by Ellis, Aven
When he’s secure, I know he’ll tell me the words I’m aching to hear.
And once he does, I will share everything that has been in my heart, every single thing I love about him, and how there is no place for anyone but him in it.
“I don’t think I can handle it if this game goes to overtime,” I say, anxiously gripping my program. “I don’t think I can take the stress.”
I mean that. Seeing a regular season game, I quickly realized, is night and day different than watching a preseason one. And right now the Demons are tied with the Chicago Buffaloes, 2-2, in the home opener with two minutes to go in the third period. Harrison has scored one goal, the other by Matt Rhinelander, and there’s nothing more I want than to see Nate score in his first game as a Dallas Demon.
“Well, since you survived seeing Nate checked into the glass right in front of you, overtime should be easy,” Lexi says, grinning.
I groan. I literally jumped in my seat when Nate was violently slammed into the glass in front of me in the first period of the game. I panicked, as I couldn’t imagine how much that hurt him. He had to be injured, I was sure of it. But he wasn’t. And only when Nate skated away, like this was totally normal, did I breathe again.
And then I mentally called the Buffaloes player who shoved him a series of choice words I would never say in public, let alone scream in an arena. I peer right across the ice, to the Demons’ bench, as Nate and Harrison are sipping Gatorade and talking. I see Harrison gesturing with his gloved hand, and Nate nodding, and I know they are planning their next shift.
Shift. Funny how that word has a whole new meaning to me now that I’m with Nate.
“One minute left in the period,” the PA announcer says in his booming voice.
The crowd is now cheering loudly, desperate for the Demons to score.
Nate and Harrison jump over the boards with their line.
“Line change!” Lexi cries. “Here we go!”
I bite my lip, my heart leaping inside my chest. The puck is down on the Buffaloes’ side of the ice, and the Demons are frantically trying to get it back.
Suddenly a Chicago player goes to make a pass, and Nate intercepts it.
I leap to my feet, screaming his name, and the rest of the arena is on their feet, too.
“Breakaway!” the guy behind me yells in excitement.
Nate is flying down the ice, his superior speed to that of the Buffaloes players obvious. The clock is ticking down. Nate approaches the net, and people start screaming louder. I watch as he moves the puck to his right side, and rips his stick back, taking the shot. The puck sails up high, toward the net, and zips right past the shoulder of the goalie, hitting the back of the net. The light goes off on the back of the net, the horn sounds, and the arena is going crazy.
Nate scored the winning goal.
I watch as Nate’s face erupts in complete joy. He goes to one knee, slides across the ice, and pumps his fist. Then as he gets up, the rest of the Demons swarm him, with Harrison leading the way, and everyone around us is celebrating Nate’s dramatic winning goal.
“That’s my Bae!” I yell.
Then we both erupt into happy screams as we hug each other.
“Dallas Demons goal scored by number 88, NATE JOHANSSON!” the announcer roars over the noise of the crowd.
I glance up at the clock. There are still ten seconds left in the game. The crowd remains on their feet for the face-off, and then we countdown the clock until the horn sounds, signaling the end of the game.
The Demons, thanks to Nate’s dramatic goal, have won.
“Best opening game ever!” Lexi cries.
“I can’t believe it!” I yell over the cheering noise of the crowd.
I feel my phone vibrate in my hand. I glance down and see I have a text from Amanda:
Nate is a freaking badass!!
A huge wave of pride washes over me. I feel so proud of Nate I think my heart is going to burst. Nate has the biggest smile on his face, and I find myself smiling, too.
This game was huge for him, on so many levels, and it just puts into place how his life has changed so much since coming to Dallas, but for the better.
The crowd is still going crazy. Nobody has left, as everyone is waiting to see the three stars of the game announced.
“Announcing tonight’s three stars of the game,” the PA announcer booms. “First star of the night with the breakaway winning goal, Number 88, NATE JOHANSSON!”
Now the noise level is deafening. I’m cheering for my man along with everyone else.
Nate flashes a grin and waves to the crowd.
“The second star of the night, with one goal, is your CAPTAIN, Number 22, HARRISON FLYNN!”
Harrison skates out and the noise level goes insane for the Demons’ captain. I glance at Lexi, who is recording the moment with her phone.
“The third star of the night, with one goal, is Number 43, MATT RHINELANDER!”
Matt skates out next and waves to the crowd, a big smile on his face.
As people begin leaving the arena, still talking about Nate’s exciting debut, I can’t help but think this is where Nate belongs—in Dallas, with the Demons, skating alongside his new best friend, Harrison Flynn. Nate is home now, with a team that wants him and a city that has just fallen in love with him.
Just like I have.
Tears fill my eyes when I think of everything that has happened in his life since he arrived here. Not only does Nate belong in Dallas, he belongs with me. I’m the woman he’s meant to love. I know in my heart nobody could love Nate in the way that I do. And I feel like he is getting close to loving me in that same way.
Once Nate is confident in me, in what we have, he’ll feel safe enough to love me. He can break away from his fear of falling in love, and there will be nothing to stand in our way. Nothing can change what we are building and where our hearts are destined to be.
I’m sure of it.
Chapter 27
Graham cracker: A sweet cracker that is the foundation of one of my favorite treats-s’mores! — Kenley
“Now this,” Nate declares, putting his arm around my shoulders, “is perfect fall weather.”
I smile happily. It’s the night after the home opener, and we’re enjoying the evening outdoors around Harrison and Kylie’s fire pit. A nice cold front swept through Dallas earlier, bringing temperatures down into the 50’s tonight. So the Flynns invited us over for dinner, and after eating another amazing meal prepared by Harrison, we moved outside with our glasses of wine and beer to enjoy the crisp air and the flames from the fire.
Now I’m snuggled up against Nate, the scent of his cologne mixing with air that is perfumed by the crackling firewood. I inhale it, letting the scent fill my lungs, savoring this moment in time.
We even brought Marabou with us, and he’s romping in the dog run with Cooper and Lola, the Flynns’ golden retrievers, so it feels like a true family outing.
I glance at Nate, watching the light of the flames flicker across his face. He seems so content in the moment, of being with his new best friend, his best friend’s wife, and me. Just us, the fire, and the stars in the Texas sky shining overhead.
And I couldn’t imagine a more perfect evening if I tried.
“I know, I love nights like this,” Kylie says, interrupting my thoughts as she replies to Nate’s comment. “It’s excellent for s’mores, you know.”
Harrison laughs. “Is that a hint?”
“Maybe,” Kylie says, her eyes dancing. She glances over at me. “I thought we could do a trial run before the reveal party,” she explains, as we are going to do the huge s’mores station for that.
“Do you want me to go get the stuff?” Harrison asks, affectionately kissing her temple.
“You can be my sous chef
for a change,” Kylie teases, standing up.
“I can help,” I offer.
“Nah, we’re good,” Harrison says easily, getting up off the sofa. “We’ll be back.”
They head back into the house, leaving me and Nate alone.
I lean my head into Nate’s chest, pressing my cheek against his soft flannel shirt, content to listen to the steady rhythm of his heart.
Nate reaches up and strokes his fingers through my hair, as he always does when we sit close together. He clears his throat.
“Kenley?”
I turn and glance up at him. “Yeah?”
“Um, you remember how I said my family was flying down next week for the Saturday game, right?”
I nod. I remember Nate telling me they were all coming to Dallas for that game.
“Yes, of course.”
Nate is silent for a moment and then finally speaks.
“I was wondering if you would want to meet them,” he asks softly.
My heart holds still.
“You . . . want me to meet your family?” I ask, hardly daring to believe I heard him correctly.
Because if Nate wants to introduce me to his family—the people he is closest to—this is huge. He had been quiet and lost in thought these past few days, but today Nate has been more like himself. Whatever doubts had been stirred up by CiCi last Friday night have dissipated.
And now he wants me to meet his family.
This is more than a baby step forward.
This is a leap toward our future.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Nate adds. “I understand if that’s not something you would want to do at this point, or you’re not comf—”
I silence him by putting my fingers over his full lips.
“I would love nothing more than to meet them.”
“It’s not too soon for you?”
I inwardly wince. I still feel like whatever was said between Nate and CiCi has made him hesitant about us.
“Nate,” I say, putting my hands on his face, “I’m honored that you want to introduce me to them. I can’t think of anything I want more than to meet your family next week.”
I see relief filter through his expressive eyes.
“Yeah?”
I smile. “Yes.”
Then, to make sure he knows exactly how I feel about him, I draw his face to mine and press my lips against his for a sweet kiss.
Nate breaks the kiss and brings me back into his solid chest, and I snuggle up happily against him, linking my fingers through his.
“I’m glad you want to meet them,” Nate says, kissing the top of my head.
“After I meet them, maybe you’ll want to meet my dad,” I say, daring to venture that far with him.
“Only if I get to meet his sexy girlfriend, too,” Nate teases.
“Gah,” I groan, and he laughs in response.
“I feel so bad,” I say. “Your family sounds so wonderful and nice, and you get to meet CiCi and my ‘in the middle of a mid-life crisis’ father who dates girls barely out of college.”
“My family isn’t perfect,” Nate says. “And my sister, Holly, can be a tough nut to crack at first.”
A twinge of nervousness runs though me. “Yeah?”
Nate kisses my head again. “Yeah. We’ve always been tight, and she’s very protective of me. And that’ll be worse now because of what happened with Megan. She was close to Megan, so the whole cheating thing really upset her.”
I bite my lip. What if Holly thinks I’m a Puck Slut after Nate? Could she see me as the beautiful girl with nothing to offer inside?
And just like that, I feel episodes of my past rising to the surface, ones I had managed to bury because of the way Nate saw me. What if his family judges me like that? That I’m another pretty face after the famous athlete? They’re so close. Could they influence Nate to take a step back from me?
“Hey,” Nate says, tilting my chin up so he can gaze down at me, “they’ll adore you. Just like I do.”
I search his eyes, wanting to trust him on this.
“I mean it,” Nate says firmly. “Even if it takes Holly longer to come around, she will.”
“You seem certain that she’s going to dislike me.”
“Not you specifically,” he says. “Anyone who is the first girl after Megan she’s going to scrutinize, that’s how Holly is. I’m only telling you this so you’re prepared for it, Kenley. I don’t want you to walk into that and be blindsided. However, I’m also telling you right now that I know they’ll love you. No need to worry, okay?”
I see sincerity shining in Nate’s eyes. I’m about to tell him I’m still nervous but then the back door opens, with Harrison and Kylie carrying all the supplies for s’more making.
“Okay, these aren’t going to be as amazing as your s’mores, Kenley,” Kylie declares, “but I did pick up some interesting chocolates at Whole Foods for tonight.”
“Do you mean weird?” Nate jokes.
“We got a curry bar for you, Nate,” Harrison says, grinning at him.
Nate groans. “That’s so gross.”
“I don’t know,” Kylie teases, “I think a milk chocolate curry s’more sounds like something you’d enjoy.”
“Um, no,” Nate says emphatically. “However, my fearless girlfriend will eat one, won’t you, Kenley?”
I see how Nate is smiling at me, and I know that is what he finds attractive about me, my confidence. So I can’t confide in him how terrifying it feels to meet his sister and know how she’s going to judge me next weekend—and knowing how that could influence what Nate thinks about me.
About us.
I shove the fear down, vowing not to let it come back to the surface.
“Of course I will,” I say, getting up and taking a long fork from Kylie and selecting a coconut marshmallow to put on the end. “I’m going to do one with curry milk chocolate, a coconut marshmallow, and a sprinkle of sea salt between the graham crackers.”
“Oh I want one of those, too,” Kylie says, following suit. She turns to Harrison. “And what are you going to make, babe?”
Harrison glances over the assortment of chocolates and marshmallows on the tray. “I,” he says, “am going for the salted caramel milk chocolate in mine. With a caramel marshmallow.”
“Nate?” I ask, lifting an eyebrow.
Nate stands up and moves to where we are standing. “I want a plain marshmallow.”
I can’t help it. A giggle escapes my throat. “Of course you do.”
Nate playfully nudges me with his shoulder. “Are you fixin’ to make fun of me?”
“Oh here we go,” Harrison says, laughing.
Harrison and Kylie take their marshmallows and head over to the fire pit, talking and laughing as they begin to roast them.
“Would I ever make fun of you?” I ask playfully.
Nate studies his choices and picks up a milk chocolate Hershey’s bar. “Victory,” he declares, grinning at me. “And yes, Bae, you do make fun of me and my simple taste in chocolate.”
Nate joins Harrison and Kylie around the pit. I pause for a moment, watching him easily interact with his friends. I see the flicker of light from the flames dance across his gorgeous face, and the way his smile is genuine as he laughs with Harrison. Harrison and Kylie have finished their marshmallows and are ready to assemble, but Nate is still waiting for me before starting.
Then Nate turns his gaze across the flames of the fire, to me. And I see nothing but affection shining back at me in those espresso-colored eyes of his.
“Bae, you coming? I’m waiting for you.”
My heart is filled with resolve as I look back at him. I’m going to show his family that I care about him. T
hat I treasure him, adore him, and want to be with Nate, and Nate alone. That I value everything he is, and that has nothing to do with being a rich and famous athlete, but the man he is on the inside.
I’m going to win them over.
I know I can.
Including Holly.
Chapter 28
Enforcer: The player who protects his teammates on the ice. Spends a lot of time in the Sin Bin — Nate
“Nate, this restaurant is beautiful,” Mrs. Johansson says as she sinks into her chair at the steakhouse at the top of the Jourdin Dallas hotel. “What an experience to eat here tonight.”
The sun is setting into the sky, and the floor-to-ceiling windows of the private dining room provide an exquisite view of the pinkish orange sun dipping down below the skyscrapers.
Normally I’d be thrilled to be dining at one of the best steakhouses in the city.
But as I sit onto the rich leather chair Nate has pulled out for me, I feel nothing but nervousness attacking my stomach.
“Thank you,” I say, slipping into the chair.
“You’re welcome,” Nate says, taking a seat next to me.
I glance across the table, and Holly is directly across from me. She’s still studying me, just like she did when we all met for the first time at Nate’s condo about a half hour ago.
She’s gorgeous, of course, with long, shiny, dark-brown hair and a petite frame. Her eyes are exactly the same as Nate’s. The long, dark eyelashes, the same gorgeous espresso shade of brown.
And right now those espresso-colored eyes are locked right on me, looking for signs that I’m worthy enough for her brother.