Page 118 of Right Man, Right Time
“Yessssssss,” Ross screams while shaking me. Then he turns to Mr. Mustard, and they belly bump.
I laugh while I watch Silas hold his stick up and celebrate with his boys.
I have to admit, this is probably one of the hottest things I’ve ever watched.
* * *
“Are you sure this is allowed?”I ask as we walk down a cinderblock-lined hallway.
Right before the game ended—the Agitators taking the game two to zero—an attendant told us to meet her after the game at the top of the stairs. I assumed she was sent by Silas, so I listened.
But now that we’re walking through the inner depths of the arena, I’m slightly nervous.
“Yes,” Carrie says. “This is very much allowed.”
“Do you think we’ll see Ian Rivers?” Ross asks, now wearing an Agitators shirt and holding a giant foam finger that Mr. Mustard bought him. Before we left, they exchanged phone numbers and plan on meeting up to watch another game together. When I tell you I don’t recognize my best friend, I mean it. In the last few hours, he’s completely transformed. I even considered leaving the game after the second period, but Ross was glued to the Plexiglas. He wasn’t going anywhere.
“I’m not sure. Ian keeps to himself a lot. He usually slips right out of the locker room and is usually the last to leave.”
As we turn the corner, we see a few people standing by a door, and I recognize one in particular.
“Ollie,” Winnie says with a bright smile on her face. “Ah, it’s so great to see you.” She wraps me in a large hug and then looks up at Ross. “And who do we have here?”
“This is Ross, my best friend,” I say. “He recently became a huge fan of hockey, and when I say recently, I mean tonight.”
Winnie smiles. “Isn’t it thrilling?”
“I’m pretty sure I’m living on some sort of sports high, and that’s never happened to me in my entire life. Now I get it. I understand why grown-ass men cry over sports.”
Winnie and I both laugh. “Pacey, the goalie, is my fiancé.”
“Really?” Ross asks. “He was amazing tonight. Mr. Mustard was telling me he’s one of the best goalies in the entire league.”
Winnie’s cheeks blush as she says, “I don’t know who Mr. Mustard is, but I could not agree more.”
“And holding the other team to no goals, such a thrill to watch. Got a win for this girl’s birthday.” Ross hugs me close.
“It’s your birthday?” Winnie asks. “Oh my gosh, happy birthday.”
“Thank you,” I say just as the locker room door opens, and Hornsby pops out.
He offers us a quick wave. “Going home to my girl. We’ll catch up later.”
“Who was that?” Ross asks breathlessly.
“Eli Hornsby,” Winnie answers. “Also known as Prince Charming. The prettiest face you will ever see.”
“And he, uh, he has a girl?”
Winnie chuckles. “A girl and a baby on the way.”
“How unfortunate,” Ross says just as the door opens again. This time, it’s Silas.
His eyes lift from where he adjusts his sleeves, and an adorable smile spreads across his face when he spots me.
He’s so dreamy . . .
My stomach twists in nervous knots from the pure sight of him in a suit, hair freshly wet from a shower, his face still covered in a thick scruff that I know would feel good against my skin. And with his bright eyes set on me and me alone, I wait in anticipation to see what he’ll do.
