13. Emma

I enter the rink later that night, the excitement in the air palpable. The crowd"s cheers and the sound of skates slicing through the ice create a symphony of anticipation. Drake is standing outside his office waiting for me, and he leads me to the exclusive owner"s box. The view from here is spectacular, offering a bird"s-eye perspective of the rink below.

As I settle into the plush seat, I marvel at the energy coursing through the stadium. The ice glows under the powerful lights, and the players" colorful jerseys blur as they speed across the rink. It"s a world of its own, a pulsating heartbeat of adrenaline and competition.

Drake, sitting beside me, is tense. His fingers drum against the armrest, betraying an undercurrent of anxiety. I glance at him, and he meets my gaze with a forced smile.

"Zane is sidelined?" I ask.

"Yup and Loughlin is on my ass, he called Zane and told him he was allowed to play, regardless of what my instructions were. He told Chase the same thing, but Chase told him he agreed with my decision and was sticking with it."

"He went over your head?"

"Pretty much."

My phone vibrates and I glance down to see a message from Kade.

Hey Emma, how was your day? Are you at the hockey game?

It was good. I am

Me too. Where are you? I'll come say hi

I'm in the owner's box

Well, I probably can't come up there lol. I'll look for you after

"Kade's texting you."

"We're friends," I shrug nonchalantly as I put my phone away.

The game begins, and the intensity is unmistakable. The players weave intricate patterns on the ice, executing precise passes and bone-rattling checks. The crowd"s roars and groans mirror the ebb and flow of the match. I find myself drawn into the rhythm of the game, my eyes following the puck"s swift movements.

The arena pulsates with the rhythmic beats of the crowd, a sea of jerseys in varying shades of blue and red. The Ice Hounds are from a town about an hour away.

"This is one of our biggest games," Drake says. "The rivalry with us being so close in distance is insane."

"I've noticed that the rink is torn in Blue jerseys for the Ice Hounds and our red and black jerseys."

The ice below glows under the bright lights, and the tension is thick as the Battle Hawks face off against their formidable rivals, the Ice Hounds.

I glance at the scoreboard, my heart pounding with anticipation. The Battle Hawks, missing their star player Zane, are fighting an uphill battle. I can sense the desperation on the ice as both teams clash, the stakes high in this intense hockey showdown.

The puck drops, and the players explode into action. The Battle Hawks swiftly gain possession, weaving through the opposing defense with a grace that belies the ferocity of the game. The crowd roars with approval as they advance, their collective hope hanging in the balance.

But the Ice Hounds are relentless. They move with synchronized precision, shutting down every offensive move the Battle Hawks attempt.

"Shit," Drake curses under his breath.

His posture is rigid, one hand is tapping his knee repeatedly while the other leg is bouncing. I take my hand and place it on his knee.

"It's going to be okay."

He shakes his head and barely looks at me. He stands up and begins pacing. I exhale slowly.

It's not about me, it's about him. He's freaking out because he pulled Zane and the team is not playing well without him.

The Battle Hawks desperately need a goal to turn the tide, but the Ice Hounds" defense is an impenetrable wall. The players clash along the boards, sticks, and bodies colliding in a symphony of controlled chaos.

Then, in a heartbeat, the Ice Hounds break through the Battle Hawks" defense. A swift pass sends the puck soaring across the ice, and a player in the blue and silver Ice Hounds jersey takes possession. The crowd holds its breath as he charges toward the Battle Hawks" goal.

The Battle Hawks" goalie, Chad, prepares for the imminent threat. The Ice Hounds player maneuvers with a dancer"s finesse, deking left and right, leaving our defense scrambling to keep up.

The Ice Hounds player releases a thunderous shot. The puck hurtles toward the goal, a blur of black against the net"s white mesh. Chad reacts with lightning reflexes, but the puck eludes his grasp, slipping past him and finding its home in the back of the net.

"Shit," Drake curses again.

The arena erupts in a mix of cheers and groans. The Ice Hounds fans jubilantly celebrate, their team now in the lead. On the other hand, the Battle Hawks faithful look on in disbelief, their hopes momentarily shattered.

"Put Zane in!"

"Where's Zane?"

People are shouting and asking for Zane to be put in. I glance down at the ice to see Zane in Chase's ear. It looks as though he's frustrated and yelling, trying to tell his Coach to put him in the game. Coach is ignoring him, his face stoic as he watches the action on the ice.

The players on the ice exchange glances, a silent acknowledgment of the uphill battle they now face. Yet, the game is far from over, and the Battle Hawks are determined to mount a comeback.

The remainder of the game unfolds with a relentless pace. The Battle Hawks fight tooth and nail, launching offensive salvos and defending their goal with unwavering resolve. The Ice Hounds counter with skillful plays and strategic maneuvers, determined to maintain their lead.

The Battle Hawks press on with a renewed sense of urgency, pushing the Ice Hounds to their limits. The clock ticks down, the seconds echoing like a heartbeat in the final moments of a hard-fought battle. The tension is unbearable as the players race against time, striving for that decisive goal that could either secure victory or seal defeat.

In the dying seconds, Syd launches a last-ditch effort, a flurry of shots and passes that keeps the Ice Hounds on their toes. The crowd rises to their feet, their collective energy reaching a fever pitch.

"It's not enough, it's too late," Drake groans.

He's still pacing, his hands interlocked on the back of his head.

I inhale and exhale slowly.

"It's one game. You did the right thing by benching Zane, maybe this will make the other players hold him accountable."

"The Ice Hounds are one of the worst teams in the league and we just tied with them. We end the game in a tie," he growls in disbelief.

"It's not that big of a deal," I snap in reaction to his anger.

"It's a huge deal. If we can't get it done without Zane on the ice then Loughlin and Zane win. I look like the one in the wrong."

"You're not wrong for holding him accountable."

Drake's phone begins vibrating. He glances down and growls.

"Loughlin," he says into the phone.

I make a gesture that I'm leaving the box and walk out to leave him to his phone call. I wave and mouth that I'll be at home. If he needs me, he'll find me.

As I leave the owner's box, the echoes of the crowd"s disappointment linger in the air.

It's probably good that Drake is on the phone and not walking out into this.

People are livid. No one knows the extent of Zane's transgressions, so they don't understand why he has been benched. Honestly, even if they did know they probably wouldn't care. They want to win, it's why Zane is the way he is now because he's such a valuable asset on the ice, not so much off the ice.

"Emma!" I hear a deep voice call my name.

I turn around to see Kade's gorgeousness walking toward me. He's decked out in Ice Hounds gear, the blue color of the jersey making his eyes pop.

Swoon. I could get lost in those eyes.

"Uh oh, I cannot be seen with you after that game," I tease. "I will be lynched in the middle of town square tomorrow morning."

"Sore losers, eh?"

"No, just proud," I giggle. "It wasn't a loss, but a tie."

"Were you watching the same game I was? I know what the scoreboard says, but it was definitely an Ice Hounds win."

"Says a fan of the team with the worst record in the league for what, five years straight."

"It's our year."

"It's always your year until it isn't," I tease.

He laughs before he pulls me into a deep hug. I inwardly sigh.

"Owner's box, huh? That's a pretty big deal."

"Only because the rink used to belong to my family."

He nods slowly, smiling at me as we walk toward the exit.

"I asked around about you. Seems you're Willow Creek royalty."

"Hardly," I laugh. "Why are you asking around about me?"

"Wanted to know what it would take to get a date with you."

"I'm engaged."

"I was like a week too late, wasn't I?"

I roll my eyes playfully. "I guess so."

"Where are you headed?"

"Home for the night. I wake up at five to workout and I'm beat."

"Let me drive you."

"I walked, I will walk home."

"Then let me walk you home."

"You don't have to do that," I giggle awkwardly.

"I know, but I want to."

I let out a long breath and nod. We begin walking out of the rink. "Thank you."

He grins widely and I'm struck by how gorgeous and perfect his face is. He doesn't seem real.

The chilly night air hits my face as we step out of the buzzing arena, the echoes of the hockey game still reverberating in my ears. Kade walks beside me, his breath forming small clouds in the crisp night air.

"Tell me more about your hockey background."

"I used to play in college. Played amateur too."

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "Really? What position did you play?"

"Center. I was a forward," he replies, a hint of pride in his voice.

"Center, huh? That"s impressive. Did you go pro?"

Kade"s expression turns more somber, a cloud passing over his eyes. "I tried. After college, I went to a few tryouts, but ..." He pauses, as if contemplating how much to share. "I had a bad knee injury. It pretty much ended my chances."

"I know how that goes. Why are you an Ice Hounds fan? I didn't think you lived around here."

"I don't, but I've always been a fan."

"Any reason why?"

"My grandpa used to own the team. He retired and sold it, but some of my best memories were spent at games with him."

"That's really great. Your grandpa is a big hockey fan too?"

"Hockey and anything on the ice runs through my family line."

"I get that. I might have mentioned that my family used to own the rink."

"You did," he smiles. "I see you didn't lose it completely since you're engaged to the owner now. Or did that happen because of your relationship?"

"No, just a coincidence."

"Well, I guess this is where we part ways," he says as we stand outside of my apartment.

"Thanks for walking me home."

"Anytime. Have a good night, Emma," he smiles before he wraps me in a hug.

He walks away whistling as I head up to my apartment.

How did I get two hot guys interested in me at the same time?

Drake texts me.

I'll see you tomorrow

I'm not in a good headspace right now and need to work through it

Thanks for telling me that. I'm here if you need anything

I go to bed that night with thoughts of Drake and Kade rolling through my head.