Forever Wild (Wildcat Hockey Book 5)

JACK

Three months later

The home crowd is insane tonight. It’s the first game of the playoffs and the arena is packed. Music is pumping loudly, and adrenaline and anticipation hang heavy in the air.

We’re going through our normal warm-up routines, but there’s tension in everyone’s movements, an awareness that every game, every play, every shift on the ice, can make or break all our hard work this season.

It’s a lot of pressure, but god do I love it.

I sing along with the music as I approach Ash. The best way to get him relaxed and ready is to get him out of his head. It takes a beat, but he joins in, even adding a little air guitar with his stick.

I keep going to Johnny Maverick. He’s a wild and crazy guy both on and off the ice, but he’s quiet tonight as he passes a puck back and forth with Tyler, each of them taking turns firing at the net.

“Yo, Mav,” I say, coming up beside him as he shoots a puck wide. His jaw tightens and his gaze remains locked forward.

“Why isn’t Gretzky allowed to listen to music?”

His brow furrows slightly and he shifts his stare quickly to me and then back to the puck Tyler is passing him. “Why?”

“Because he’s broken too many records.”

He finally cracks a smile, and a small laugh shakes his chest. “That was a terrible joke.”

“Aidan told it to me last week. I thought it was clever.”

“Clever coming from him. Terrible from you.” He shoots again, this time the puck finding the back of the net.

I skate off and stop next beside Leo. He has one leg up on the wall in front of our bench, stretching.

“How are you feeling?” I ask him. He’s maybe the easiest guy on my team to help when it comes to work out pre-game nerves. Leo is smart and self-aware, and just talking to him often does the trick.

“I want to win,” he says.

“Yeah.” I chuckle. “Me too.”

“Not just tonight. Every night from here on out.” He meets my gaze with an intensity that shows his determination.

“Let’s fucking do it then.” I offer him a fist and he touches his gloved hand to mine. “One game at a time. Nice and easy tonight.”

He nods his head along, understanding the plan.

I find Declan and Nick over by the plexiglass. Declan is giving a little boy a puck and Nick tosses one over for his son, Aidan.

Aidan waves at me and I wave back. Nick turns to me and gives me a chin jut.

“Is that your dad?” I ask, watching as Aidan goes to stand by an older guy a few rows up. The guy has on a Wildcat’s jersey and smiles down lovingly at Nick while placing both hands on his grandson’s shoulders.

“Yeah. He’s staying with me through the end of the season to help with Aidan.”

“That’s nice.” A hint of jealousy surges through me, but I quickly block it out. I know my dad is watching at home and I plan to give him a game to remember.

I finish making my rounds. It’s not all selfless. Making sure they’re ready helps me focus too. And when all the pre-game events finally settle and I take the ice for the start of the game, I’m ready. I come to a stop in the circle, place my stick on my thigh, glare at my opponent, and then flick my gaze up to the stands.

I barely look, already turning back to wait for the puck drop, when I spot Everly and my dad.

I pull out of position and skate backward. She smiles and waves, and my dad…I swallow down a lump in my throat. My dad gives me a nod. It transports me back to when I was a kid and he’d be in the crowd always ready to remind me I had this. We’ve shared entire conversations through nods. Some I’ve understood; others I haven’t, but today I understand him perfectly.

“You all right?” Leo asks quietly in my ear as he skates to me.

“Yeah.” I tear my gaze away from Everly and my dad. “I’m great.”

But I’m drawn right back to looking at them. My chest expands and my lips curve up.

Leo must follow my line of vision because he says, “Ah. I get it. I know how it is getting distracted by your girl before a game. I know that feeling.”

“Not distracted. Inspired.” I don’t know how she did it, but I know Everly is responsible for getting my dad here. She knew what it would mean to me. She knows just what I need, always.

“Are you ready?” The ref looks to me while everyone waits for me to take my place.

“Forget what I said earlier,” I tell Leo. “Let’s turn it up tonight. I’m not holding anything back.”