Page 75 of Pay the Piper

I throw myself toward her and hug her tight. I’m not sure what possesses me, but after everything between Misha and me, I feel almost like I’m meeting my sister as well. “Hi! Yes, of course he’s mentioned you! How did you know it was me?”

She stiffly returns my gesture, giving me what I would consider half of a hug. “I’ve heard so much about you I could probably spot you with my eyes closed. I didn’t realize you would be such a…hugger, though.”

“Oh! I’m sorry!” God, I’m such an idiot. I’m sure she already hates me.

“I learned the hard way too, Abby. Don’t worry.” Ellie cackles beside us as I let go, then turns back to her soon-to-be sister-in-law. “I didn’t know you were going to be here tonight. Does Thatcher know, or are you surprising him?”

“Don’t worry about it, as long as Misha has someone to hug, I’ll learn to deal.” Mila pats my shoulder, then gives her attention to Ellie. “Yes, he knows. I was supposed to fly back to Russia today, but after Thatcher’s surprise last night, I made some arrangements. Plus, there’s a big race tonight, and he’s been dying for me to take him to one. Are either of you going?”

Ellie shakes her head. “No, Teddy has been practicing, but he’s nowhere near there yet. I told him I would be too tired, but to be honest, I just wanted to save him some face. I think Nikki is going, though.”

“Oh yes, your brother will be there, and with Misha out of the picture, he’s my only real competition.”

“What’s wrong with Misha?” Ellie looks at me, but I throw my hands up and shrug. “Mila?”

Mila grins wider than I’ve seen all night. “Oh, nothing’s wrong with him per se, but Thatcher has a little surprise for him. You’re going to love it, Abby.”

Confusion must be written across my face because I am fucking confused.

“Okay, I’ll tell you. It’s a special cushion for the pillion seat. Thatcher loves to backpack, but it can cause his butt to go numb after a while, so I suggested it for longer rides. Misha is going to hate it, and I know there’ll be hell to pay, but it’s going to be worth it just to see the look on his face.”

“Um…okay…” I still have no idea what’s going on.

“Are you going tonight?” Ellie asks.

I shrug. “Oh, I don’t know. Misha hasn’t mentioned anything.”

“Trust me, you’re going.” Mila winks.

And for your captains…number 8 Gabri Santori and number 34 Nikki Santori!

The Santori family box goes wild at the announcement of the brothers, and it’s impossible not to join in the cheering. Even Mila claps for them a little more enthusiastically than the rest of the players. The only other person not screaming like a banshee is a beautiful blonde woman pressed against the glass. She may be silent, but her eyes tell a completely different story.

“Who is that?” I whisper to Ellie when the shouts die down enough to hear.

She looks at where I’m discreetly pointing and smiles. “That’s Nikki’s old friend. Her husband, Chad, is a new transfer this year. The two of them and Nikki used to be as thick as thieves in college. She would sometimes come home with Nikki, and I just thought she was the coolest girl in the world. Of course I was quite a bit younger, and she was a hip college girl, but still.”

“Wow, how cool for them to get to play together now!”

Ellie makes a face I can’t quite decipher. “I suppose. I honestly don’t know. The whole time Nikki was in college, those two were all he ever talked about. But I haven’t heard him mention them once since he graduated.”

The team skates to their bench, and I abandon my train of thought the moment Misha passes with the biggest grin on his face. He’s so much better on the ice than he was when we first met. The memory of our first lesson threatens to bring tears to my eyes. The past ten years of my life might have been a nightmare, but they brought me to my Misha, and for that I’m thankful. I would do it all over again for this man.

Joy floods my soul at the thought of how happy the rest of my life is going to be. I’m sandwiched between Mila and Ellie, two women who I truly believe would have my back no matter what. I have the sworn protection of Nikki Santori. The love of my life is only a few meters away, and even though he’s not an actual hockey player, he looks damn good all suited up.

The horn blows, the puck drops, the game starts, and life is good.

Chapter 29

I can practically taste my irritation with myself as we wait for Dante and Gabri to join us in the empty office we’ve commandeered. I’m acting ridiculous, and I know it. But I can’t help it. Knowing that Abby is several rooms over in the family suite is torture. It’s been hours since I’ve seen her, and the urge to have her within arm’s reach at all times is growing every day.

“Misha! Please pull yourself together for five minutes, for Christ’s sake. Don Santori will be in here any minute,” Mila hisses, aggravation written across her face.

She’s rarely seen me in such a state. I could count on one hand how many times I’ve lost my patience like this, and I’ve earned her wrath on each occasion, so I know it’s coming later. I really can’t help it, though. Not when I get to have her as a backpack while I race. My fiery girl. I haven’t felt the intoxicating freedom of a real race in months, and the chance to beat a Santori with my girl wrapped around my back…

Nikki chuckles, pushes himself from where he was propped against the wall, and pats Mila on the shoulder. “Cut the man some slack. He’s in love.”

Mila grabs his wrist with predatory speed. “First off, little Santori, don’t touch me. Second, in love or not, he has a job to do.” She throws his hand away from her and turns to me. “Fifteen minutes. Hold it together for fifteen minutes, and you can get back to Abby.”