Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance (Sinners on the Ice)
Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance: Chapter 36

Now, January

I glance at Layla, and my lips break into a wide grin. She’s so fucking beautiful tonight. Her hair is down, pinned to one side with her Tinker Bell hairpin that matches the ring on her finger. She’s wearing red lipstick and a little makeup on her eyes to emphasize their rich brown color. And her dress is immaculate: creamy white with long sleeves and a skirt that ends around her calves, paired with nude stilettos. I can’t take my eyes off her. Not that I try.

In all honesty, I’m reaching the point where I want to climb the tallest building, take a megaphone in my hand, and yell for everyone to hear that I love Layla Benson and don’t ever plan to let her go. The fact that Maya kinda caught us kissing yesterday morning still makes my skin warm—not only because it was embarrassing but also because she was so incredibly happy for her mommy. I couldn’t help but tear up.

My two girls make me so fucking emotional, it’s crazy.

Someone lowers himself beside me on a bench in Thompson’s backyard. I tear my gaze away from Layla and focus on Roman. He’s in a white shirt and black pants, a little boutonniere with a pastel pink rose pinned to his chest. The happy groom himself.

“How do you feel?” I ask him.

“Good, I guess.” He crooks a smile at me. “Was kinda nervous, but I think I’m feeling better now. I still can’t believe you all helped me organize this ceremony on such short notice.”

“People will do a lot for those they care about.” I look at him. “You are my friend, Roman. I’d do anything to help you. Always.”

His gaze falls to his arm, where his tattoos are, and I know he’s thinking about his twin. Last week, on our flight from Colorado, he finally told me what happened to his brother. My heart broke for him, for the pain he endured and was still feeling. I’m glad he has Nevaeh by his side.

“Thank you, Clay. I hoped I’d meet friends when I moved to the US and signed with the Thunders.” He puts his hand on my knee. “But what I have now is a family. This little friend group is the best thing that could’ve happened to me. I have everything because of it…including my wife.”

“She’ll be so happy once she sees that you put all this together for her.”

“I hope so. My therapist says she’s noticed a lot of improvements in my behavior, in how I open up to her—slowly.” He chuckles. “My mom says it’s all because of Nevaeh.”

“I think so too. The guy I met a few years ago, when I flew out here for Michael’s birthday, and the guy sitting beside me now are two different people.”

His phone dings, and he takes it out of his pocket. A postcard with “Merry Christmas” pops up on his screen.

“Did someone forget to text you on Christmas?” I ask curiously.

Roman shoots me a quick glance, a lopsided grin splitting his lips. “No. I’m Orthodox. We celebrate Christmas on January seventh.”

“Why?”

“That’s actually the twenty-fifth of December, according to the Julian calendar our church uses. Catholics use the Gregorian calendar.”

I blink. “Okay…I think I zoned out. That doesn’t make sense.”

“It kinda does, but—” His eyes fly to the door when he notices Drake step into the backyard. “I gotta go. I think Nev is here.”

“Sure.” I watch him stand up from the bench and hurry over to Drake.

As I’m about to stand up too, Maya appears in front of me. Today, her hair is tied into two little braids, something she asked Layla to do. Her blue long-sleeved dress, pastel pink leggings, and dark blue boots make her look incredibly cute. She puts one hand on my knee; her other hand keeps Bon-Bon pressed to her chest. It’s her favorite toy now. She does everything with it, carries it around everywhere. Last night, I’m pretty certain she even walked out of the bathroom with Bon-Bon tucked under her armpit.

“What is it?”

“Smokey.” She pouts. Her chocolate brown eyes veil with tears behind her pink glasses. “He hid from me.”

I smile sympathetically. “Ava’s cat isn’t the biggest fan of people in general.”

“But Michael was holding him, and I wanted too. He run away.”

I look around. Everyone is busy with last-minute preparations. I’m sure we can sneak into the house and try to catch Smokey. That little gray devil better be ready for me to cuddle him.

“Let’s go replace him.” I stand up from the bench. Maya slips her hand in mine, and her pout stretches into a big, toothy smile.

We head inside the house. My skin is humming with how tiny her hand is compared to mine. I’m like a marshmallow: big and soft and ready to melt from this girl’s gentle touch. I love this kiddo so fucking much as if she’s my own.

“Do you like cats or dogs better?” I ask Maya.

“Both.”

I chuckle. “Point taken.”

“But I want Willa. I want Mommy to buy me Willa.”

Willa? Who the—Oh, I remember now. Layla’s been sending me vids of those two dachshunds, always saying it was Maya who asked her to.

“You want Willa?” I cock an eyebrow at her, and she nods enthusiastically. “And you’re ready to help Mommy with everything? To take her for walks?”

“Yes.”

I know that asking that is nonsensical. Of course she’d say yes and promise to help Layla with everything dog-related. All kids do that. Even I did that when I wanted a hamster when I was seven.

But I still want to make her happy. Still want to continue winning her over. So, like the smug bastard I am, I bend down to Maya, our eyes level, and say in a conspiratorial whisper, “I will talk to your mommy, okay? Because if you want a Willa, then I’m going to get you a Willa.”

Her eyes round as she pauses in the middle of the hallway. Then she lets go of my hand, wraps her tiny little arms around my legs, and hugs me tight. “I love you, Clay.”

I stop breathing.

I stop understanding where I am and what I’m doing.

All I hear are her words echoing in my brain. I love you, Clay, she said, and I swear to God, it feels just as good as when I heard Layla say it to me for the first time.

Gently, I wrap my arms around her too, my head resting on top of hers. “I love you too, Princess,” I say quietly.

My heart has never been so full.

“Clay, wait,” Layla whines, trying to wiggle out of my embrace. I hold her close, peppering her face with light kisses. “Wait—I still have an olive in my mouth,” she grumbles, and it’s the only thing that makes me pause.

I lean away, peering down at her. So stunning and so fucking mine. We stand in the darkness of the living room in Thompson’s house. Roman and Nevaeh’s wedding guests are still in the backyard.

“Thank you,” she says, finally swallowing her food. “What has gotten into you? You stole me right in the middle of my conversation with Ava.”

“I’ve been dying to tell you something, and I don’t think I can wait any longer.”

She arches an eyebrow at me. “What is it?”

“Maya told me she loves me,” I blurt on an exhale. Layla’s face becomes long as her jaw drops. Her eyes grow big like saucers.

“She told you she loves you?”

I nod.

“Oh, Clay.” She cups my face with her palms, pulls me down to her, and presses her lips to mine. It’s sweet and hot at the same time. It’s tender and passionate. It’s relaxing and impatient all at once. This kiss is like a breath of fresh air—I simply can’t exist without it.

I love her.

When our lips finally part, I press my forehead to hers, cocooning her in my warmth, my arms wrapped tightly around her. “I hate that I have to leave you. Away games have become my living nightmare.”

“I’ll miss you too, but you love playing hockey, and you’re brilliant on the ice. Always do what brings you joy, and I’ll do my best to support you.” Layla smiles gently, snaking her arms around my middle.

“Layla?”

“Yeah?”

“There’s a home game in two weeks, after our stretch of away games. We play Anaheim.” I meet her gaze. It’s warm and coating; a glint so similar to mine shimmers behind her irises. “Come to the game in my jersey. I want everyone to know you’re mine. That we are together.”

Layla holds my gaze quietly, then her lips split into a wide smile. “Okay.”

“And we’re telling our friends that we’re together tomorrow, when they come over for my birthday dinner,” I state matter-of-factly. I don’t want to do it now because it’s all about Roman and Nev today, but I don’t want to hide my love for her. Not anymore.

“Our parents, Drake, Angie, and Ava already know, so of course we can tell everyone else too.”

“I’m still mind-blown that Ava hasn’t told Colt anything. He’ll be furious when he replaces out she knew.”

“Ava is tough to crack. I don’t think it will bother her.” Layla snorts. “She’s been rooting for us from the start.”

“Me too. God, how much I love you.” I cover her mouth with mine and kiss her for so long that my lips start to feel numb. Holding her in my arms, I don’t want to leave this room at all. But I think I need to tell her what I promised Maya. “Um, about Maya…I promised her a Willa.”

“You what? You promised her a dog?” Her palms press to my chest as she attempts to push me away, but I cradle her harder to my chest.

“We will figure this out, okay?” I tell her with conviction. “Everything is going to be all right.”

Layla stops trying to pull away. Instead, she hugs me back and presses her cheek to my chest. “With you, I know we will. You’re my compass, Clay. Always pointing me in the right direction. Steady and true, never wavering, and always knowing what to do. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Two weeks later

Stepping onto the ice, the first thing I see is Layla and Maya. I came here early before warm-ups started. Loud music reverberates through the arena, sliding deep under my skin. Some people are already seated. They talk and laugh, but I can’t bring myself to care. The center of my attention is my girls standing in front of the plexiglass. I smile so big, my cheeks hurt.

They are here for me, and they are both wearing my jersey.

I skate over to them, my eyes never leaving them. Maya waves her hand, giggling heartily. Her pigtails, held on top of her head by blue scrunchies, bounce as she wiggles in her mom’s arms. She’s in dark blue jeans and little boots. Her eyes glint with excitement behind her glasses. Layla’s blond hair shines brightly under the lights of the arena, and her stunning smile does funny things to my body. I suddenly feel incredibly hot.

“Hey, Layla.”

“Hi, Clay.”

“Looking good, you two,” I comment. “My two biggest fans.”

“We are,” Layla murmurs, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear. I see her black leather jacket behind her. She notices what I’m looking at and smirks. “I always get cold when I sit so close to the ice, so I brought my jacket with me.”

“So this is all for me?” I nod at her jersey.

“It’s always all for you,” Layla tells me. “And so everyone knows that I am here to support my boyfriend. To make it known that you are taken.”

“I’ve been taken for a very long time already.” I notice my teammates stepping onto the ice. “I’ve just been waiting for you.”

“I’m so glad you did.” She presses her palm to the plexiglass, and I press mine from the other side. “We love you, Clay. Win tonight.”

“Love you too, and I’ll do my best.” I wink at Maya and turn around, putting my helmet on.

It’s time to win the game.