I try to center myself and appreciate this age, but I’ve never been as bone-tired as I am right now. The idea of her being able to feed herself and be mobile is a really nice thought right now.
We open the door to Reed and Victoria’s house, and the rest of our friends are already there—Kyleigh with Parker, Jade and Bodhi. I’m so fortunate. It makes me feel guilty for complaining.
five
Henry
I flopdown on the bench in the visitors’ locker room.
“I just want to get this fucking game over with,” I mumble.
“You know it’s bad when Daddy swears,” Tweetie says from across the way. “But I hear you. I miss my girls.”
Rowan grunts an agreement. “And I want to get to the cabin. It feels like a lifetime away.”
Conor’s been pretty quiet since he blew up about the game being rescheduled last night. I thought for sure he was going to quit so he could be at Eloise’s doctor’s appointment. And I was about to give Coach my resignation right after Pinkie’s. The whole work-life balance is a struggle this season.
I hate that I’m missing so much of Jade’s pregnancy. Plus, she’s carrying the load of the household and Bodhi when I’m in season.
“Okay, guys, we need to get our shit together,” Conor says, surprising us all.
“I have my shit together.” Tweetie cracks his neck as if he’s gotten a crap sleep.
We’ve all been sleeping poorly because there’s nothing like sleeping next to your girl, and it’s been a week since any of us have done so.
Sometimes I wonder how I managed to live without Jade all those years.
“Magic told me earlier that we’re here, so we need to make it count. If everything goes well, we’ll all be in our beds with our wives at some point later tonight. So, let’s just put all the shit we’re missing aside like we do every game day and go out there and kick their asses.”
Tweetie jumps on Conor’s bandwagon and starts monologuing, but my phone dings with a text message. I pick up my phone to see Jade’s name.
I know you’re getting ready but wanted to wish you luck tonight. Here’s a little tease of what’s waiting for you when you land in Chicago.
My wife sends a picture of her without a shirt, her tits spilling out of her bra.
Fuck baby, I’d knock you up again if I could. Your tits are… my mouth is watering to have my mouth on your nipples.
Someone claps me on the back, and my phone slips from my hands. I scoop it up before anyone sees Jade’s picture.
All the guys look at me, then at each other.
“Sexting,” they say in unison.
“Sorry your wives don’t send you pictures to get your adrenaline going.”
“Who’s to say they don’t?” Rowan grins.
Conor throws his pad and hits Rowan square in the jaw.
“Man, they’ve had a kid. It’s pretty clear they’re fucking,” Tweetie says.
“I know, but I don’t want to think about my sister sending titty pics to anyone.”
“She better only be sending them to me.” Rowan shoots Conor a shit-eating grin to confirm that Kyleigh does, in fact, send him pictures.
Conor shakes his head.
“Listen, I know we all want to get home to be with our families, so let’s just get ready, beat these assholes, and go home.” Tweetie finishes lacing up his skates.
