Tomorrow will bring complications. Connor's grudging acceptance. The charity game. The conversation about Boston and how we make this work long distance.
But tonight, we have this. Each other. And for now, that's everything.
Ryder
December thirtieth. Six in the morning and I'm already awake, staring at the ceiling of my room at the inn. Lucy's curled against my side, her breathing soft and even. One arm draped across my chest. Hair spilling over the pillow.
The charity game isn't until this afternoon, but my body knows something's about to change.
Not the game itself. I've played hundreds of games, thousands if you count practices and scrimmages. My shoulder feels good. Better than it has in weeks. The physical therapy has been working, and yesterday's practice session proved I can handle light contact.
No, what has my pulse hammering against my ribs is what comes after. The press conference. The moment I stop hiding and tell the world that Lucy Wright is mine.
That I'm hers.
She stirs against me. Her fingers trace idle patterns on my ribs.
"You're thinking too loud," she mumbles into my chest.
I kiss the top of her head. "Sorry."
"Nervous?"
"About the game? No." I tighten my arm around her. "About everything else? Yeah."
She props herself up on one elbow to look at me. Her eyes are soft. Still sleepy. "We don't have to do this today. We can wait."
"No." I cup her face. "I'm done waiting. Done hiding. I want everyone to know you're mine."
Her smile is worth every bit of fear churning in my gut. "Okay then."
I pull her down for a kiss. Slow and thorough. She melts into me and I'm tempted to say to hell with the game, to hell with everything except this bed and this woman.
But I made promises. To Lucy. To the kids at the hospital. To the town.
So I kiss her one more time and then force myself to let go.
"I need to head back to your dad's house to grab my gear. You want to come with or meet me at the rink?"
"I'll meet you there. I need to stop by the shop first, make sure everything's set for the fundraiser booth." She climbs out of bed, unselfconscious in her nakedness, and I have to look away before I change my mind about leaving.
One more day of pretending we're casual in front of other people.
Then I'm done pretending.
I shower at the inn while Lucy gets dressed. The hot water feels good on my shoulder. I rotate it through the full range of motion, testing for any catch or weakness. There's still some tightness, but nothing that will stop me from playing today. It's a charity game, not the playoffs. I can manage.
I towel off and dress in jeans and a thermal. I'll change into my Bruins warm-up gear at the rink. When I come out of the bathroom, Lucy's fully dressed, hair twisted up, looking at her phone.
"Natalie's freaking out about the booth setup," she says. "I really do need to get to the shop."
"Go." I pull her in for one more kiss. "I'll see you at the rink."
"I love you."
"Love you too."
I watch her leave, then grab my keys. Time to face the music at Jim's house. I need my gear. And maybe, if I'm lucky, I won't run into Connor before the game.
