Page 177 of Cheap Shot

Sebastian’s breath caught. Hehadn’tknown.

He’d guessed, maybe. He’d known that Luke was serious about him. Every moment of the ceremony tonight had proven that.

Luke was too private for all this to not to be deliberate. Intentional.

This was a huge gesture for him.

And while Sebastian hadn’tneededthe public declaration of his place in Luke’s life, it had meant a great deal to him. But this … the quiet words meant only for his ears, well, they were every bit as meaningful.

Maybe more so.

Because Luke wasn’t a talker either. He wasn’t great at discussing his feelings.

But he was trying so damn hard to show Sebastian how much he mattered. It made Sebastian’s eyes prickle, and he had to blink a few times.

“I’m gonna need you to say something here, Flower Boy,” Luke said, his brow furrowing. “Even if you don’t feel that way right now, I need to know that you think you could get there or?—”

“I’m here,” Sebastian said, reaching up to grab a fistful of Luke’s jersey to pull him closer. “I’m already here. I love you too.”

The sheer relief that washed over Luke’s face made Sebastian’s heart trip madly and he pulled Luke in long enough to brush their lips together.

But there was no time for anything more. Luke had a game to play, and Sebastian needed to get to his seat.

With one last brief kiss, Sebastian tore himself away, changed into a vintage New York Rockets jersey, then hurried to his usual seat near the penalty box. The organization had offered him a spot next to Brie and Harper, but it felt right to sit where he always had.

To do what he always had.

When he arrived, people around him shook their heads and laughed, teasing him about how they’d had no idea he was dating Crawford.

“Damn, I thought you really hated him,” one guy said, sounding almost disappointed.

“Oh, I did at first,” Sebastian said with a laugh. “But he grows on you.”

The woman in front of him who wore a Rockets jersey made a scoffing noise, but it was true.

Tonight was the final game of the regular season. The Harriers were in the top spot in the Atlantic division and New York was desperately hoping to snag the final wild card spot in the Metro division.

If Washington lost their game against New Jersey today and/or if New York beat the Harriers, the Rockets would be guaranteed that shot at the playoffs.

What Sebastian really hoped was that New York would indeed make it to the postseason so the Harriers and Rockets would go up against each other in the second round. Sebastian couldn’t think of a more exciting scenario, and from the moment the puck dropped, it was clear that New York was fired up and desperate to win tonight.

Boston had nothing on the line except their pride, but that had been wounded by New York beating them every time they’d met up this season so far and there was plenty of desperation on their end too.

Both teams were going hard in the first few minutes of the game and Sebastian rested his forearms on his knees, leaning forwardintently to watch as Leif Rasmussen streaked up the ice toward Boston’s net, the puck pinging off the crossbar.

It was immediately scooped up by Boston and taken down to the other end and both teams raced up and down the ice before a turnover from New York allowed Mickey to capture the puck behind New York’s goal and fire it to Erik Wyatt.

The rookie immediately shot it toward the goal where it tumbled into the back of the net before Roman Poole could stop it.

Sebastian cursed as the goal horn sounded.

Damn it, getting the first goal would only fire up the Harriers more.

New York immediately applied pressure, driving the play toward Boston’s end. Nicky was along the far boards, and he fired from a distance, Jesse batting the puck away.

Poole blocked a shot from Graham, the play sweeping around behind New York’s goal before it got turned over to Boston.

There was a battle along the boards, Luke pinning one of New York’s defenseman against them while Tanner whacked at the puck, trying to get it free.