Pent-up frustration Two months later My voice is hoarse, and my throat burns from the yelling Iâve done over the past two months. All of which has been completely worth it to cheer on the Wildcats during the playoffs.
âI canât look,â Bridget says, bringing her hands up to cover her face and turning around.
âTheyâve got this,â I say, smiling as Jack hops over the boards for a shift on the ice.
With less than two minutes to play, the Wildcats are up by one goal. Itâs been a tight game. The whole series has been, but thereâs never been any doubt in my mind that these guys can do it. Theyâre playing better than they ever have. Hard work mixed with some playoff magic.
I glance over at Jackâs dad. He and Coach John are standing, along with the rest of the crowd, both with stony expressions that give nothing away.
Typical ex-hockey players, I suppose. Iâm not nearly that chill. Every particle of my being bounces with anticipation. I need them to win this thing so I can go down there and kiss the crap out of my man.
As if heâs thinking the same thing, Jack glances up in my general direction. Iâm sure he canât actually see me, but he knows Iâm here.
âI love you!â I scream.
Itâs so chaotic in here right now, no one even bats an eye except Jade whoâs sitting on the other side of me. Sheâs sometimes as loud as me, but she also has this ability to go completely chill and quiet, which is how sheâs been for the entire third period.
âMaybe you should try yelling something more inspiring like, âYouâre so getting laid if you win!ââ
At that, several people do look back at us, but only briefly. The Wildcats goalie makes a glove save and thereâs a collective sigh of relief around the arena.
âHeâs getting laid either way,â I say.
She nods. âDeclan and I had great post-season sex after they lost last year. He really does some of his best work when he needs to work off a loss.â
Piper chuckles from her other side.
âOh, like youâre one to talk.â Jade looks knowingly at Piperâs baby bump. Sheâs due next month and I canât freaking wait.
âItâs true,â Piper says. âThey gotta work out all that pent-up frustration or excitement either way.â
I nod then grimace. âNot an image I need of my brother.â
Jack wins the face-off, tipping the puck to Leo. He moves down the ice then passes to Ash. Jack positions himself in front of the goal.
Forty-five seconds to go. Ash gets him the puck but two defenders are on him. Always cool under pressure, Jack uses his body and sends it back to Ash who shoots. The puck is blocked by the goalie, and Jack rebounds before I even get eyes on it and the goalpost lights up.
âOh my god!â I scream as Jackâs arms go up in the air in celebration. His teammates crowd around him and the arena booms with cheers.
Itâs hard to see beyond everyone jumping up and down and waving signs and jerseys. When Jack finally skates from the group toward the bench to high-five the rest of his team, his gaze comes back my way.
âYou are so getting laid!â I scream and I swear his lips curve up in a smile. Goddamn, I love him.