Page 71 of Pucking Forbidden

Theo’s grin widens. “Good! I’ll pretend I had nothing to do with it.”

“You didn’t,” I agree with a laugh.

He slips back through the door, leaving me alone. I quickly slip the jersey on before making my way back to my seat. The jersey is big on me, but I don’t care. I wear it with my chin raised, a little extra pep in my step.

Grace spots me first when I rejoin the girls.

“Oh my!” She looks me up and down with a grin. “So that’s where you went.”

I smile, my cheeks heating. “Is it okay?”

“You look cute as fuck!” Skyler exclaims.

Rylee arches a brow and gives me a knowing smile. “Wilder is going to love having his own personal fangirl.”

“Yes, he is,” Sutton agrees with a mischievous glint in her honey-brown eyes.

I laugh and shake my head. “You guys, it’s just a jersey! I’m just showing support for my friend.”

“Oh, sure,” Stacey nods and smirks. “We can go with that.”

I roll my eyes and drop into my seat, but there’s a part of me that’s a little thrilled by their teasing. None of them seem bothered by the thought of Julian and me being…close.

I look down at the jersey, smoothing my hands over the fabric. A small smile touches my lips. It feels right to wear it and show off exactly whose side I’m on. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude toward Theo for getting it for me.

The heavy double doors swing open, and the coaching staff files out onto the bench. Grandpa steps out first, looking imposing and razor-sharp in his tailored charcoal suit and a slate-blue tie that perfectly matches the team colors. His gaze lands on me, brows lifting in surprise.

“Hadley? What are you doing here?”

Shit. How could I have been so stupid? My entire body freezes as the reality of our seats sinks in. We are sitting directly behind the Night Hawks’ bench. I can’t let on that this jersey means something more to me than team spirit.

Playing it cool, I grin and wave. “We came to surprise you and the guys! We couldn’t miss the first game!”

He gives me a wide smile, but then he appears to notice my jersey and furrows his brow in confusion.

“That’s Wilder’s number,” he declares with a furrowed brow.

“Good observation,” I reply with a chuckle. “I’m just showing team spirit.”

“Mm,” he grumbles. “Next time, I’ll give you mine.”

I give him a smile and a nervous laugh. “Sure, Grandpa. I’d like that.”

He squints at me for another moment before turning to focus on his pregame prep.

I let out a sigh of relief. That was close.

The sudden, deafening roar of the crowd rattles the glass right in front of us. The energy is electric, buzzing through the arena like a live wire. All around us, the stands are a clashing sea of colors. The fierce crimson and gold of the Boston Kingsmen cut through the wave of the Night Hawks’ navy blue and gold. A few minutes later, the team comes flowing out of the tunnel.

I scan the group for Julian, and when I finally find him, he’s already looking up at me. When our gazes meet, everything else seems to fade for a second, and it’s just him, staring at me. He freezes, his eyes wide and stunned, clearly surprised to see me here, just like the rest of the guys, who are already grinning, looking up, and waving at their girls in our row. For a split second, the weight in my chest lifts, thinking he’s just happy I made the trip.

Then his gaze drops to my chest, and his entire face shifts.

The momentary softening vanishes, replaced instantly by a dark, rigid tension as his jaw tightens so hard a muscle leaps in his cheek. He looks almost furious.

Confused by his sudden change in expression, I turn sideways, pointing an anxious hand toward the gold block lettering across my shoulder blades to show him it's his. Wilder.

Julian’s entire face lights up. A slow, breathtaking smile spreads across his lips…one I’ve never seen him give anyone else. I smile back, and his returning gaze is so intense that a strange jolt of heat shoots straight to my core.