Page 42 of Hot Shot
I wave off her suggestion. No way do I want to give up spending time with Madison to hang out with the guys who I see every day for hours on end.
“I’m good. They’re entertaining, that’s for sure.” I watch Wes and Holt skate through the markers Brody has set on the ice, passing pucks back just out of each other’s reach so the person receiving the pass has to reach his stick out to make contact with the puck.
I’m confused as to why Holt is skating drills like that when he’s a goalie but whatever makes him happy.
I gesture toward them. “Brody and I have been playing on the same line this season. I was kind of shocked when Coach kept us together after the preseason. He’s been playing with the Storm for a long time, and I figured he’d be on the top line with Caleb and Winston. He had over a hundred points last season.”
I shrug. “Wes is another rookie although he played for the Mustangs last season. He’s a defender. Holt’s our backup goalie, and he’s been playing for a couple of years. He got traded to the Storm in the offseason.”
Madison studies me for a minute and then looks at the guys and back to me. “I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you’re a right winger. Does that make Brody a center? Because he’s a righty too,” she says, watching Brody who’s got a puck on his stick taking shots at the goal while Holt and Wes act as defenders trying to block his shots. “Or, wait, he prefers playing on his offhand side which makes him a left winger. Right?”
I stare at her, opening and closing my mouth a couple of times.
“What?” She breaks out into a big grin. “Surprised I picked up on that?”
“Yes.” Holy shit can she be any more perfect?
Not only is she smart, sweet, and funny but she also knows hockey. Talk about a turn on.
“Do you want to come to a game?” I ask, picturing her wearing my name and number on her back. Cheering me on from the stands. I haven’t had any family or friends come watch me play in the NHL yet.
I’ll have to special order a jersey for her if I want her to wear my name and number, which I do. It’ll take a couple of weeks but that’s fine, just means she’ll have to come to multiple games. The thought of having Madison in the stands wearing my name is thrilling.
Like I’m claiming her. Like she’s telling everyone else that she’s mine. I know we’re only friends but a guy can dream.
“I’d like that. If it’s not too much trouble.”
“No trouble.” I hold out my hand.
She takes it and we skate around the ice for a while longer, avoiding the area where Holt and Wes are screwing around. They’re racing up and down the ice and checking each other into the boards.
I shake my head every time we pass them, hoping no one gets hurt. Brody yells at them to focus a couple of times, but it’s no use.
“Ready to go?” I ask a half hour later, as we make it around the ice again.
Madison’s been doing well on the skates after she got over her hesitation, although she’s still holding tightly to my hand which I don’t mind.
“Yeah. I think so. But wait, before we go.”
“Yeah?” I turn to face her, wondering what she’s going to say now. Is she going to surprise me with her hockey knowledge again?
“Are you going to show me what you got?” She wiggles her eyebrows and gestures toward the rink behind me.
I chuckle and take off. I pick up my pace after my first lap, turning to skate backward when I’m halfway around a second time. I love the rush of being on the ice. The feel of the cold air rushing over my face and through my hair. The feel of my skate blades gliding over the smooth surface. It’s exhilarating.
At the last minute I turn, spraying ice along the boards as I come to a stop in front of Madison.
She throws back her head, laughing, and claps her hands. “You are so graceful. Like you were born to skate. I can’t wait to see you play.”
I preen and take a mock bow. “Thank you m’lady. Thank you.”
She laughs and claps some more. I’m smiling from ear to ear. This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time, and it’s all thanks to this wonderful woman.
She meets my gaze and it’s almost as if she can hear what I’m thinking because her tongue darts out, swiping at her bottom lip, and her gaze darts to my mouth.
I want to kiss her so badly.
I’ve wanted to since I woke up to her snuggled on my chest. But we’rejustfriends. I won’t break her trust and try something she doesn’t want.
