Except for as much as he looked like he wanted to drag me into bed, he also looked like he was close to collapsing under the weight of his fatigue. Forget sex or hockey—he probably just needed some sleep.
“You sure you’re up for this?” I ran my hands down his back. “There’s no shame in taking a day to recover after last night.”
“I’m good. Just need to wake up a bit.” He let me go but gestured for me to follow him, and he led me into his kitchen. As he picked up his coffee off the island, he muttered, “Fair warning, though—I might stop in the middle of practice and take a nap on the bench.”
“How would that be any different from usual?”
He choked on his coffee and flipped me the bird.
I snickered. “I’m just saying.”
“You’re a dick,” he sputtered.
“I am what I eat.”
Avery laughed again and rolled his eyes. “Oh my God. I am way too tired for this.”
“Mmhmm. I know.” I stepped behind him and slid my hands over his hips. Nuzzling his neck, I murmured, “That’s the best time to do it—when you’re too tired to form witty comebacks.”
“Jackass.” But he leaned against me and sighed as I wrapped my arms around him.
“You sure you’re okay to skate today?”
“I’m fine.” He put his coffee cup down and turned around in my arms. “It was a long night, and I’m tired as fuck, but I can skate.”
I smoothed his hair. “How late did you stay at the hospital?”
He exhaled. “’Til almost three.”
“No shit?”
He nodded. “Her mom took the older kids, and she didn’t want to be alone.”
“I don’t blame her.” I took his hand. “And I’m glad you stayed with her.”
“Me too. And it was, um… It was quite the experience.”
“Yeah?”
Another nod, this time with a tired smile. “I didn’t think she’d want me in the delivery room with her, but things happened hella fast and her mom wasn’t there yet, so…”
“Oh, so you were actually there when he was born?”
“Yeah.” He whistled, shaking his head. “That was, uh… That wasintense.”
“I bet.”
He laughed. “It’s probably a good thing I haven’t been reactivated yet.” He held up his left hand and flexed his fingers gingerly. “I’d be day-to-day with an upper body injury.”
I snorted. “She had a hell of a grip, then?”
“Oh my God, yeah.” He lowered his hand. “I don’t blame her at all, and I won’t ever complain about it within earshot of her after what she went through—but holy shit, yeah, she’s got astronggrip.”
“I bet she does.” I slid my hands up his sides. “We really can skip today, you know. No one’s going to hold it against you if you need to rest.”
Avery was already shaking his head. “No. I didn’t skate yesterday, and I get twitchy if I go more than a day or two.”
I frowned. “But you’re?—”
