Page 39 of The Chase

Dicks.

“TJ, the man who claims he doesn’t want to be ‘tied down,’ has a girlfriend?” Benny mocked.

I shot him a glare. “Can it, Benny!”

Max said she was going to come to the game with my sister and meet us for drinks later, but I hadn’t checked my phone since I got to the arena. I didn’t pay attention once I hit the ice. Some guys would wave to their partners or kids during warm-ups, but I got too into the zone. As soon as my skates hit the ice, I tunnel visioned getting the puck to the back of the net.

I ignored my nosy teammates and checked my phone.

BABY GIRL: Nice goal, hockey boy!

ME: Hockey boy?

BABY GIRL: Yeah, that’s my annoying nickname for you since you have one for me.

ME: HA! Will I get to see you tonight?

BABY GIRL: Yes, and hurry because my wine is getting warm waiting for you.

I grinned and put my phone back in my pocket. Noah smirked at me again, but I ignored him as we walked out of the arena together and toward his SUV. We liked to carpool to the game together. Sometimes with Benny too. I think Benny was going to Rox’s place tonight, though, because he drove himself.

When I entered the bar, I forgot about my buddy because I saw the cute blonde sipping on a glass of wine and letting my loud-mouth sister talk her ear off. Rox’s eyes lit up but not to see me. Nope. She threw herself into Benny’s arms, who laughed and kissed her hard on the mouth.

I made a face, but my eyes connected with Max’s from across the bar. She was wearing a Claude LaVoie jersey and jeans that hugged her ass. God, I had missed her face. I don’t remember if I felt that way with Taylor. Or any of the other hookups I had before Max. Seeing her waiting for me hit me square in the chest.

I crossed the bar to her and gave her a hug. “Hey, baby girl.”

“Hockey boy,” she teased.

I ordered a beer and sipped on it with a smile. “I think the nickname’s growing on me.”

She frowned. “That wasn’t the point. It’s supposed to annoy you.”

I pushed her hair behind her ear. “Nothing you call me could ever annoy me.”

Her face colored, and I wanted to say it was because of the wine in front of her, but I knew it wasn’t. She gave me a sly smile. “Okay…hockey douche.”

I tipped back my head and laughed. “Oh, the girl’s got jokes!”

She put a finger on my lips. “Hush, the entire bar’s watching us.”

“I don’t give a fuck!”

She shook her head at me as if it embarrassed her to be seen with me, but the smile behind her ocean-blue eyes told me otherwise.

I missed her while I was on the road. And this woman wasn’t even my girlfriend. I didn’t know what she was yet, but I definitely didn’t want her to be another random hookup. Being alone didn’t appeal to me anymore, and the mindless unemotional sex was making me feel empty inside. I saw all my teammates with their significant others; I saw how my sister was with Benny. It was time for me to stop being scared and let myself find love. For real this time.

“That was a sweet goal, hockey boy,” she said and took a big gulp of her wine.

I settled myself onto the barstool next to her and took a pull off my beer. “Yeah, it was pretty nice.” I pointed at the name on the back of her jersey. “Um…how come you’re not wearing my jersey?”

Her eyes twinkled with mirth. “Hmm…I don’t think you’ve earned it yet.”

I laughed. “And Coach has?”

She grinned. “Oh, love of my hockey life!”

“I’ll be sure to tell his wife that,” I quipped.