Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 139259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 696(@200wpm)___ 557(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Focus.
You’ve trained for this. Don’t screw it up.
I take a deep breath, steadying myself against any doubt that can creep in.
It’s complete chaos. But it’s also what I live for.
This is the moment. Make it count.
The puck drops into play, and everyone explodes into motion. I tear down the ice after Aiden. He’s ahead of me, skating like his life depends on it, and in all fairness, it does because the Vegas Aces defenders are also hot on his tail.
“Here,” I shout as I cut toward the net.
Aiden glances back, and with a flick of his wrist, sends the puck flying toward me. I receive the pass, and then I’m off, weaving past the Aces defender and firing it back to Aiden.
There’s no time to think and no place for error. We have practiced our whole lives for this moment.
Aiden doesn’t hesitate. He pulls back and takes the shot. The goalie reaches out, but he’s not fast enough.
The light flashes red.
The horn blares.
Holy fucking shit. Did we just—
And for a second, everything goes silent in my head.
Then everything comes rushing back as the crowd erupts.
We did it.
Again.
Holy fuck. We did.
Back-to-back. Holy shit. This is real.
I skate over to Aiden and grab him. “Hell, yeah!”
Everyone rushes together to celebrate. All my teammates.
I’m soon surrounded by a rush of hugs and shouts.
It’s a beautiful thing.
I see Mason and throw my arms around him, and then I find Dane, who actually smiles this year.
Dane’s happiness hits me harder than I expect. He’s a different person these days. Seeing him like this makes this victory even sweeter.
From there, everything is a blur.
Once in the locker room, it’s complete chaos.
“Back-to-back. Feels like I’m never gonna stop smiling,” Mason says, grinning ear to ear. I can’t help but laugh because I feel the same way. The only thing that will make this better is seeing Molly.
Soon.
Not soon enough.
Because as much as I’m desperate to be with her, I still have team business.
The press.
Here we go. Plaster on a smile.
The faster you get this done with, the sooner you get to Molly.
Like vultures waiting for their kill, they swarm to us, all hungry for our story.
Cameras flash. Then microphones are shoved in our faces.
“Wilde! Over here,” one of them shouts.
I sigh. It’s the nature of the beast, sure, and Coach will expect me to play nice, but I really want to escape.
Mason, on the other hand, is eating it up. Dane hides. Aiden is indifferent. Me? I’m itching to leave.
“Hudson, how does it feel to win back-to-back Cups so early in your career?”
Give them what they want so I can get the hell out of here.
“Amazing.” I force a smile. “It’s what we worked all season for. Every game. Every practice . . . it all led to this.”
“Can you walk us through that final play, Aiden?”
I step back, letting Aiden step forward. “It was a great team effort. One that we’ll celebrate tonight, and then we get back to work.”
And that’s Aiden Slate—totally avoiding a question yet appeasing the audience all at the same time. Fucking legend.
The rest of the questions are muffled by the sound of our celebration. I answer them like I’m on autopilot.
When the reporters finally leave, Mason strides up to me, a silly as fuck grin on his face.
“You ready to hit the bar after this?” he asks.
“Absol—” I’m about to respond when Mason sprays me with champagne.
Ass.
I wipe the liquid off my face, then head to the showers. I’m ready to leave and get this party started. Coach wanted us to talk to the press, and we did. I answered all their questions—but now I’m ready to find her.
Molly.
Since we hooked up again, I’ve wanted to claim her, but seeing as Molly wants to keep this a secret, I have no choice. So, while I want to celebrate, it sucks that I can’t be with her in public.
An hour later, the whole team heads out to hit up a club.
The energy is insane. Music pounds through my body as I head to the VIP area.
Once there, Mason and I go shot for shot. I might be having a great time, but my eyes keep searching her out.
The alcohol burns, but it doesn’t dull the edge. If anything, it sharpens my focus to find Molly.
Then I see her.
The sight of her stops me cold.
She’s near the back of the room, talking to Cassidy and Josie. She’s dressed for sin—a tiny black dress—one I want to rip off her. She’s gorgeous. A siren. I’d gladly sail to my death for a chance with her.
People come and go, but for me, she’s the only person in the room.
She doesn’t see me at first, but that’s fine. It gives me a moment to stare unnoticed.
I watch her laugh, and I’m jealous.
Jealous that I can’t be the one making her laugh in public, that I can’t just walk up to her and claim her the way I want to.