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The crisp chill of the ice seeped through my gear, waking me up better than a double shot of espresso. The arena erupted into a chorus of enthusiastic furor at our entrance and the energy hit me like a tidal wave, a deafening roar of cheers and applause that could rival a rock concert. It was the kind of thunderous applause that made your eardrums question their life choices.
Underneath my skates, the ice was as smooth as a freshly waxed dance floor. Each glide was like a sweet serenade from the rink itself, reminding me that I was the lead in this little ice ballet, and I had a standing ovation to earn.
I scanned the seats where Blake was supposed to be, but she was fashionably late, leaving a conspicuous gap in the crowd.
Or maybe she wasn’t going to come.
No, I’d been assured by my contact at Blake’s agency that her roommate would be as persuasive as she needed to be if the tickets came with the condition she had to bring Blake.
Tonight was the place to be, after all. There were celebs everywhere according to the team PR goons. The roommate would not want to miss out.
I shook my head and brought my mind back to warmups. I had a soulmate to impress and a game to win, and I intended to do it with flair.
* * *
The game was about to kick off, and the announcer's voice echoed through the arena, introducing each member of the Cobras. It was yet another strange moment, hearing my name connected to this new team instead of the Knights.
Walker, always the motivator, slapped me on the ass and threw out a, "Slay, baby!" I blinked at him in disbelief.
"Did you just tell me to slay?" I asked, my eyebrow arched.
He grinned. "Seemed like something Lincoln would say, you know? Get the vibe going."
I couldn't help but shake my head, my expression deadpan. "Lincoln is much cooler than that, Walker. He would beshookif he was with us right now."
“Oh,” Walker said glumly, his features falling like I’d spit in his ice cream.
I patted Walker's rear, and I gave him a nice nod of appreciation. "Thanks though, buddy," I said before gliding around the ice.
The game was about to begin, and it was time to show them what this Cobra was made of.
I let the electric energy of the arena wash over me. Dallas fans were better in every way, of course. But in a pinch, an L.A. crowd would do.
This was what I lived for, after all—the adrenaline, the spotlight, the game. I couldn't help but flash a cocky grin as I lifted my stick in acknowledgment of the fans. They loved a showman, and I was more than willing to oblige.
I gave a little bow because I was fancy like that, and the crowd went wild. Hockey for me wasn't just about playing the game; it was about putting on a performance. The crowd was here for entertainment, after all, and I aimed to give them a show they'd never forget.
I may have been showing off for the crowd, but there was really only one thing on my mind at that moment—the fact that Blake was here.
There she was, in my jersey, looking like my wildest wet dream. The fabric clung to her like a glove, accentuating all the right curves. Her gold hair framed her face, and those eyes…fuck. Those eyes were blowing my mind.
Like they always had.
She would have looked better in silver and blue, but the view right then was pretty close to damn perfection. She was outshining every star in this arena.
Blake was also staring at me in total shock, her eyes wide and surprised.
And dare I say…excited?
At least she remembered me. I would’ve been quite disappointed if in three days' time I’d been forgotten. I’d tried to be more memorable than that at our little lunch date.
Not that it had been three days since I’d seen her. You can bet your bottom lip I was catching as many glimpses of her that I could. I’d been past the restaurant twice today just to get my fix.
Now I understood why Lincoln was such a fan of that little app. My BFF was brilliant.
I’d have to remember to tell him that next time too.
As Blake and I stared at each other, the roar of the crowd seemed to dim. It was as if time slowed, and in that suspended moment, it was only the two of us, lost in a sea of people.
