We hadn’t discussed where we would live, if there was going to be a change in my career, not the change I was thinking about but just which hospital I was working at. But thinking about it, we’d had many conversations like this, ones that came up naturally in the context of whatever it was we were doing. Maybe that was enough for now.
“I say we wait until after our sweet baby comes to figure all that out,” I said. “You know, come to think of it, I’m not sure I want a deeper tub with a little one in the house.”
“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that. There’s a lot of safeguarding the house when we have a kit.” He grabbed his jaw the way he did when he was thinking. I wasn’t sure he noticed he did it.
“Kit? They might not be a kit. We could be having a pup. Do you have a preference?”
“Nope. I just hope, whoever they are, they are as wonderful as my mate.” He grabbed the washcloth from the side of the tub. “Turn around and I’ll wash your back.”
“Only if you wash my front, too.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” he murmured. “I’ll make sure to go over every inch of your body.”
And he did. Twice.
13
AXEL
I was heading home to the team, and Stan was accompanying me and leaving tomorrow. I’d insisted we fly so my mate didn’t have to make the long drive home by himself.
The fight was short, only an hour, but Stan had been restless since we took off. Now that he was at the end of his first trimester, his nausea was subsiding, but his cheeks were devoid of color, and I squeezed his hand.
“You okay?” The pilot turned on the seat belt sign, and we began our descent.
“Fine but ready to be on solid ground.”
I’d find out later today if the work I’d done with Stan and Clarissa had been enough. Being cleared to practice was what I was hoping for rather than my career still being on hold. My belly cramped as I imagined for the hundredth time never playing hockey again.
Rather than going to my place first, we got a cab to the team’s facility located in an industrial area of town. The nondescriptbuilding was emblazoned with the team logo which was a stylized icicle. It was good to be home and with Stan at my side.
“It’s bigger than I expected.” He peered up at the cavernous ceiling as we walked in.
“Wait til you see the rink.”
We checked in at the front desk and were directed to the medical wing. I’d been there many times for minor injuries and routine physicals. But this was different, and my belly was churning again. Returning the favor from the plane, Stan grabbed my hand and gave me a reassuring smile.
Dr. McCarthy was waiting, and when I glanced at his computer screen, he’d already pulled up my file.
“Chartris, good to see you.” He shook my hand before extending it to my mate. “You must be Stan. I’ve heard great things about the work you did with our guy.”
Doc had been with the team for ten years, and like Coach, he was a shifter.
“How’s the wrist?”
“Much better. Stan’s been working me hard.”
Doc cleared his throat, and Stan went bright red.
“Well, you’re newly mated, so that’s not a surprise.”
“As in PT, Doc.” I stifled a giggle. “And I’ve also been working with a fox healer from Stan’s pack.”
Doc explained how he spent time with a pack healer during his internship, and Stan leaned forward, hanging on every word. Next he had me go through a range of motion tests and strengthassessments. He had me rotate my wrist and tested my grip strength before asking me to handle a stick to check my control.
Occasionally he asked me to repeat an action or to push harder, and he made notes after each test. I wished I could see what he was typing, but as he was a shifter and understood how good my eyesight was, he’d angled the screen away from me.
Stan watched from a chair with his hand draped over his flat belly. He hadn’t begun to show, and we were both eager to see his bump.
