45. Olivia

45

OLIVIA

It’s a beautiful moment.

Aaron, on the ice, looking up at me with his gloved hands in a heart shape and publicly declaring me his.

It’s the sort of thing I would have hated and shied away from until recently. Now, I’m living for it.

The damned magic of Christmas is real after all. And this holiday season is one I will savor forever.

“That is freaking adorable!” Reagan exclaims, squeezing my arm as the Cyclones start to file off the ice. “He’s obsessed with you.”

On my other side, Sofia laughs. “If he proposes to you before Jake proposes to me, I’m gonna riot.”

My eyes widen at the prospect, and she laughs. “I’m kidding. Mostly just wanted to see the look on your face at the thought of you being the future Mrs. Marino.”

I open my mouth to make some witty-adjacent remark, but what comes out instead is, “It’s not the most terrible thought in the world.”

“Ahhh,” Maddie croons. “She’s just as obsessed as he is.” Her expression takes on a mushy, sentimental quality as she continues, “You guys remind me of Seb and me when we first got together. Seb was just like Aaron—hockey, hockey, hockey. He was eating, sleeping, breathing it. And then, he was different. I see that same change in Aaron.” She shakes her head slowly, her eyes now on her husband, who shoots her a wink before ducking out of sight. “Amazing what can happen to a man when he makes room for love in his life.”

I glance down at Aaron, who’s the last to disappear towards the locker rooms, and he gives me one more sweet, lopsided smile before leaving the ice.

I smile back, feeling warm inside. Until my gaze snags on Lieberman.

He’s talking to Coach Torres by the players’ bench, his face red and his expression… well, pissed .

I’m not too sure why. The guys lost tonight, but they’ve been on a winning streak recently. And Brandi’s powerless now that Aaron is officially off the market. As scandalous as that photo she posted was, and as much as it got people talking, it ultimately did nothing but confirm that Aaron and I are together.

Nothing illegal or un-captain-like about a man kissing his girlfriend on his own damned front porch, is there?

Even so, as I’m watching him, it almost looks like Lieberman says the word Marino . And he doesn’t look happy about it.

“Come on,” Sofia suddenly says, looping her arm through mine and shaking me out of my thoughts. “Shall we go to the players’ area to meet our men?”

I push away my uneasiness about Lieberman—maybe he’s just a generally pissed-off guy. And I’m sure I imagined him saying Aaron’s name. He’s done talking to Coach now anyway and is walking off.

“Absolutely,” I reply.

We make our way with the rest of the guys’ partners towards the players’ area, chatting easily while we wait. Eventually, the locker room door opens and the guys begin to come out. Seb makes a beeline for Maddie, his eyes bulging out like cartoon-hearts. Lars goes to greet Lena. Dallas makes his way out with his head dipped, looking uncharacteristically gloomy.

Jake comes out a few moments later, hands in his pockets. He walks over to us and kisses Sofia, and I avert my eyes towards the locker room doors for a moment to give them privacy.

Soon enough, I realize that no one else is coming from the locker room. All of the Cyclones are out now, save for one.

I turn to Jake. “Where’s Aaron?”

He shrugs. “He went to Coach’s office after the game to talk to him. Not sure why. I figured he’d be out by now.”

“Is that normal—to get called to Coach Torres’ office after a game?”

“Usually ain’t a good thing. And besides, Coach should be on his way to the press conference by now.” Jake scratches his beard. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

“Maybe he’s taking an extra-long shower.”

This makes Jake chuckle. “He does love to wash that luxurious hair of his.” His gaze suddenly darkens. “Unless…”

“Unless what?”

“Unless Aaron’s going with Coach to do postgame press.” Jake shakes his head. “Can’t imagine why he’d wanna do that, though.”

“Would Coach have requested Aaron speak to the press with him?”

“Doubt it. Especially with that, you know…” He clears his throat gruffly. “Uh, you know, that photo that doesn’t bear thinking about. Aaron hates talking to the media about his personal life.”

“I don’t think anyone’s going to care about a photo of Aaron kissing his girlfriend. I’m sure way worse photos of most of you have surfaced.”

“True. You should’ve seen the video of Dallas that got leaked last year…” Jake goes off into a story, but I find myself tuning out, looking back at the locker room doors for Aaron again.

He really is taking a while. Everyone else is out here.

Could he actually be going to do postgame press?

Just then, the door to the players’ area opens and Reagan appears, her heels click-clacking on the tiles. Her face is a neutral mask as she looks around until her eyes zero in on me. She makes a beeline for our little group.

For some reason, my stomach sinks.

“Everything okay?” I ask her.

She worries her teeth into her lower lip before she lets out a sigh. “Everything’s fine, but I do want to make you aware of something.”

“Oh?”

Reagan’s clutching her phone in her hand and she holds the screen up towards me. “The photo of you and Aaron that Brandi posted on Christmas Day has become a topic of discussion tonight, and unfortunately, not in a good way.”

“What do you mean?” I tilt my head, then repeat Aaron’s words from the gala, “I’m sure the media don’t care about our boring old monogamy.”

I say this with a jokey smile, but Reagan frowns.

“Yeah,” she says. “But because Brandi’s last story on Thanksgiving got so much traction on social media, people were already questioning Aaron’s leadership. Now, they’re saying that you’re just his latest fling and it’s not a good look because you’re his teammate’s little sister.” She holds up a hand. “Not that I believe that, obviously, but it’s what people are saying. The commentators mentioned it earlier during the game as well, saying that it’s causing a rift between Aaron and Jake that’s affecting Aaron’s play.”

“Not true, in any way,” Jake says immediately, which I appreciate.

Sofia rubs my arm. “‘Course not.”

I suddenly recall Lieberman’s pissed-off expression and the way I could’ve sworn he grumbled Marino when talking to Torres.

The team’s GM isn’t happy. The media are questioning Aaron about his dating life again, when Aaron assured Lieberman at the gala that they wouldn’t. Coach is off to talk to the press, and there’s no sign of Aaron coming out of the locker room.

Has that stupid photo of us actually thrown Aaron’s captaincy into question again?

This is so dumb. A total lie that’s not fair to Aaron at all. He’s the most committed, passionate, loving human I know.

“Where?”

“What?” Jake blinks.

“Where’s the press conference taking place?”

Reagan gives me directions towards the media area, and I take off running.

I’m not sure what Aaron’s going to say, but I know that I want to be there for him. Jake’s words about Aaron putting me before hockey are at the forefront of my mind, and I’m beyond annoyed that he’s being questioned again over a photo of the two of us in what was an intimate, special moment.

I want to be there to show him that I believe in him, no matter what.

I throw open the door to the media area, but a security guard I don’t recognize steps in my way.

“Sorry, lady. Press only from this point onwards.”

“I’m Aaron Marino’s girlfriend,” I explain hurriedly, turning to show him the MARINO printed across the back of my number 22 crimson jersey.

The guard only guffaws. “Like that proves anything. There are thousands of fans in here tonight wearing that jersey.” He narrows his eyes skeptically. “Let me guess. You’re one of those ‘army chicks,’ aren’t you?”

“The term is Aaron’s Army,” I correct him proudly. “And yes, I guess I am. But seriously, I’m Aaron’s actual girlfriend. And Jake Griswold’s sister. I need to get in there.”

He crosses his arms. “No media pass, no entry.”

This almost makes me laugh. Running into this press conference is the exact kind of thing I would have run from in the past. Because if Jake and Reagan—and my gut instinct—are correct, I’m walking into a room full of people talking about me, critiquing me, making me feel like I don’t belong.

And today, I’m running towards all of that.

Because if Aaron’s there, I do belong. And no matter what they’re saying about him—saying about us —showing up for him is what matters.

My mind races as I try to think of a way to get this brute to let me through. But at that moment, that Sadie Whatshername woman walks up behind me, looking very sharklike in a navy-blue suit and stilettos.

“Oh! She knows me!” I point at Sadie. “She can vouch.”

Sadie’s icy eyes narrow on me, then flick to the guard. “What’s going on?”

“I need to get in there,” I tell her.

“Isn’t that sweet? You want to be there when your boy-toy talks to the press.” She laughs dismissively, clearly intending to saunter on by without helping.

Then, her eyes take on a gleam and she stops. Turns back towards me.

“Actually, she’s right,” Sadie tells the guard. “She’s Olivia Griswold—Jake’s sister and Aaron’s current flirtation.”

“Girlfriend,” I correct tightly.

Sadie waves a hand. “Semantics. She’s with me, Clark. She can come in.”

“Okay, Miss Lincoln.” Clark nods and lets us both inside.

The room is packed with cameras and reporters all jostling and bustling around chaotically, speaking over each other in a cacophony. While Sadie stalks up to take a seat in the front row, I hang back, crossing the room to slide into a chair near the back corner. I don’t want to draw any unnecessary attention—I just want Aaron to see that I’m here supporting him. That we’re in this together.

A few minutes later, Aaron walks into the room flanked by Coach Torres and another one of the Cyclones’ coaches. He doesn’t spot me right away, but I’m sure he’s not expecting me to be here.

They take their seats at the front, and almost immediately begin answering questions about the game tonight, their thoughts on the loss, and how they played.

It’s all very civilized…

At first.

“So, Aaron.” Sadie stands and gives him a slick smirk of a smile. “How do you think tonight’s game went?”

“I think our guys played great. We worked well as a team, got a lot of good shots on net, but the outcome of the game was unfortunately not what we hoped for.” Aaron looks calm, poised and confident. The look of a man in total control, the look of a captain .

It’s a very good look, indeed.

But Sadie’s expression turns sickly sweet. She beams around the room before looking back at Aaron. “So you’d say you made the correct call on who to pass to for what could have been the winning shot?”

Aaron’s eyes flicker for a moment, but he sets his jaw. Clears his throat. “Yes. Perez was in an ideal spot to score, and I made a calculated decision to pass to him.”

“Teamwork, right?” Sadie’s looking even more shark-like, her eyes gleaming.

Aaron frowns, like he’s trying to figure out her angle. “Right.”

“Would you say the Cyclones are tight as a team?”

“Absolutely.”

“So your involvement with Jake Griswold’s sister isn’t causing a rift between you two on the ice? Splitting up the Cyclones’ former ‘dream team’?”

Coach Torres opens his mouth to answer, but Aaron gets there first.

“No.” His eyes are stone cold.

“But it will cause problems once it ends, right?” Sadie almost taunts. “Risky for team morale to have a fling with your teammate’s sister. Something a good captain should consider.”

“Enough!”

Aaron bangs his fist on the table, making the twitchy journalist in front of me jump in his seat.

A hush falls over the room as Aaron continues in a calm, commanding tone. “Olivia Griswold is not a fling. And I don’t give a damn what you all have to say about whether I’m fit to be captain of this team, because the fact is, I am the captain at this moment. A captain my coach and teammates elected. And while I don’t care what you have to say about me , I’m here to set the record straight about Olivia so you vultures can’t spin any more ludicrous stories and drag her name through the mud, too.”

Sadie snorts, her professional facade cracking. “Says the guy who has endless flings with endless redheads. What the hell makes this one different?”

“She’s not just another redhead.” Aaron’s voice doesn’t waver as he looks around the room. Finally, his gaze lands on me and his lips slide into a genuine smile. “I love her. I’m hopelessly, completely in love with her. I think I might have always loved her.”

I sit there, in my rickety chair at the back of the media room, stunned.

Because Aaron Marino loves me.

This incredible man loves me .

My heart feels buoyant. About to burst with happiness.

“I love you, too!” I yell like a fool, jumping to my feet. “I love you too, Aaron!”

And though I know that everyone is looking right at me, I don’t care. Because Aaron’s eyes light up at the sight of me on my feet and causing a scene for him, and his is the only opinion that matters.

Cameras start clicking, people start talking, and Sadie Lincoln’s face falls as her plan to humiliate us backfires. Lieberman, standing off to the side of the room, looks surprisingly calm and composed, and I swear I see a twinkle in Coach Torres’s eye as Aaron gets to his feet, hops over the press table, and jumps off the stage in one swift motion.

He muscles his way through the crowd until he reaches me.

“It’s true.” I smile up at him. “I love you. I’m in love with you.”

“I love you isn’t enough, Olivia.” His arms circle around me. “The way I feel about you is all-consuming—it’s everything. You’re everything. I’ve been in love with you forever, and I’ll continue to love you forever, and then after forever ends.”

“I’m not just another redhead?” I tease, grinning up at him. “I’d hate to think that I was just your type.”

He shakes his head with a smile. “The only reason I was drawn to women with red hair in the first place was because of you. I never forgot you.” He pauses, then lowers his voice to an intimate level meant only for my ears. “Want to know the actual reason I didn’t date anyone for months?”

“Because you were focusing on your captaincy… until you fell for me, of course.”

“Because when you walked back into my life again all those months ago, and I saw you standing in that club in that silver dress looking like you were straight out of my wildest dreams, I knew, deep down, that there was no one else for me. That dating other people was now entirely out of the question, because anyone else would pale in comparison.”

My heart speeds up to double time. “Come on, Marino. Don’t feed me that old line about how I’m not like the other girls.”

“But you’re not, Griswold.” He smiles a smile of pure sunshine. “You’re you .”

And then, he kisses me. I kiss him back fiercely, not giving a damn who’s watching.

Because this, right here, in his arms, is exactly where I belong.