I’m new here?”

“Bode told Marcus he invited someone, so he told me to look out for you.”

I smile at the kind woman. “Yeah, I’m Stevie.”

“Harper.” She holds her hand out and I shake it. “C’mon. The game is about to start. Have you ever been to a game before?”

I follow her out to the seats and drop down next to her. “First time.”

“You’ll love it. The games are fun, especially now that the team is doing so well.”

The game starts and it’s hard to follow the puck up here. It’s fast-paced, moving from one end of the ice to the other.

“Is the game always so fast?”

Harper nods. “It was hard to follow at first, but you get used to it.”

“Yeah?” I ask, sipping from my drink.

She nods. “I’ve been a fan since I was in college. Fell for Marcus the first time I saw him. I love watching him play. It’s hard to describe, but you’ll know it when you feel it.”

I try to find Bode on the ice, but it’s hard from up here. “I can imagine it’s fun watching them. I did try to look up a few things, and I’ve been watching on TV so I wouldn’t be a complete newbie.”

“Well, if you need help, let me know.”

It’s nice to have made a friend. It seems like all I do lately is work and hang out with Bode. Not that I’m complaining, but with Cressy all loved up, it’s nice to meet new people.

When did making friends as an adult become so hard?

“Mom, can we have dessert?” Two girls run up to Harper.

“These are my girls, Sam and Sadie. Jamie, our son, is at home with Grandma tonight. He cannot sit still during games.”

“Hi.” I smile at the twin girls standing near Harper.

“Hi,” they answer in unison.

She glances at her watch. “Did you eat the broccoli and carrots I gave you?”

“All of them.”

“Then yes, you can have a cookie. But just one!” she shouts as they run back up into the room. “I swear, those two have a sweet tooth now that I can’t control.”

I laugh. “Well, at least we don’t have to worry about that with Caleb.”

Harper shifts toward me as the game continues in front of us. “How are things going with him?”

Her voice drops so people can’t overhear us. I know Bode is trying to keep everything quiet about him. He doesn’t want Caleb in the spotlight, which I can appreciate.

“He’s great. I’ve never been around kids much, but he has so much personality.”

“I’m glad things are going well for him. Bode looked so freaked out that day. I didn’t think he was going to last a week.”

Pride swells in my chest at how well he’s doing. Even that stressful first day I arrived, Bode has been nothing but the best father to Caleb. He always puts him first. I love the relationship they have. Seeing the way Caleb lights up at Bode?

It makes me want to be a permanent part of their lives.

“He loves being his dad,” I answer instead. Harper is a mother. She knows all this already.

Action picks up and the crowd starts yelling. Bode is taking off down the ice. He’s all alone with only the goalie of the opposing team to stop him. Making a few quick moves, moves I can’t name, he puts the puck in the net.

“Yes!” I jump up and cheer with the rest of the stands. Excitement courses through me as the goal is replayed on the jumbotron.

Damn. Bode made that look easy. His skill was on full display as he sent the puck flying.

“See what I mean?” Harper nudges my side.

“What?” I lean closer, trying to hear her over the crowd noise as play resumes.

“Watching your guy play. It’s an incredible feeling.”

“Yeah.”

I can’t describe it, but I know exactly what she means.

Harper and I chat during the entire game. I talk with her daughters about their school and activities. By the time the final horn sounds, Nashville has won 2-1.

“Okay, you have to come to another game,” Harper tells me as we head toward the postgame suite. “This was the most fun I’ve had all season.”

“Really?” I grab my hair and pull it all to one side over my shoulder. A nervous tic.

“Yes.” She leans close and whispers, “Some of these women are so bland to talk to and we have nothing in common. It’s like talking to cardboard.”

I try not to laugh as we step out of the elevator. “I’ll see if Bode can make it happen.”

“If not, I’m claiming you as mine. Because I want you here.”

“Thanks, Harper. I had a great time with you too.”

She smiles at me as we walk down the cement tunnel lined with red carpet. Plaques line the wall next to banners from sponsors, along with pictures of what look like old team lineups, if I had to guess. Harper guides me to a room filled with people. Beige walls and a few couches grace the room. TVs hang in each corner, showing highlights from the game and player interviews.

There’s a door opposite us that some players have started coming out of. The girls spot Marcus and run to him.

Bode is right behind him.

“Have a good night.” Harper gives me a hug as she goes to greet her husband.

When Bode spots me, he saunters over to me.

“Hey.”

“Hi.” I tuck my hands into my jeans pockets as he spins my hat backward.

“How was the game? Did you have fun?”

I nod. “It was great. Thanks for having Harper look out for me. It was nice getting to know her.”

“I’m glad.”

I grab his tie, smoothing it across his chest. “You looked good out there.”

Bode moves closer. “Only good?”

“Well. I have nothing else to compare it to, so I’m going to have to come back, I think, to make an educated assessment.”

Bode beams at me. God, I love his smile. That dimple that always pops? I love it. “I think I can arrange that.”

“Want to go out and celebrate your win?” I ask. “That goal was something else.”

Bode drops his hands on my hips and leans close to whisper in my ear. “I was thinking we could go home and watch a movie?”

“Sounds perfect to me.”