Pucking Strong

Emily Rath

My name is Teddy O’Connor, and I just made a terrible mistake. It’s been six years since I was an intern for the Jacksonville Rays NHL team. Six years since I was wrapping ice packs on knees and playing Mario Kart on chartered planes. And it’s been six long years since I first met him. Henrik Karlsson, star forward of the Rays… and king of my heart. Oh god, I’ve got to get over this crush! I’m a doctor now, a respected professional in my field. And Henrik doesn’t even know I exist. So, you tell me why I’m risking everything to follow this man halfway around the world! After receiving news of his sister’s tragic death, Henrik must fly to Sweden to retrieve his young niece. She’s injured and grieving, but a new hockey season is about to start. Henrik can’t possibly care for her alone. In fact, the Swedish government won’t let him. He needs me. They both do. I’d be heartless not to help… right? Well, that’s what I told myself last week as I signed our Swedish marriage license. It’s what I told myself yesterday as I moved my stuff into his apartment. And it’s what I’m telling myself now as the Rays PR Director stares us down. They want this marriage to look real. The team’s public image, our jobs, and his niece’s custody agreement all depend on it. But my problem isn’t that I don’t love my new fake husband. God help me, my problem is that I do.