14. Harrison

14

HARRISON

Standing in the box ready to go out and bash some heads, I’m losing my mind because I poured my heart into that text. I know Bergan read it and that makes it all the worse. She didn’t respond. She really is done with me. I’ve never put myself out there before like that, and I hate that I had to tell her I love her in a text when I only want to say it to her beautiful face, but if I can’t get her to talk to me in any other way, it was necessary.

Screw all this. What was I thinking? Colorado isn’t meant for me. I need to get back to Cali, to my family, to Millie. That’s been the goal and one should never deviate from the goal. The Super Sunsets are asking about me and I’m going to go talk to them. I wasn’t going to, but now… well, shit changes.

“Hi Harry,” Alexie says, and stands next to me.

“Where have you heard that?”

“Ms. Rosten said it, and I like it. You are now Harry.” He bats each of my shoulders like he’s knighting me with a sword.

“Whatever, man. We just need to score, and then I’m going back to Cali.” I huff and turn toward the ice, trying to get my head in the game.

“Well, maybe this will stop that.”

Alexie pulls out a note and holds it out in front of me.

I stare at it for a second, but my curiosity gets the better of me and I open it.

Harry,

I’ve been so blind. I’ve let my past with the one bad hockey player cloud the wonderful hockey player who’s right in front of me. So Millie’s your sister? So that beautiful brunette in the video call is your stepmom?

I’m sorry I didn’t speak up. My voice should’ve been strong. But if you give me another chance, I’ll ask all kinds of questions. And you know I'm good at that. ;-)

I won’t let miscommunication come between us because I love you, too.

Bergan

“Holy shit… she loves you.” Alexie slaps my back and grins as he reads over my shoulder.

Why are you so fuckin’ tall?

“You know Alexie, this is kinda personal.”

“Love is beautiful, Harry. You shouldn’t hold it inside. It needs to be shared.”

He’s right and his own happily ever happened with the GM’s daughter. Something none of us ever saw coming. The old ogre’s grown a heart.

Me, too, Lexie. Me, too.

I gape at him and then grin. “You know, you’re right. I’ve got an idea. Will you help me?”

“For love, Alexie do anything.”

Bergan

I try not to stress over my phone, lifting it every ten seconds to look for a message. I mean, the man is playing hockey, but I can’t help worrying if he’s changed his mind or not. I mean, I wouldn’t blame him. I kinda high sticked him with my fears and attitude.

The teams are tied and so I try to focus on the match and not my pseudo love life.

I focus in and take some notes in my head.

The Frostwolves are in a power play and only two minutes left. The other team steals it from Harrison, and I scream along with the crowd. The teams play cat and mouse for a while, but Harrison gets it back with thirty seconds left.

“Go! Go! Go! Harrison. You got this!” I scream and jump around.

Ten seconds.

Eight.

Six.

He shoots….

And the red light goes off and the buzzer sounds as the crowd becomes electric with excitement, the venue pulses with people screaming, and I jump around like a maniac.

“The Frostwolves win! Fear the frost! Fear… the… frost!” the announcer shouts into the mic. The whole arena goes crazy, the volume deafening and the moment cements that I have to see him. I have to tell him how much he means to me.

The team meets in the middle of the rink. They skate in a pattern, over and over, and over and over. I furrow my brows as I try to see the design.

I sputter and clutch my chest.

It’s a heart.

I run down to the rink edge while fans stay put trying to figure out what the team is doing, pointing and discussing. This is definitely something new.

Harrison breaks off and skates toward me. My heart pounds in my chest and everything fades away as I stay focused on him.

“Did you get my note?” I ask.

“Yeah, but I’ve got a problem with it!” He slips off his helmet and gloves.

I let out a heavy breath and slump my shoulders. “What’s that?”

A grin comes over his face. “There wasn’t a beer with it.”

A giggle escapes me. “I love you, Harry.”

Harrison climbs over the edge of the half wall and pulls me close, dipping his head and kisses me, transporting me high into the clouds.

I blush and every part of me heats for this smooth-moves man. “Whoa. I owe you a beer.”

“He shoots.” He pecks my lips. “He scores.”

Then he dives in for a hard kiss once again.

And the crowd cheers, my heart doing the same.

The goal was to get the story, but I got so much more.

I got everything.