Page 53 of Unrivaled Love (D.C. Renegades #2)

Bryson

Demise of a Slap Jack King

Your mom caught me staring at her bedroom last night.

So my mom knows we hooked up in her bed.

Great.

It was ;)

Ha it was. We are.

Send pics when you can.

I will.

You need to focus on your game and get your ass to Denver.

I can’t wait. This is going to be the best NYE of your life.

Are you ready for the gameplan?

I was born ready.

Ok, huddle up.

First, when you check into the hotel there will be a bottle of champagne waiting for you in the room. You can enjoy it as you get ready or save it.

I’ve got a hair stylist and makeup artist booked if you want to use them or you can play with all the makeup I know you packed because I could see my bathroom counter again after you left.

(I missed seeing your little potions and pallets all over though)

After hair and makeup you’ll get dressed in the outfit I sent to the room and a car will come to pick you up.

Your family pass and ticket will be in the box with the outfit.

After the game we’re headed out to dinner to ring in the new year together.

Okay, bossy.

I want everything to be perfect.

You’re not going to do something rash though right?

Like what? Propose?

Yes. Exactly that.

Nope, not a part of the gameplan for this one.

Phew.

But someday right?

Absolutely.

I can’t wait to see you.

Ditto babe.

Love you.

Too.

***

“What are you reading?” Emmett asks as he slides into the seat next to me.

We’ve landed in Denver and are waiting on the bus until everything gets loaded up.

Jo has been in Telluride with our families since Christmas and I can’t wait to see her.

I have NYE planned to the final detail including this sexy as hell corset top I found online and bought for her.

“ Once Upon a Tide .” I tell Emmett. When E.T.

raises an eyebrow in response, I continue.

“A lady pirate captain and a sheltered but sharp-witted prince accidentally activate this ancient medallion and it sends them both back in time. They’re trapped 100 years in the past and have to figure out how to get back. ”

“Interesting.” E.T. comments with a little head nod. He turns and puts his headphones over his ears so I get back to my story.

Only a few pages, and a near-miss kiss between the characters later Duncan taps my shoulder.

“Boder, psst.”

“Yeah Dunc?”

“Wanna play cards in my room when we get to the hotel?”

“Sure.” I give him a thumbs up over my shoulder.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I open it up to see pictures from Jo loading into our shared album. I sink further into my seat and thumb through the photos.

Jo looking cozy as fuck in a sweater and fuzzy socks by the fireplace.

Jo making cookies with her niece.

My parents slow dancing by the tree.

The kids playing with their gifts.

My family and hers grinning at the camera; looking rosy cheeked and wind burnt after a day of skiing.

My bones ache with a longing to be there with them.

This is the most unbearable pain of this sport.

Yes our bodies are bruised and sore for two thirds of the year.

Yes, we push ourselves to our physical limit for 60 minutes every game.

But what hurts the most, I’m realizing, is seeing non-hockey life continue without you.

I hold a breath in my chest as I scroll through the images again.

Jo is radiating happiness. Her smile is wide. Her posture looks relaxed. Selfishly, it hurts not to share it with her, with all of them, but, unselfishly, I am so glad she got this time with the family.

***

“Do I have to?” Crosby whines.

“Yes!” A few guys cheer.

“Absolutely.” Duncan says, punctuating the word by slamming his fist into his palm.

“C’mon Crocs.” I loop an arm over his shoulder. “You lost, fair and square.”

“Betting over Slap Jack shouldn’t count.”

“You were the one who raised the bet when you thought you had me!” Duncan taunts. “And then I staged the most epic comeback in the history of the game.”

“And now you have to wear the tighty whities.” I tell him as I hold out the double XL pair we made Luke go pick up at the superstore.

A few of the guys in the locker room snicker.

The bet was whoever lost the game would have to wear the offending underwear somewhere on their person during warmups tonight.

It must be visible to the naked eye and when asked about it they must say the other person is the undisputed King of Slap Jack.

Crosby grumbles about it but he’s a good sport as he goes for the kill and steps into the undies and slides them up over his pants.

I have to admit, this is a new one for me.

In all my years of hockey I haven’t seen a grown man in full gear with bright white briefs over the top. He looks ridiculous.

The only saving grace is we’re in our away whites tonight so at first glance it kind of looks like his jersey is too long.

And looped between his legs.

Crosby walks past us down the hall to get to the ice and the snickers from the boys make this more than worth it. We let him head out for warmups first and give him a few laps before the rest of the team joins him on the ice. I can only imagine what type of retaliation he’s plotting.

But the team vibes are high. The group feels good. And win, or lose, this is a core memory for everyone who witnesses it.

***

“You gotta get to the front of the net when we’re cycling.” Coach Bradford tells me over my shoulder. I nod and slide over as E.T. crashes over the boards.

“Fuck they’re locked in tonight.” He says breathless. “I keep trying to get the near side defense to collapse but they’re keeping their zone coverage strong.”

“I know.” I nod as I use a towel to wipe my visor and face before handing it back over my shoulder to Luke. “Coach said I need to crash the net.”

“You’re thinking of a dirty goal?” E.T. asks and we slide over again to let Felix onto the bench.

“Boys, we gotta crack them.” He says as he looks up at the scoreboard. Eight minutes left in the third. A lifetime in a hockey game. We’re tied one each and with the stalemate we’ve been in against Denver tonight I think the next goal wins it.

Crosby and Duncan switch and slide in. The five of us will be out together for the next shift. I fucking love when our top D line and top O line hit the ice as one. It’s like a goddamn ballet or flash mob or perfectly executed social media dance.

Poetry in motion.

“Go!” Coach Bradford yells out and my eyes snap to the ice. Johnny is coming in for a switch and that means I’m up .

I stand, hop over the boards and glide out to join the team. Seconds later Felix and Emmett join me and we get into position to bring the puck into the zone.

I hold it behind Aiden who turns over his shoulder as I start to sneak to the left.

“Let Felix and E.T. keep ‘em busy on the right, and look for the centering pass. They’re leaving the front of the net open.” He says and I nod.

Felix swings back into our zone as I come out from behind the net slowly, giving Bryson and Crosby a chance to get into position too.

“Stay right, then find me.” I yell to Felix and he nods as he taps his helmet securely into place.

I build speed and bring the puck into the zone on the left but immediately shoot it around the boards to the low right side.

Emmett grabs it and flicks a pass to Felix who is at the right dot.

Duncan is behind him at the line and he gets the next pass.

The three of them move the puck between them as Crosby guards the left side of the blue line and I sneak my pretty little ass closer to the middle.

Aiden’s vision is fucking working because in an instant I see it. Their defender slides out to try and grab the pass between Emmett and Felix. I take his place.

Felix passes it to me in the middle and I swing a slap shot straight at the net. The goalie can’t get back into position fast enough and it sails over his shoulder and into the net.

“Fuck yeah!” I yell as Felix and Crosby pile in for a hug.

“Whoohoo! Damn that was sexy.” Duncan taps my helmet.

“We owe Aiden an assist point! It was his vision.” I laugh as we start skating to the bench for fist bumps before lining up at center.

“Unofficial apple to Young Gun!” Felix yells out as he skates into position for the face off.

Aiden lifts his stick to us in acknowledgement .

I skate past Emmett on my way to the far side and tap his shin pads. “You get the secondary there?” I ask.

“Yep.” He nods. I nod back. Emmett is in game mode, best to leave him be.

“Ready gentlemen?” The ref asks as we line up. The boys nod, the whistle blows, and the puck drops again.

***

My go-ahead goal with seven minutes and eighteen seconds left in the period was good enough. We held off Denver’s offense to bag the win.

The only better feeling in the world is knowing Jo was here to see it.

And now I get to take her out for dinner.

A lot of the wives and girlfriends flew out to Denver to celebrate New Years with their guys. Tomorrow we have a morning skate here and in the afternoon we fly to Chicago. Game in Chicago the next day then home to D.C..

“What do you have planned tonight?” Duncan asks as I style my curls in the tiny mirror I pack in my bag.

“Dinner, champagne, lots of hotel sex.” I tell him. Where’s the lie?

“JoJo doesn’t know how lucky she is.” He jokes.

“I think she does. But I like to remind her.”

He laughs and I scoop up my bag, shake a few hands of fellas still in the room and head out to meet my girlfriend.

She’s been to a few games since staying with me in D.C. but she hasn’t worn my jersey. The cheeky girl sent a picture of her holding it across her naked chest as she pushed her tits up with her arm and I almost couldn’t start the second period because of the semi that sprung up in my jockstrap .

But the little top I sent her to wear under it is essentially lingerie and I start to drool a little thinking about her in it.

I’m pinching the corners of my mouth when I turn the corner and see her.

Goddamn she is breathtaking.