Liam

I used to tell myself that hockey was all I needed to be happy. As long as I had the game, nothing in the world could bring me down. Now I realize how much I would have missed out on if I let myself keep up with that charade.

If I had ignored all my feelings for Mel and let myself be the forever bachelor, I wouldn't have experienced all the joy she brings to my life. Had I not opened myself up to new possibilities and let go of my guilt for falling for the girl my best friend always loved, I would have regretted it.

Mel and I have taken our relationship to new levels, and I don't just mean physically. Some nights we'll just lay in bed, talking about the future, our hopes, and dreams. We can talk for hours on end and not get tired of it.

I've shared things with her that I've never told anyone- things I never thought I'd say aloud. And she's listened to every word without an ounce of judgment. She's the first person I see when I wake up and the last thing I see before falling asleep each night.

It's hard to believe she's mine. Sometimes even after everything we've been through, it still feels like a dream. I fell for her years ago, and I'm still falling to this day. I know I'm finally free to tell her that, but a small part of me wants to hear her say it first.

Call it chivalry, call it fear, call it whatever you want. When I say those words, it'll be because I finally know that I've made Mel as happy as she makes me. When that time comes, it'll be because she's ready. It will be because I've made her feel safe, loved, and truly happy.

I always tell her I'd never pressure her into anything. This is no different. I won't say the words unless I know she's ready to hear them. So, I'll wait however long it takes. I know she's worth the wait.

"What's got you smiling like that this morning?" I hear Mel's sexy sleepy voice filter through my ears.

I turn my attention to her as she lays in my arms, her hair splayed around her with a lazy smile on her lips. "You, Mel. Always you."

A hint of pink appears on her cheeks as she takes my compliment, letting her eyes roam my face as she continues to wake up. "How are you always so sweet?" She asks, running her hands up my chest.

I pull her closer, placing soft kisses on her face as I answer, "I'm always this sweet for you, Mel, because you deserve nothing less."

I didn't mean for my words to lead to anything more, but I wasn't going to deny my girl when she pulled me on top of her and started making demands. After all, when it comes to her, I aim to please. And if her cries were any indication, I did my job well.

~

Tonight, we have a big game against Calgary. We've been looking forward to it all week, especially since we found out who the newest member of their team is- Tatum Charles. Apparently, they didn't care about his shit reputation and let him join the team after he got kicked from Florida.

It'll be the first time we've seen him since last season and his behavior back then is still fresh in our minds. He doesn't just dish out dirty hits on the ice; he thinks it's okay to taunt our girls through the glass. And that's one thing we have zero tolerance for.

It's one thing to talk shit to us or target us on the ice, but it's a whole other story when it comes to our ladies. I doubt Charles has changed much since we last played him, so I'm sure he'll be up to his same old shit. I just wonder which one of us will get the first piece of him.

That's the main topic of discussion as the boys and I head out to grab lunch before heading back to the arena. Damien brings up the fight T.J. had with Tatum a couple of seasons ago as we walk by a large building with a for sale sign.

It catches my eye enough to stop me in my tracks. "Hey, what did this place used to be?" I ask no one in particular.

Dan answers as he stops beside me, "I think it was a community center. They had different areas for people to come and play different sports- basketball, gymnastics, swimming. I think they even had a spot for hockey."

"Huh, wonder what it'll turn into after it sells," I wonder aloud as Ben grumbles about needing food.

We start walking again as Dan shakes his head. "No idea, man. You looking to open up a sports center or something?"

I chuckle. "No, I just don't remember seeing the place before."

"That's probably why it's for sale. Not enough business," Dan replies.

"Yeah, you're probably right." I take one last glance at the community center as we cross the street to grab lunch. I don't know why, but something about it caught my eye.

My attention returns to the group as I hear Damien ask, "Who's got money that Tatum gets his ass kicked again tonight?"

Everyone shouts in agreement as we all start making predictions. "My money's on Cap. One wrong word about his new wifey, and Tatum will be on his ass." Rob predicts, looking at Chase, who just smirks back at him.

Damien interjects, "I don't know, man. I think Tatum will try to go round two with T.J. after he got his ass handed to him during their last fight."

"Fucker deserves it," Tyler mumbles. He's still pissed about an incident a few years ago where Tatum grabbed his girl's ass. Can't say I blame the guy. If anyone did that to Mel, I'd lay them out.

Our debate over who was most likely to fight Tatum tonight was still raging as we grabbed lunch and headed back to the arena. No matter what happens, I'm sure one or more of us will end up in the penalty box because of that fucker. It always happens when we play against him.

~

The countdown to the puck drop has begun, and both teams start our warm-up. I see the section where the girls are sitting and smile as I catch Mel's eye. She watches as I skate toward her, wanting to say hi before the game gets going.

When I get close to the glass, she cocks her head to the side and looks me over, pulling her lip between her teeth in approval. I laugh to myself before sliding my hungry eyes over her form, imagining what kind of celebration we'll have when this is over.

Win or lose tonight; I'm still coming out on top.

After a few minutes of getting worked up with Mel, I skate out to prepare for the game. I start to get zoned in and ready to play when I hear Chase curse.

When I look at him, I see his attention is locked on someone at the other end of the ice. He watches the player's every move as he skates closer and closer to where our girls are. "I swear, if that son of a bitch says something to Lins, I'm tossing him through the glass."

My shoulders tense as I watch Tatum skate in front of the girls' section. He keeps going, not even looking their way. I narrow my eyes, wondering what he's up to. I doubt he's changed his ways. We'll have to keep a close eye on him, but for now, we need to focus.

When I see Tatum skate by the girls again and keep going, I bump Chase's shoulder. "Come on, man, let's finish our warm-up. He hasn't said anything yet. Maybe his new coach is cracking the whip."

He nods and follows me to the net, taking one last look back at Tatum. It's been several minutes without incident, and I start to think this game might be different than the rest.

As our warm-up comes to an end, I see T.J. fly over to one end of the rink. I look to see what lit a fire under his ass and find his target. Tatum is standing in front of the seating staring at Mel, Tay, and Lins with a smug look on his face. That's when I notice Tay is standing up, screaming at the glass, and Mel looks close to tears.

Oh, that mother fucker!

Chase must have noticed the same thing I did because we're headed toward Tatum at full speed within seconds of each other. T.J. reaches him first, slamming him against the wall as we hear Tay yell, "Fuck you, asshole!"

"The fuck you say to my girl?" T.J. yells as Tatum turns to face us, wearing his usual smirk.

Chase and I reach them as T.J. pushes Tatum, repeating his question. We pull them apart when Tatum answers, "I just said I bet she's a firecracker in bed. I'm I right, Levine?"

Sparks fly as soon as the words leave the smug asshole's lips. T.J. lunges at him, nearly making me lose my grip on his shoulders. Our scuffle gains everyone else's attention on the ice, and before I know it, guys from both teams are involved, trying to pull T.J. and Tatum apart.

Shit, it looks like Damien may win that bet after all.

It takes six of us to separate them as Tatum keeps spewing bullshit, antagonizing T.J. When we finally get Rob and Drew to take T.J. to the locker room to cool down, I go to the glass to check on Mel, Tay, and Lins.

"What the hell did he say to you?" I ask Tay, who's still fuming as she shoots daggers across the ice at Tatum as his teammates drag him out of the rink.

She informs me that Tatum came over pulling his usual shit, so they ignored him. He then tried to egg them on further and proceeded to ask Mel if the carpet matched the drapes.

He's dead!

As soon as I hear that, my blood boils. He's a fucking dead man! That explains why Mel looks so upset.

I look over at her, trying to calm myself as Tay continues, "That's when I went off on him. Then he said something about me being a spitfire and how he imagined what I could do in bed. That's when Tanner came over and tried to take out the trash."

"Fuck, I'm sorry." I say, looking from Tay and Lins to Mel before asking, "Are you okay?"

She nodded. "I'm fine. He was just so crude. It didn't even seem real at first."

I shook my head, trying to cool my anger. "Don't worry, babe. He's gonna get what's coming to him."

She gave me a half-smile before I was pulled to the locker room. After that, there's no denying this game would be physical. And I'm willing to bet it'll be a race between T.J. and I to see who gets the first piece of that son of a bitch tonight.