Page 34 of Rush

“Are you heading home tomorrow?” I ask Riley. She shakes her head no.

“With Reign’s schedule, we’re better off just staying here. I’m going to make us a small turkey and some fixings. We’ll make it our own tradition this year.”

“How about you, Isla?” I turn to my other friend, who's tucking her long, white blonde hair into a ponytail.

“Ah, so my brothers are in town. I’m meeting up with them and then we may fly out to see my aunt and uncle the day after.”

My brow rises. “Fly out where?”

She looks sheepish and her gaze drops to the floor. “I can’t really say. Just think of it as being part of the reason why I can do some of the things I can do.”

“So secret spy-shit,” Emma jokes and knocks her hip into Isla’s.

Isla blushes harder and shakes her head. “I promise, we’re not spies.” The seriousness in her tone makes us all double over with laughter.

“Well, my family is all coming here. And then we’re spending a day with Hawke’s brother and mom. Then he has to leave early because they have a major game,” Emma tells us, her eyes shining with excitement and love.

My own heart squeezes in my chest. I’m happy for all my friends who are in love. They get to spend the holiday with their guys. For some reason that realization feels like a pit growing in my stomach.

“Are you still going to your aunt’s house?” Riley asks, watching me hesitantly.

I frown. “Yeah. My aunt hosts every year. Jameson helped me pack earlier so I can leave with Dylan right after the game.”

They’re all quiet until Emma asks, “What is Jameson doing for Thanksgiving?”

“He said he’s working at the shop. They’ve been super busy. He’ll go home over the weekend to see his dad or his dad may come up here and he’ll bring Dylan to see them then,” I tell her shrugging, making that pit in my stomach grow a little larger.

Riley looks like she wants to say something, but our coach enters the room. It's game time. She gives us our reminders, tells us the other team’s starting lineup, and offers a few words of encouragement before we’re heading out to the ice. The arena is only half filled this afternoon as most have headed home for the holiday. This makes it easier to spot Jameson and Dylan in the crowd. I smile when I see that Dylan has been changed into her jersey. I’m starting to think she may be our good luck charm for wearing it. I skate past the boards and wave to her. She’s practically dancing in Jameson’s lap when she sees me.

“My little bestie is the cutest,” Emma says next to me as we skate to our places for the face-off.

“I’m just happy she seems to love hockey like she does,” I tell her shaking my head. Hundreds of voices fill the air, but I swear I can hear Dylan’s peals of laughter over all of them. I smile behind my face guard and get down into my stance, waiting for the puck drop.

Riley and the other center swat at the puck, but my bestie is a magician. She knocks the puck back to me, and I skate it over the blue line into the other team’s zone before passing it to an open forward who shoots and scores. Within the first two minutes of the game, the score is already 1-0.

“This may be our easiest game of the season,” Riley says as she skates by me.

“Didn’t even break a sweat?” I ask her with a smirk. She pretends to wipe her forehead.

By the end of the first period, we’re winning 4-0. The rest of the game is the same. Before the beginning of the third, we’re up 6-0, and Coach makes the announcement that our third line will be playing the majority of the period. Our shifts are up to three minutes each. I barely see the ice anymore and spend most of my time hyping the team instead. The other team scores one goal with two minutes left. As much as I wish our goalie had a shut out, we still win 7-1.

After the game, I shower quick and make it out to the main area where I’m immediately pounced upon by Dylan.

“Mommy won!” she screams in her little voice, catching the eyes of many around us. Her cuteness is contagious though, and she has everyone smiling and laughing with her antics.

Emma comes out soon after and makes sure to get her Dylan love in before she leaves. Riley and Isla also stop by to squeeze my girl before they leave. After my friends have left, Jameson takes my bag and hoists it over his shoulder. With his free hand, he takes mine in his and we walk out of the arena together. He sets my stuff in my trunk and holds Dylan extra-long during their goodbye. Tears sting my eyes and I almost feel sick. I watch as he lovingly tucks her in her seat and buckles her in. Her little hand stays on his cheek, her fingers rubbing his scruff. Ever since she was little, she would giggle at that feeling on the palm of her hand. He hands her her favorite blanket next and she looks ready to conk out.

Jameson closes her door and turns to me. “At least she should sleep on the drive.”

I nod, my hands settling on his hips. “Yup. It will be a quiet drive for me hopefully.”

He nods and glances away from me. His throat bobs and I want to ask him what's wrong, but he pulls me into his body before I can. My arms wrap around his back, and he holds me tighter. I feel his lips against the side of my head.

“Drive safe. Can you text me when you get there?”

“Of course,” I tell him and kiss along the side of his neck, right under where the tattoo of my lips sits. I feel him shudder and then he’s leaning back and kissing me hard.

I’m breathless when he pulls away. “Happy Thanksgiving, Sam. Tell your family I said hi.”