“Now, do you want some of this bacon, or are you going to survive on coffee and fear of commitment?”
I laugh. “Bacon sounds good.”
As she hands me a plate and refills my coffee, the knot in my chest loosens a little.
I’m still nervous about whatever this is between Tanner and me. There is a shitload of consequences if things go sideways. In particular, the fact that the whole reason he’s in Seattle is because he wants the number one goalie spot. What happens when I’m ready to play again? Is he going to be happy with being moved down to backup? And if he plays well enough to be anumber one goalie after all this, then there’s no way for us both to stay with the Sasquatch.
But the relief in Tanner’s voice when I told him he belonged last night? That might make everything worth it.
The sound of wheeled suitcases rolling across my hardwood floor echoes through the condo like a countdown timer. It’s almost been a week since my surgery, and the fam is finally heading back to California. Don’t get me wrong, I love them more than anything, and having them here during the worst of the post-surgery pain and helplessness was exactly what I needed. But fuck me sideways, I am more than ready to get my space back.
“You sure you don’t want me to stay another few days?” Mom asks for the fifth time, hesitating near the door and chewing on her bottom lip. She looks like she’s resisting the urge to snatch the suitcase out of my dad’s hands and take it back to the guest room.
“Mom, I’m fine. Caley already gave me the whole rundown.” I lean against the wall, guarding my sling. “Besides, you said Dad’s been moaning about missing his golf games.”
Dad chuckles, adjusting his baseball cap. “That’s true. And your mother’s been complaining about missing her book club.”
“I have not been complaining,” Mom protests while trying to hide her smile. “I’m just saying that Gloria is probably butchering the discussion ofThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugowithout me there to moderate.”
Caley rolls her eyes as she grabs the last of her bags. “Lou will be fine, Mom. He’s starting PT soon, and he knows to call if anything feels off.” She gives me a pointed look. “And by anything, I meananything. Pain that gets worse instead of better, fever, pain, fever, sudden emotional revelations—”
I cut her off right there. “I know, Dr. Caley. You’ve only told me seventeen times.”
“Eighteen, actually.” She grins and pulls me into a careful hug, mindful of my still-tender incision sites. “But seriously, take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
“Good.” She kisses my cheek. “Love you, dummy.”
Dad’s goodbye is characteristically brief, a firm handshake that somehow conveys more affection than most people’s hugs, and a reminder to “listen to the doctors, and don’t try to be a hero.”
Mom’s farewell, predictably, takes another fifteen minutes and involves checking that I have enough food in the fridge, making sure I know where all my medications are, and extracting promises to call them every other day.
Finally, the door closes behind them. I turn the dead bolt and lean my forehead against the cool wood for a second.
Silence rushes back into the condo, filling the corners where the chaos used to be. It is a massive relief.
But as I turn back to the empty living room, the silence feels a little heavy. I’m not sure I like that.
I walk over to the couch and sink down, wincing as my shoulder pulls.
I wanted my space back. I got it. Now I have to figure out what to do with it.
Chapter 13
Tanner
“Seriously, Lou, what the hell is that thing?”
I stare at the glass tank in the corner of Louis’s living room. Inside, a scaly, prehistoric-looking creature is basking under a heat lamp, looking entirely unbothered by the chaos of the eight giant hockey players currently crammed into Louis’s living room.
Louis is sprawled on the couch, his arm in a sling. We’re leaving early tomorrow for a two-game road trip, but Lou won’t be joining us this trip since his surgeon wants him to wait a full week post-surgery.
“That’s Cookie,” Louis says, a grin splitting his face. “He’s a bearded dragon.”
“You have a lizard? Named Cookie?” My eyebrows shoot up. I take a closer look at the tank. “And why does it have—wait, is it wearing acostume?”
Charlie erupts in laughter from the kitchen, where he’s raiding the fridge. “Oh mate, you haven’t seen anything yet. Show him the harness, Lou!”
