I cringe when Maverick’s slammed into the boards. In front of me, Adam and a guy from Vermont collide and both go down, but not before Adam passes the puck to Heath. It’s like a wrestling match on skates, but Heath races to the net, past defenders, and finds the net. The horn blares and we go crazy with the rest of the crowd.

The goal seems to shift things and Vermont is sloppier, not quite recovering their composure. Valley holds on to win by one.

I decide to wait for Heath by the locker rooms. I have no idea what I’m going to say, but avoiding him forever isn’t an option.

The guys are slow to come out and I’m pacing and wringing my hands when his dark head finally comes through the door. He pauses when he sees me and Maverick runs into the back of him. I start toward him and meet him halfway.

“Hey,” he says tentatively.

“Congratulations.”

“Thanks.”

We both shift awkwardly, and I step forward and hug him. He hugs me back but hisses through his teeth.

“Oh, shit, sorry.” I step back as he winces. “You got tossed around like a rag doll out there tonight.”

“Yeah, it got a little rough.”

“Are you headed to The Hideout?”

“That was the plan, unless…”

“Yeah, you should go. It was a big victory.”

“You’re not coming?” There’s obvious disappointment on his face.

“Not tonight. Dakota and I are going to watch Reagan’s play. It’s opening night. But maybe we can talk tomorrow?”

“Really?” He looks so excited about it, I can’t help but smile.

“Yeah, really. We should talk. It isn’t like we can avoid each other forever.”

“Wouldn’t want to even if I could.” I’m at a loss for words and he takes my hand. “Just give me a chance to explain.”

I nod and take a step away, breaking our contact. “Tomorrow.”

Seeing Reagan perform a second time is just as amazing as the first, and bonus that I get to watch as Dakota and the rest of the crowd react.

“She’s so damn talented,” Dakota says when it’s over. She wipes an honest to goodness tear from her eye. “I don’t even like theater.”

“Let’s go find her. She said she’d meet us out in the lobby.”

I’m surprised to see my brother and Rhett as we crowd into the lobby with everyone else. Their tall and muscular frames make them easy to find, but getting to them takes a few minutes. When we do, I ask the obvious question, “What are you two doing here?”

A quick scan of them, and I can tell they’re in their travel suits for away games.

Adam hugs me. “She always comes to support us, so we thought we’d return the favor.”