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“The two of you belong to me. Don’t ever forget that.”
Em pressed her legs together, and I hid a smile. She could fawn all over that guy, but it was me she’d be going home with.
Mac coughed and held the drink to his lips. “Noted.”
“Should you be drinking tonight?” Em asked quietly.
“Mine’s sparkling cider.” He winked and took a sip. “Wait, wrong glass.” Wincing, he swapped his with the one I was holding and took a sip. “Much better.” He sat back in his chair and ran his hand through his hair. He hadn’t had time to style it properly before we left, but the messy tumble of curls looked intentional and good. So damn good.
“You better have enough energy after the game tomorrow,” Em murmured. “I need both of you.” Her eyes flicked to Preston Ledger, and she sighed. “Desperately.”
Mac snorted, and I gave her a dirty look. “We’re not bringing in a fourth—or fifth—” I glared at Mac.
He leaned back, raising his hands. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Good. The two of you are taken and you should be well fucked at the moment. Cool your jets.”
Em took a sip and licked her lips. “This morning wasn’t enough. If we could do that twenty-four-seven, it still wouldn’t be enough.”
“If I could do anything about it, I would.” Mac’s face fell, and I rubbed his back, my heart going out to him.
If Em was still as desperate when we got home, I would happily oblige her, but Mac could only watch.
Tonight, he needed all the sleep he could get, and he couldn’t afford to waste any energy on a pre-game romp. The entire team had been warned about the risk of dead legs after sex. They were encouraged to get it all out of their system and leave tonight for sleep and tomorrow for hockey.
That was a conversation I wasn’t thankful to be a part of as Lightning asked every minute question he could think of, drilling down to precisely what he should and shouldn’t do.
“I’m just so—” She groaned. “Are you okay watching tonight?”
Mac grinned and downed the rest of his cider before he answered. “More than okay. And tomorrow night’s your birthday eve—”
“It’s your birthday?” Julie asked, and Em’s cheeks reddened.
“Her birthday is in two days,” Mac said, beaming at her.
I grabbed Em’s hand and brushed my mouth directly over her ear. “She didn’t hear what you said.”
“Good,” Em whispered back.
Coach Locke lifted his glass. “Here’s to a win for your birthday.”
“I’ll have to give her a win,” Mac said. “She won’t tell us what she wants for her birthday—”
“I did too! I want a quiet week at home before we go to the retreat.”
“Ask for diamonds,” Julie said.
“Haven’t you seen the rock on her finger?” Coach Locke’s eyes widened, and he reached for Em’s hand, but Julie stopped him.
“It’s time for you to head over there, dear.” She checked her phone. “They’re going to start soon.”
He excused himself and made his way to the stage. The coach from the Instigators followed him, and the room turned its attention to a woman thanking us all for being there.
It was insane to bring two hockey teams together. Especially two teams that were both in the middle of their own playoffs. Not even the middle.
The very fucking end.
I had been livid the organization had chosen tonight for the event, but now that I was here, I could see why. Both teams were from Vancouver—one a professional hockey team, the Instigators a semi-pro team. And both were at the top of their game. The entire state’s attention was on the outcome of their last games, and it was the ideal time to funnel that attention toward something worthwhile.
