Page 179 of With the Assist

My hands find her waist as she pulls back to look at me.

Her voice drops to barely a whisper. “Can you believe this?” The words come quickly, tumbling out of her. “Like, actually, can you believe I’m here right now?”

I don’t even hesitate.

“Yeah,” I say, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek. “I can.”

She rolls her eyes, but there’s a softness there. “Of course you can.”

“I’ve been telling you that since we met,” I remind her. “You want something, Wes? You go get it. Every time.”

Her expression shifts just slightly, something quieter threading through the excitement.

“We’re both good at that, huh?” She says, nudging me. “Mr. Stanley Cup champion.”

My chuckle is loud enough that a security guard glances our way, and we both instinctively step closer to the wall like that’ll somehow make us less noticeable.

A month ago, the Blades brought home the Stanley Cup. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t still riding that high. When Wesley wins today, too, my ego might just explode.

She’s shifting on her feet now, adrenaline and nerves fighting for control, both looking for somewhere to land.

I take her face in my hands. “You’ve got this.”

Then I kiss her. She melts into me instantly, her arms wrapping around my neck as she pulls me closer. We move together like we always do, lips parting as we tease each other, the kiss playful and charged, mirroring the same excitement buzzing through both of us as we stand on the edge of everything she’s dreamt of.

The kiss is too short, but considering she’s already given me more time than she should, I force myself to pull back.

“Did our families find their seats okay?” She asks, adjusting the captain’s band on her arm.

“Yeah. Emma and Delaney are what they’re calling ‘boy-hunting.’” I throw up air quotes and laugh.

“What does that even mean?”

“You’re the woman. You tell me.” I give her a pointed look.

“When I was twenty-two, I’d already sworn off men.”

I smirk. “Must’ve taken a really hot, amazing guy to get you back in the game.”

Instead of teasing me back, she leans in sincerely, placing one last quick kiss on my lips. “The hottest. Also, the best man I’ve ever met. I love you.”

“I love you, Wes.”

The crowd surges louder, signaling the start of something big and the end of our pre-game ritual.

Wesley turns toward the door, and I swat her ass as she goes, because some things never change. She still has the best ass I’ve ever seen.

I race back out to the stands, not wanting to miss a single second. Once I find our families, I slide into my seat.

It didn’t take long after Wesley and I got together for my parents to come around. They still don’t agree with all my choices, but they’ve learned to accept them. Wesley helped, but I think it had more to do with them finally seeing me happy in a way I never had been before.

I always thought hockey was enough. And for a while, it was. But having Wesley? That’s what made everything brighter. Better.

They still wish we’d settle down and have kids. And we will, eventually. But neither of us is ready to walk away from our sports yet, so for now, it’s just something we have tucked away for the future.

“How’d she seem?” Wesley’s dad leans over, raising his voice over the noise.

Even with my parents around more, I’m closest to him. Once he moved to Boston, I found myself sitting beside him more often than not, watching games, grabbing beers, and filling the quiet when Wesley was away.