“It’s okay. Besides, seeing you get all caveman like that is a huge turn-on.” He shook his head and gave me a chaste peck as he sat up from the couch.
“I get a little crazy. You’re all mine, I waited long enough for you.”
I sat up to kiss his cheek and leaned my forehead against his. “Me too.”
Fifteen
Paige
I lovedthe Yankees but baseball became tedious after an inning or two. There was something about a hockey game, though. Not sure if it was the fast-paced movement or the rawness of it. The best part was when a fight broke out and it looked as if the glass surrounding the rink might shatter. Actually being at a game rather than watching on TV made it even more awesome—exciting and not scary since I couldn’t afford the seats by the potentially shattering glass.
One of my clients was a Rangers season ticket holder and had asked if I wanted to take the tickets for tonight’s game off his hands. I thought a night at Madison Square Garden would possibly bring Evan out of the funk he’d been in lately. I’d been fighting a nasty cold for the past week; I hoped a fun night out would boost both our spirits.
Telling his father about moving him into a home hadn’t gone over well. Even though the doctors agreed he needed the extra care and supervision, his father wouldn’t say one word to Evan on any of his usual visits. He still hadn’t taken me over to meet him, which was probably for the best as I wouldn’t want to call him an ungrateful, selfish bastard at our first meeting. How could he treat his son like this?
“This was almost me.” Evan tilted his cup of beer at the ice. My brow furrowed.
“What was you?”
“You didn’t know I played hockey in college? If I had any, you know, talent, I’d be scraping the ice along with Lundqvist down there.” He winked as he took a swig of beer. There was a hint of a smile on his face for the first time this week.
“It’s embarrassing that I’ve known you for as long as I have and don’t know this kind of stuff. You played hockey? Holy shit, that’s hot.” I pretended to shudder as I ran my hand down his chest, making him throw his head back and laugh.
“Daisy, did you not listen to me? I sucked. I didn’t get past freshman year.”
I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I bet you had a ton of puck bunnies lined up anyway.” I wiggled my eyebrows and he pursed his lips.
“Puck bunnies? What exactly are ‘puck bunnies’?” He smirked as he leaned closer. I huffed and rolled my eyes.
“Hockey groupies. Girls who get hot and bothered watching you play with your hockey stick, and then try to play with your other stick after the game.” Evan choked on his beer as he chuckled at me. It was so good to see him laugh and relax a little. Evan put his arm around me and kissed my forehead.
“Sorry, Daisy. No puck bunnies. If there were, they were after the guys who actually got to play, not the last resort line.” He kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear. “What am I going to do with you?” I rubbed his leg and turned to kiss his lips.
“Question is what amIgoing to do withyou? The power of suggestion has me all squirmy.” His chest shook from laughing at me.
“You okay?” I rubbed his neck and he leaned into my touch. Evan nodded.
“Yes. I’m sorry I’ve been a weirdo all week. I just wish Dad felt better about moving.” The smile ran away from his face as he lowered his gaze to his lap. “I try to take care of him, but all I do is make him miserable. Maybe if I hadn’t gone away to school, wasted my time with stupid things like hockey, he wouldn’t be in this mess.” I lifted his face so he could look at me.
“Your father would have drank regardless, and I have never known anyone who takes care of their parents the way you take care of him. You’re a wonderful son, and no offense, more than he deserves after what he’s put you through all these years.”
Evan looked down and nodded. “It’s been rough. He wasn’t always like this. He lost Mom, without warning, and just couldn’t handle it. I do all of this for the father I remember, maybe he’s still in there somewhere.” The vulnerability in Evan’s expression made my heart break in half.
“I feel awful for him, but he had a son to take care of. My father died when I was a baby, but my mother found it in herself to pull it together for my sake. Granted she’s made being overbearing an art form, but she did what she had to do. You were all alone. That upsets me so much.” Evan took my hand and laced our fingers together.
“I wasn’t all alone. I had Jack, and your family.” He shrugged. “Some people can handle tragedy, some can’t. My mom would be pissed at him, but would never want me to just leave him. I’ve been wondering what she’d think about all of this.” His voice trailed off. I yanked our joined hands to pull him closer.
“She’d think you were an amazing son and be very proud of you. And I’m going with you to move him in. I can handle myself.”
A loud crash came from the ice and drew our attention. Helmets and punches flew and I bounced in my chair like a kid. I glanced over at Evan; he shook his head at me.
“What? I told you I love the fights. Now who’s staring?” I narrowed my eyes at Evan. He laughed as he put his arm around me to pull me closer.
“You know I may have my old college jersey somewhere at home. I can pretend to be a decent hockey player and you can be the sexy, blonde puck bunny who can’t get enough of my stick.” Evan trailed slow kisses down my neck. I giggled and tried not to get turned on in the middle of a crowd.
“That wouldn’t be role playing for me, now would it? If you want to up the ante, you could maybe pick up a Lundqvist jersey on the way out. I could call you ‘King Henrik’ if you want.” He bit my neck and made me yelp.
“You’re lucky I love you.”
