Her ultimate dream is to become an athletic trainer for the team. Other than playing when she was a kid, it’s the only thing she’s ever wanted to do.
Over the years, I’ve teased her relentlessly about how badly she wants to get her hands on their muscles. She laughs it off, but I’ve always wondered what it would be like. To get up close and personal with a pro hockey player. Sure, I may have dabbled while at college with a few members of the team, but after what I experienced last weekend, I now know just what a different league they’re in. What a pro athlete can do in bed compared to a college player… well…
My blood heats, and I can’t stop the blush from rising on my cheeks.
“Oh my god,” Parker gasps. “You’re thinking about him.”
“Parker,” I hiss.
“Sorry, sorry,” she says, looking around with a guilty expression on her face.
Suddenly, the door opens and a buzz of excitement rolls through the room as everyone turns to see if it’s their loved one about to walk through the door.
I try not to look as excited, but I’m pretty sure I fail if Parker’s giggle tells me anything.
It’s all for nothing because our captain, Fletcher Fergurson, and Lincoln Storm come bouncing into the room.
Fletch marches straight toward his wife, Reese, and wraps her in his arms.
Linc, on the other hand, lifts his arms in the air and shouts, “Who’s gonna win the Stanley Cup this year?”
I laugh as a chorus of “LA Vipers” ripples around the room.
“If anyone was going to break the rules, I’d have put money on it being him,” Parker whispers as Linc makes his way through the room, greeting his teammates, friends, and family.
“I’m not interested in Linc,” I say, seconds before he approaches us.
“Pretty sure that makes me and you the only ones in the country who would turn him down.”
“Ladies,” the man in question says as he wraps an arm around both of our shoulders. “How did you enjoy watching me play tonight?”
“Oh, were you on the ice?” Parker quips. “I thought you’d been benched.”
“Funny, Donnelly. Really fucking funny. In case you missed it, I was the one who set up Big D for his epic winning goal.”
“Oh, yeah. We saw him do that. Kodie Rivers is the best winger in the league.”
Linc lifts his hand to his chest. “You wound me, Donnelly.”
“I’m under no illusion that your ego can handle it.”
Linc chuckles before someone else catches his attention, and he leaves us alone.
The rest of the team joins us, and not long after, Dad also appears.
He makes a beeline for me.
“Great game tonight,” I say, my wide smile matching his.
During practice and games, he’s so serious and stoic, completely focused on the job at hand. But after a win, he turns into the fun-loving man I remember from childhood.
“It was. The guys did a fantastic job.”
“And as humble as ever,” Parker teases.
The next hour passes with excited chatter about tonight’s game, along with discussions about our first road game.
The team is heading to Vancouver for Wednesday’s game. I hate being left behind and having to watch them on TV. But seeing as I have a job here, I can’t just hop on a flight and follow them.
