Body Checking by Ryan Marie

Maren Thompson
What happens when you mix being dumped over a text, moonshine, and a mischievous best friend? You get utter mortification.
Nothing good ever comes from drinking alcohol made by a guy named Beryl after a breakup. One minute you’re crying into your popcorn bowl and the next, you wake up with a pounding headache and a viral video where you professed your love for a certain NHL coach. It sounded like a good idea at the time, but so do a lot of alcohol induced actions. Add to that your best friend surprising you with your face on the Jumbotron next to said NHL coach, and it’s the perfect reason for changing your name and moving to a new country. I was all set to never go to another Houston Havoc’s game after that night, until their coach, Cade “The Hammer” Hamlin, former NHL star turned NHL coach, and the man I said I would walk across ice wearing a bikini to meet sent me a package, inviting me to be his guest.
Surely it was a pity invite because men like him don’t go for girls like me.
Do they?

Cade Hamlin
Waking to a barrage of text messages from my players was not how I wanted to start the day. But after watching a video of a beauty who said she was dying to meet me, all was forgiven.
I thought I’d never see her again, but when she showed up the next night at the game, I thought it had to be fate bringing us together.
Some may say tracking her down using my player and his friend is overstepping, and they’d be correct. But I had to see her again, and I’d do just about anything to make that happen. When I finally got my chance to meet her, I knew Maren Thompson would be the woman I’d move heaven and earth to be with.
It wasn’t going to be easy to break down her walls. They were high and built over time using the words of unworthy men and cowardly women. But I was up for the challenge. I’d show her what it felt like to be worshiped and adored, and prove to her that I was just the man to do it.
If only she could see the beauty I do.