“You didn’t eat, Shea,” Grace complained.

“I’m fine,” Shea said through his teeth as he kissed her, and then went towards the door.

“There will be a wedding this time next year, I feel it. You guys be ready-”

Shea walked out before he heard anything else his mother had to say. There was no way he was in love. Elli was amazing, perfect even, but he didn’t love her. Not saying he would never love her, but right now, no.

There was no way.

Right?

Elli was beyond excited. She had her number six jersey on while Harper was decked out in number two gear. They both also had their faces painted with their favorite player’s numbers. Elli had to admit, they were too damn cute for words.

Harper was leaning back and drinking a beer as she looked around the filling arena. Elli was practically bouncing in her seat, she was so excited about the game, and about seeing the guys on the ice for the first time since last season, but mostly about seeing Shea.

“This is cool, I guess,” Harper said. Elli looked over at her, a big grin on her face.

“It's amazing!” She gushed, causing Harper to shake her head.

“Apparently, Jakob’s family is here from Russia or wherever the hell he’s from.”

She was looking around at the boxes. Elli looked up at what she knew was Shea’s family’s box.

“Did you meet them?” Elli asked her friend.

“Hell no, we aren’t together like that. He asked, and I, of course, said f**k no,” she said nonchalantly.

“Harp, come on now, y’all are together.”

“No, we aren’t. We’re just screwing around, and he’s the one trying to take this to a level that it isn’t,” she said with a shrug.

“I’m gonna point this out because of how you ousted me to our friends, but aren’t you wearing a number two on your face along with the jersey?” Harper looked down at her jersey, then back at Elli.

“It means I’m proud of who I’m screwing. Plus, he said if I wear his number he’ll make it worth my while, and of course I want that.”

“Oh, of course,” Elli said with a shake of her head. Harper was impossible. This was the first guy that had lasted more than a week with Harper. They had been going strong for almost a month, even though Harper wouldn’t talk to him for days at a time. Elli knew there was something there. She also knew that Harper was scoping the place out: she was looking for any sign of Jakob, probably seeing if she could find his family’s box, which Elli knew was the one by Shea’s.

All of a sudden the audience started screaming, causing Harper to jump. Elli popped up screaming along with the fans because the team was coming out to warm up. Shea was the last one out. When Elli saw him, she grinned. He looked amazing all suited up with no glasses covering his blue eyes. In a way, she missed them. His helmet sat on his head, but it wasn’t buckled yet. She knew he wouldn’t do that until the game started. He skated around the rink twice before he saw her. The grin that came over his face was so bright, it could have blinded someone. He skated over to where she sat, smiling and pointing to his face.

Elli shrugged and said, “So, I’m a fan.”

“Turn around.”

It was hard to hear him, but she turned around, and when she faced him again he was smiling broadly. He pulled his glove off and held up three fingers, then kissed his palm and pressed it to the glass. She pressed her hand against his, and said, “Good luck.”

Shea skated off with a nod.

“Oh. My. God. Y’all disgust me. That was straight out of some sappy love story,” Harper complained.

“Oh, shut up,” Elli said with a huge grin. She loved it.

“What the hell did that mean, anyway?”

“He’s going to score me three goals.”

“Okay, that’s pretty hot. Not as hot as Jakob is right now, but hot.”

Elli shook her head, falling into her seat.

That man was going to drive her bat shit crazy. She held up her hand and ordered another beer, as she watched the show of the guys warming up. They were playing the Sharks tonight, a fierce competitor. It was going to be a good game.

People were filing to their seats as they cheered for the team. Elli laughed as she saw the females pressing their br**sts against the glass, with “Adler” written across their chests. She also saw the kids with their homemade signs for Shea. He always made it a point to give his stick or a puck to a few lucky kids, and it was so cute when they would run off to show their parents, jumping up and down in excitement.

“He hasn’t even acknowledged me yet!” Harper wailed. Elli looked up at her, then back at the ice where Jakob and Shea were shooting back and forth to each other.

“Harp, he’s warming up,” Elli insisted.

“Shea came over and did his little thing. Where’s my little thing!?” Harper whined.

Elli shook her head, knowing her friend was very much in a relationship, even if she didn’t want to admit it. Harper might have found her match. Jakob was hot as hell and, from what Shea said, a really great guy.

Just then, Jakob looked up and saw Harper. He smiled, nodding his chin at her. Harper smiled back, turning around to show him her new jersey with his number on it. Jakob just grinned, watching as she twirled around for him, doing a little dance. She pointed to her face, before blowing him a kiss and he made a kissy face back at her.

It was downright disgusting, and Elli couldn’t wait to tell everyone.