Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
I chuckle softly, my gaze fixed on Cole as he leans eagerly against the glass, utterly captivated. Stormi nudges me. “Do they always warm up like this?”
I turn my attention to the rival team, clad in bright yellow and white jerseys, gliding across the ice. “What are they doing?” I ask, genuinely perplexed.
“Stretching,” Cole replies matter-of-factly. “It’s for their hips.”
“Yep. That’s why the friendly girls show up early wearing shirts like that.” Sydney adds, her voice low. “And why I didn’t argue about bringing Cole early.”
“You knew about this?” I ask her, incredulous as I take in the visual chaos unfolding before us. “This ice violation is something else.” I mutter under my breath.
“Yes. Just wait until your hockey shadow avenger does that. I’ll be sure to grab you a napkin for your drool.” She jokes, and I elbow her lightly.
“Here they come, Luci.” Cole exclaims, a wide grin spreading across his face just as I was about to speak.
Stormi leans in closer. “I swear they look like Norse gods entering the battlefield. I have to interview them soon; are they all nice or at least not complete jackasses?”
“Actually, they’re nicer than you’d expect. Just a bit guarded and stoic. It’s a defense mechanism against the pillow girls over there.” I inform her, keeping my eyes on the players as they make their way around the rink.
Suddenly, I catch Easton’s gaze, his eyes narrowed and focused on me. He subtly gestures for me to head toward the player entrance nestled between the two benches.
“Cole, I think your daddy wants to see you.”
He nods eagerly, taking my hand. “He said I could see him if it was mostly empty.” We make our way over, and the guys all greet Cole with fist bumps, including Kendall. Cole beams with joy. Easton gives him a fist bump too. “Hi Daddy.” Cole whispers, his voice filled with excitement. “You’re going to win, Mr. Icebreaker.”
Easton ruffles his hair affectionately. “Can’t lose. My good luck charms are here.” His gaze shifts to me. “Give me your hats.”
He moves over to the bench and returns with a marker. He signs Cole’s hat first before turning to me with a playful half-smile as he scribbles on mine. “Here, sweetness. I better not catch you staring at the rival team doing their hip stretches, or my offer with a hockey stick and your… tail from the other night still stands.”
“I might have been learning about what was happening. My hockey knowledge instructor said they are stretching.” I narrow my eyes at him, trying to maintain my composure.
He bites his bottom lip, shaking his head with a smirk. “Then you can learn what it should look like in a minute when I stretch. And maybe you’ll decide to identify as the ice floor.” He retorts before backing away toward the ice. Thankfully, Cole is too busy reading his hat to notice the blush creeping up my cheeks. “Pretty in pink.” Easton calls out with amusement as he turns away.
We return to Sydney and Stormi, and they immediately notice my flushed cheeks. “You’re blushing to the roots of your hair. What did he say?” Sydney whispers, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“Something about me identifying as the ice rink floor after I watch him.” I mumble, and Sydney bursts into laughter.
Stormi tries to hide her amusement. “Well, Luci Lou, can I identify as a section of it too? Holy smokes, that is unbelievably hot.” She peeks up through her lashes at the Reed boys, and I catch Easton’s gaze, that familiar pleased smirk playing on his lips.
“I’m getting you a shirt that says ‘Ice’ across it.” Sydney teases me. “I’ll buy a freaking three-pack. Wow.”
“Little boy alert.” I warn them, glancing around.
“We’re behaving. But it’s nice to have a little fun at your expense. What did he write on your hat?” Sydney swipes it from my hands and lets out a shout of laughter.
I grab it back to read. “Sweet and sassy…” It says on the top of the brim, accompanied by a tiny arrow. Flipping it over, I see the inside band reads “with a hot ass-y.”
“He’s a poet today.” I grumble, shooting a glare in Easton’s direction.
Just then, Sydney’s family arrives, and I can’t help but laugh as Banning extends a hand for me to shake. “I heard I make someone uncomfortable.”
I reach out and pull him into a hug. “He deserves it.”
Banning laughs as he hugs me back. “That hoodie definitely looks a size too big for you, Luci Lou.” He winks as his parents join in, wrapping their arms around me along with Barrett.
Turning around, I find Easton’s eyes narrowed right at me. He mouths the word “touch?” before skating away, leaving me momentarily flustered.
Cole’s mission for the day is to teach me how they can change positions to score. He’s impressively patient as I fumble through the details, messing it up time and again. “Coco the cool cucumber.” I call him at the end, especially after the Kings win decisively.
“Luci, I am a coconut. Tough on the outside, sweet in the middle. That’s what Jackson said the other night. He doesn’t come up with the fun dreams like you do.”
“Maybe give the Ice Wall a break. He doesn’t have a glitter rainbow rolling around his head like I do.” I retort playfully.
Cole laughs, as always, at my description. After dropping Stormi and Sydney off, I take Cole home. It’s late when I tuck him into bed. “Dream about rainbows that play hockey, with storm clouds as the opposing team.”
He barely manages a smile before his body relaxes completely. I leave the lamp on while I put his books away. Just then, the connecting door opens, and I see Easton walking in, his hair still damp from the shower. He kisses Cole’s forehead, a familiar gesture, before I switch the lamp off. He turns on the monitor, and as my eyes adjust to the dim light, he suddenly sweeps me over his shoulder and heads for the door.
“Easton.” I whisper, a mix of surprise and laughter in my voice as he steps into his room.
He playfully smacks my backside, causing me to jump in surprise. Once he closes the door, I squirm, trying to escape his grip, but he simply walks closer to his bed.
“You’ve misbehaved, sweetness. Letting Banning hug you while I was watching.” He places a knee on his mattress, and I tumble down onto it, pinned beneath him. “Before I decide your punishment, what were you punishing me for? I wanted to charge up the steps for that.”
Luci
As Easton leans in, his lips brush against the delicate curve of my neck, sending shivers down my spine. The warmth of his kiss pulls me from my thoughts, reminding me of the jealousy he once confessed about Banning, that night when everything shifted between us. It was the same night he first kissed me, a moment etched in my memory forever.