“I never thought about going into the NHL ’cause I didn’t think it was possible, but Baylor Moore proved that wrong.”
And boy, did she. She was all over the media, and she was a little rough around the edges, so of course, Kacey liked her. She was nice enough, but driven. She played her heart out and had truly embarrassed all the naysayers. With a daddy like star Bruins forward River Moore, it only made sense. But still, it was so cool to see a woman in the NHL. Kacey was probably more excited than Baylor was about the first game. She just hoped it opened the door for other little girls who wanted that as their end goal.
“You could still do it, y’know,” he suggested, but she shook her head.
“I don’t want to. I want to be a wife and a mom one day. Can’t do that while I’m working to further my hockey career. And plus, I think I always knew I would end up with a hockey player. I kinda think they’re hot—”
“You mean, I’m hot,” he corrected. “Singular. One hockey player. Me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I kinda think you’re hot, and I don’t think it’d be fair to the kids when they are being raised by a nanny,” she said and he nodded.
“Yeah, you’re right. I just wish you’d use your talent on something. Maybe coaching some girlies?”
She shrugged. It was an idea, but one she really hadn’t thought about. “Maybe.”
He leaned over, kissing the side of her mouth. “You’d be good,” he said, kissing her again. “Plus, you’d be hot blowing a whistle. Which, by the way, wanna blow mine?”
He waggled his eyebrows at her and she smacked him as she laughed. “You’re a horndog.”
“Yes, ma’am. Only for you though,” he said with a wink. She grinned, going over the boards and onto the bench to untie her laces. “What are you doing after this?”
She looked up and shrugged. “You have AA, right?”
He threw off his jersey and lifted his leg, stretching it. “Yeah, in about forty. I’m gonna grab a shower and head out.”
“Cool, can I go?”
He looked over at her. “You want to?”
“Yeah,” she said slowly. “If that’s okay.”
“Yeah, I guess. I’m…um, actually, I don’t go today on normal weeks, but since tonight is the team party, I figured it’d be a good idea to go.”
“Sure, absolutely,” she agreed, and she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous about him being around all the alcohol. He seemed confident and brushed off her concerns, but still, it made her nervous. It was like putting a kid in a candy store and saying they couldn’t have any. It scared her.
“I’m…um—”
“What’s up with all the pausing and the ums?” she asked, chuckling, and he shot her a grin.
“I just got nervous for some reason that you’re going,” he admitted and her grin dropped.
“Do you not want me to go?” she asked, giving him an out. “I’d understand.”
“No, I do. It’s just…I’m singing today.”
Her head spun to the side. “Singing?”
“Yeah,” he answered sheepishly.
“Well, then, hell yeah, I’m there,” she said earnestly.
And thank God she went.