Gametime: A Moo U Hockey Romance by Jami Davenport (shoe dog free ebook txt) 📗

been long and brutal. I’d done well on my tests, the last one being yesterday. I’d spoken with Pax a few times when I’d run into him on campus. He’d been friendly but distant.

Secretly, I’d met Patrick a few times to plan my grand gesture, which involved skating. Each time, I had a panic attack and was unable to step onto the ice, even with Patrick’s promises to hold on to me so I wouldn’t get hurt.

Tonight was the hockey alumni skate, and I waffled between carrying out Patrick’s plan and forgetting I’d ever agreed to such a terrifying proposition.

Kaitlyn rapped on my door. I opened it, still wearing my bathrobe.

She looked me up and down. “What the fuck is this? The guys are already headed to the rink. Everything’s set up for your grand entrance. And you’re not dressed.”

“I’m not going. I can’t do this. I’ll freak out when I’m on the ice. I can’t do it.”

“Oh, no, sister. You’re going. If I have to knock you over the head and get security to carry you out to my car.”

“I can’t do it. I’m not prepared. It’s a deep-seated phobia. I need more prep time.”

“Guess what? You don’t have more time. Tonight is the night.”

Kaitlyn crossed the room to my small fridge. She opened the door and looked inside. After grabbing a bottle of wine, she opened it and poured two glasses.

“Drink. It’ll help.”

Under Kaitlyn’s firm eye, I drank a glass of wine, hoping a little liquid courage would go a long way. My intentions of skipping tonight disappeared when I saw her determined expression. One way or another, I was going. I dressed and put on my makeup.

“You look great. Let’s go.”

“I don’t have skates. I thought you were bringing skates.” I’d been relieved to see her skateless. I might still get out of this.

“Patrick has them. You’re ruining my date with Lex the longer you stall.”

Her guilt trip tipped me over the edge. I steeled myself for the inevitable.

We got there a few minutes after the event had started. Essentially, it involved skating as couples to music with mood lighting and Christmas decorations. A banquet table and bar provided refreshments. This event was a huge hit with the alumni, and the players enjoyed it, too. Not to mention, it was a lucrative fund-raiser for the hockey program. My dad would be here, not sure about his girlfriend. Right now, my dad was the least of my worries, though I suspected he’d be humiliated by my paralyzing fear of skating and complete ineptness on the ice. When he’d suggested a grand gesture, I was positive he hadn’t had this public display in mind.

This wasn’t about my dad. This was about Paxton and proving how much he meant to me, doing something beyond words.

Kaitlyn ushered me to where Patrick waited in a remote part of the arena away from prying eyes. He handed me a box.

I stared at them in surprise. “Are these—?”

Patrick smiled at me. “He never returned them.”

Those skates had probably taken the bulk of Pax’s monthly budget, and yet he hadn’t returned them. Pax didn’t forget stuff like that, which meant his keeping them had been intentional. Tentatively, I opened the box. The skates were pink, and they were beautiful. I held one up and examined it.

“I—”

“Put them on. We don’t have all night,” Patrick insisted with a hint of impatience.

I pulled them on. They fit perfectly. Patrick bent down and laced them up tight. He straightened and gave me an encouraging smile.

“You’ll be fine,” Kaitlyn said.

“Okay, you ready?” Patrick stood and grabbed my hand. Kaitlyn and Lex watched with grins on their faces.

“It’d help to have less of an audience. I appreciate all your support, but please start your evening. Patrick and I have this.”

“You aren’t going to run, are you?” Kaitlyn narrowed her eyes and gave me her death glare. No one had a death glare like her.

“No.”

“I won’t let her,” Patrick insisted. “You two go have fun.”

Reluctantly, Kaitlyn took Lex’s outstretched hand and disappeared around the corner, pausing once to look back at me and wink.

“Ready?”

I drew in deep, calming breaths, attempting to tamp down my rising panic. I must do this. I will do this.

Patrick hauled me to my feet, and I clung to him as we made our way down the too long hallway. Our blades clacked on the floor. I wasn’t wearing guards because Patrick didn’t want to impede my progress by having to remove them before I got on the ice.

I hesitated at the gate onto the ice. I surveyed the scene before me to plot out the most direct path to Paxton with the least amount of people in my way.

My dad had been skating with his girlfriend when he saw me. He did a double take and started to skate toward me. I shook my head and pointed to Paxton, still unaware I was here. Dad grinned and nodded. He got it. He knew what I was up to and approved. His nod of endorsement gave me an extra needed boost of courage.

Patrick stepped onto the ice, grabbed me around the waist, lifted me into the rink. He held me until my legs stopped shaking—somewhat.

“You got this.” He turned me so I faced in Pax’s direction.

Pax stood in the center of the ice, watching people skate around him. His pasted-on smile was forlorn, almost lost. He turned and glanced my direction. His head snapped back around, and he took a longer look. He blinked several times.

“Ready. Go!” Patrick gave me a push across the ice.

I wobbled and wavered and stiffly glided toward Paxton, waving my arms in a desperate attempt to keep my balance. He gaped at me as if not understanding what the fuck I was doing.

He was so far away, and my heart was pounding so hard my legs trembled, and my throat closed off. I began to gasp for air, fighting for control of my panic. My eyes met Paxton’s. I never took my