Page 44

"Yep, good." I said.

"What did he say to you?" Briggs asked, knowing full well something had gone on.

I shook my head. "Nothing worth repeating."

Briggs studied me for a moment. He knew. Coaches always knew. They'd played the game long enough to know exactly what someone could say to get under a player's skin, they'd seen it many times.

"Next shift, ignore him. Play hockey." He said.

I did what he said. I played hockey, and I got a breakaway. I came in hard from the left wing, deked right and pulled the puck to my backhand, sending it over the goalie's blocker. The horn sounded and the crowd went wild.

I pointed up at the box, right at Lillah who was already on her feet, screaming, her hands on the glass, smiling at me.

We won the game, four to two and the locker room was crazy with celebration. I showered, dressed, and packed my bag. By the time I made it to the hallway, the arena was emptying. Lillah was waiting for me, leaning against the concrete wall in fitted jeans and a soft pink sweater, her arms crossed over her chest.

"What happened out there tonight?" She asked the moment I reached her. "With number twelve?"

"Nothing."

"Marshall, I saw the look on your face. It wasn't nothing."

I put my hand on the back of her neck and pulled her head against mine. I placed a kiss on her lips and pressed my forehead against hers.

"Your ex likes to talk." I whispered. "He told Flint about you."

I felt her body tense. "What did he say?"

"It doesn't matter. I handled it."

"What did you do?"

"Nothing, you saw that. But I won't lie. I wanted to."

She searched my face. I knew she was looking to see if I was going to keep my promise to her or if I was going to break it. I'd been angry, but I'd promised, and I was standing by that.

"I told you, don't let him affect your career. He isn't worth it."

"Yeah, but you are." I said, my eyes on hers.

"I'm not worth that, Marshall."

"To me, you are."

She leaned in and kissed me as my teammates walked past us. Jeremy was last, and he shoved me in the back as he passed by.

"Get a room, rookie." He said, looking over his shoulder at us and grinning.

Ashford followed, grinning.

Lillah laughed against my mouth as I flipped them off without breaking our kiss. We drove home together, her hand in mine on the center console, her head resting against the headrest.

"Marshall?" She whispered.

"Yeah?"

"I love you." She said without looking at me. "You don't need to say it, I just wanted to let you know and to say it again."

"Well, I love you too," I said, squeezing her hand as we kept driving.