“I was hoping you’d help me hang some of my new keychains on the wall,” I say.
“Okay, but only if the penis one goes front and center,” he says, and I sigh.
“I guess what they say is true. Men never grow up.”
“We grow up. I just wanted to make you blush.” Brody kisses my cheek. “I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you too, BB.”
“Let’s get dick-ssembling.”
“Please never say that to me again,” I tell him, squealing when he lifts me over his shoulder and carries me down the hall.
The keychains don’t get put on the wall, but I’m not worried. We have so many more days to spend together.
FORTY-SEVEN
BRODY
“Areyou going to tell me why I’m blindfolded?” I ask Hannah.
“Because I have a surprise for you, obviously,” she answers, guiding me forward. “And I don’t want to ruin it.”
“Sweetheart. I told you that you don’t have to cheer me up. We lost in the Stanley Cup Final, but I’m not mad about it. We had a hell of a season and—motherfucker,” I curse when my toe hits something solid. “What was that?”
“A stair. I’m sorry! Your legs are so goddamn long, it’s hard to maneuver you around objects.”
I smile at the apology in her voice and the hand she’s keeping on my waist. She made me put on the silk blindfold twenty minutes ago, but I haven’t been able to get any other details about where we’re going out of her.
My girl knows how to keep a secret, and I’m impressed.
“Are we playing another game of strip skating?”
“No, but we should try that again. It was fun, wasn’t it?” she says.
The rest of our season was something for the history books. We fought all the way to the championship, coming up just short to a young LA team, but none of the guys are disappointed. Theygave everything they had, and on the night they had to lace up and take the ice, someone else had more to give.
Shit happens, and with the offseason in full swing, I get more time with Liv and Hannah, which means all of my days are great.
Maverick hasn’t given me an answer about next season yet. Our governor has scheduled a few meetings about a possible trade, and from the guys he’s eyeing, we’re going to be the early favorites when we report to training camp.
“Very fun,” I agree. “Are we almost there, Han?”
“Yeah. One more minute.” A door opens, and I’m greeted by a cool rush of air out of the summer sun. It’s eerily quiet, and I can hear my shoes echoing over the surface we’re walking on. “I hope this is worth it.”
“I’m sure I’m going to love it.”
“What if it was a podcast recording?” she asks.
“Anythingbutthat.”
“Okay. Take your blindfold off, Brody.”
I work the blindfold over my head, squinting into the dark room. “Are you abducting me, sweetheart?”
Lights flash on. Dozens of faces pop out of me. Someone blows a streamer, and I put a hand over my chest, scared fucking shitless.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” everyone yells, and I reach for Hannah’s arm.
