Break My Heart: An Enemies-to-Lovers Coach’s Daughter Sports Romance (Western Wildcats Hockey)
Break My Heart: Chapter 39

The roar of the crowd fills my ears as I line up at center ice, my heart already thudding with the adrenaline that surges before the puck drops. Playoff games are always tense and electric.

But tonight is different.

I look up into the stands and scan the crowd until I replace her.

Not only is Ava sitting with all the other girlfriends—Juliette, Carina, Fallyn, Viola, Stella, Britt, and Willow—but she’s wearing my jersey. Seeing her there has something tightening in my chest. I never expected to replace someone who made me feel complete. It’s crazy. She crashed into my life when I least expected it, and now I can’t imagine being without her.

Nor would I want to.

Even Willow’s roommate, Holland, is here tonight.

I stifle a grin.

That girl scares the hell out of me. She’s all sharp edges and attitude, the kind of person who won’t hesitate to cut you down with a single look.

I don’t know what it is, but she gives off this vibe, like you never really know what’s going on in her head.

Bridger glances at the stands, and his gaze narrows when it locks on Holland. There’s something between those two, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out what it is. He’s been dealing with a lot lately—the BS with the messages and his father—and it’s been weighing on him. You can see it in the way he moves and his sullen demeanor.

Bridger’s a good friend. I wish there were more I could do to help, but there isn’t. The only thing I can do is be there for him if he needs me.

I shove those thoughts from my head and refocus my attention. I’ve got a game to win and a girl to impress.

My mom, Ollie, Theo, and Kia are also here, cheering me on. I want my siblings to see that anything is possible with enough hard work and a shit load of determination.

As soon as the puck drops, everything around me fades to the background.

I play hard. Every shift, every pass, every check feels like it’s propelling me toward my future. And knowing that Ava’s in the stands, wearing my number, cheering for me, makes me push myself past my limits.

I want to win, not just for the team but for her.

It doesn’t take long before I’m locked into the rhythm of the game. The feel of the puck on my stick, the way my legs burn as I skate up and down the ice. It’s when I catch a clean pass and break away from the defense that everything slows. The goalie shifts, trying to anticipate my shot.

I see my opening and fire the puck.

A second ticks by.

Then another.

When it hits the back of the net with a satisfying thud, the arena erupts. The roar is deafening, and I can barely hear my own thoughts over the sound of the crowd. I skate toward the glass and point at Ava. She’s on her feet, grinning from ear to ear. The sight of her has something clicking inside me.

Even though the fans are going crazy, shouting my name, she’s the only one I’m cognizant of.

I’ve never been in love before. Never even thought about the possibility. But seeing her there, wearing my name, my number, cheering like I’m the only guy on the ice…

It’s like the world finally makes sense.

This has to be what love feels like.

The undeniable pull toward someone who makes everything brighter and better. The feeling manages to ground me while lifting me up at the same time.

As the game continues, I glance up at her whenever I can. It’s like she’s my anchor, the one thing that keeps me steady in all this chaos.

I have no idea how I got lucky enough to replace her, but I do know one thing—there’s no way in hell I’m letting her go.

Not now.

Not ever.