Page 107 of The Obvious Check
Of course, Rome U intercepts and suddenly the puck is racing toward Dash, who crouches low as he slaps his stick against the ice.
The play unfolds fast. Too fast for me to follow completely. I’m not like Madison. I haven’t grown up on the benches beside the rink. All I know is my heart is pounding as I try to keep up.
Cade breaks into open ice, his eyes locked on the puck as his teammate Hendricks manages to steal it and skates fast back to the other net.
Cade’s right there, waiting for the pass, and when he gets it, the entire arena falls silent.
He winds up, his weight shifting to his back leg and then—snap.
The puck rockets off his stick like a frozen bullet slicing through the air. Rome U’s goalie lunges desperately, his glove snapping up in a futile attempt to stop the inevitable.
Too slow.
The shot sails past him and slams into the back of the net with a thunderousthunkthat I feel in my bones.
The horn blares. The red light blazes.
The entire arena erupts.
I barely register the explosion of cheers as Madison jumps to her feet beside me, shaking my arm as she screams, “Did you see that?! Holy shit, that was insane!”
I can’t move, can’t speak, can’t breathe. I didn’t play a second of this game, yet I’m so invested.
Cade is swarmed by his teammates, their gloves hammering against his helmet in celebration, but just as the celebrations start to settle, he breaks away from the pack.
He finds me instantly and as our eyes connect, he smirks. Smug and lazy, there’s something else hidden in his expression.
His chest heaves with controlled breaths as he lifts his stick and taps it once, deliberately, right over his heart.
Then he points
At me.
I breathe out a smile, not knowing how to feel about the fact he just called me out to everyone in this damn arena. I’m his, and that goal was for me.
My stomach flips, heat curling up my spine despite the ice-cold air around me. My fingers clench tighter around the hem of Cade’s jacket as my heart pounds against my ribs. It’s not just the way he looks at me, but the way itfeels.
Beside me, Madison whistles. “Damn. I see it now.”
“See what?”
“Why he’s so desperate to marry you. My brother’s got it bad. I’ve never seen him like this.”
I don’t answer. I can’t. My throat is tight and my pulse erratic, because I feel the same way. I love Cade Bright, and even though we’ve only known each other for a short time, I don’t think I will ever make a better decision than marrying him.
Chapter 25
“They might as well reserve our spot in the Frozen Four now, boys!” Erik shouts, his voice rising above the roar of the locker room. The guys pound the lockers in celebration, and as team captain, I probably should tell them to rein it in as we’ve still got plenty of games, but right now? I’m too damn happy to care.
“And let’s not forget, our fearless captain pulled off the impossible and actually got a girl to agree to marry him!” Erik throws an arm around my neck and yanks me in, knuckling my hair in a wicked grin.
There’s another round of cheers, and I’m fucking thankful I have these guys in my life, helping me through the tough times and celebrating the wins. Even when they’re personal.
“Congrats, Bright,” Scotty says as Erik releases me. He holds out his hand and I take it, pulling him in for a side hug. “Gotta admit, I never expected you to be the first one of us to get hitched.”
I grin at the thought.
“I know, right,” Erik butts in, the same way he always does when he wants to get Scotty’s attention. “I thought for sure Dashwould’ve knocked Madison up by now and they’d be planning their shotgun wedding.”
