The smooth hiss of skates meets my ear after a final door opens. It accompanies the blast of cold air and mild chlorine smell of ice. Voices quiet before I can pick out any particulars, but I sense there’s a fair number of people around based on the energy around me when we stop moving again. Violet’s other hand covers mine, and she gives it a comforting squeeze before we stop.
“Love you, Bea,” she whispers before stepping away. I miss her warmth and cling tighter to Gus, who remains for a beat longer. Then he presses a sweet kiss on the top of my head and moves from my side, too.
My fingers twitch to reach out in front of me or remove the blindfold; I’m not sure which feels more important. But I fight the urge, knowing somewhere deep within that there is a reason not to. I trust my friends, and I cling to my fraying patience, willing it to stay together a little longer.
“Hello,solnyshka.”
My breath hitches at the familiar voice, head whipping in the direction it came from. Nicky’s here, and just knowing that calms me. I swear I can smell his spicy, woodsy scent, feel his strong, safe arms, and the comfort they bring. I reach for the blindfold, eager to find him.
I have to blink a few times against the bright fluorescents until the practice ice comes into focus. I’m standing at a board door of the rink. Scattered around the ice are the usual group of people I’ve come to love and rely on. Crosby, Obie, Charlie, and Leo are gathered near a blue line. They’re in street clothes but have their skates on, and huge smiles on their faces. Violet and Gus slip through the door next to me, skating over to our friends, momentarily distracting me from my search for Nicky.
But there, in the players’ box, stands Nicky. He has the black Midnight hoodie we fight over on and jeans, nearly the same outfit he was wearing when he left to see Adam this morning, but he’s added a black beanie to cover his blond hair. It makes him look boyishly handsome, and it matches the carefree smile he’s giving me. I wish the ice weren’t between us because I so badly want to run to him for a hug. As if he can read my mind, he begins moving toward the hinged door at the end of the team box. When it opens, Nicky’s skate hits the ice, and I gasp.
Nicky’s on skates, gliding across the ice.
Tears fall unbidden, and ugly sobs wrench from my chest. Nicky picks up speed, stopping in a small spray of ice before pulling me against him. “You’re skating,” I manage to hiccup against him. “I-How—When…” I can’t continue, but he knows what I’m asking.
For the last six weeks, since confessing his fear in the middle of the night in the cabin in Maine, Nicky has worked tirelessly to address his trauma. His teammates have lent a hand by spending time with him, offering support through small amounts of exposure therapy. There have been setbacks and a few more nightmares after particularly challenging days, but Nicky has made deliberate, steady progress.
He picked up dry-land training sessions with the group and scheduled one-on-one skills practice with Robbie in the garage. One week, he wore a different piece of his equipment around the house each day, adjusting to the presence of them again and checking in with how it made him feel. I have been so proud of him, but I know this moment is the final step to getting back what he feared he would lose.
“I wanted it to be a surprise.” Nicky smooths his hand through my hair before swiping a thumb to rid my cheek of the salty tracks tightening my skin. He cradles my face with such delicacy it almost brings a new wave of tears spilling over.He looks at me with wonder, as something to be treasured. Somethingprecious. “I wanted to share it with you before you left this building. This season changed my life. Not just because of the injury, but because of you. Falling in love with you has made me a better friend, a better father, a better man. I wouldn’t take back any of the hard things that happened because I was lucky enough to have you by my side for all of them.”
“I don’t want to be anywhere else,” I whisper back, heart exploding that somehow this man is mine. I surge up onto my toes, falling horribly short of reaching where I want to be until Nicky bends and helps press our lips together. It’s a kiss filled with promise. Commitment. Of two people choosing to be with each other every single day, no matter what it brings.
“Good,” Nicky says when he pulls back, sliding an arm around me to keep me pressed against him. “Because I’m not letting you go, and neither is Nat.”
“Now, Daddy? Can I come hugmamochkayet?” Natalia’s excited yell comes from beside me. She’s in Cal’s arms, reaching out for us. There’s an adorable pair of skates on her feet, the guards over the blades to protect Cal. In his other hand is another set of skates, brand-new and bright white.
I step out of Nicky’s hold to lean toward my little girl, shocked and surprised that she’s here, but always happy to have her close. Natalia’s tiny arms loop around me, and she kisses my cheek, briefly pausing her and Cal’s progression toward the ice.
“I did good keeping the secret, right, Daddy?” she asks over my shoulder.
“You were excellent,milaya.I don’t think Mommy had any idea we had such a big surprise planned for her.” Nicky kisses the top of her head before letting Cal take off across the ice to the rest of the people who have now started to skate around, their jovial conversations echoing quietly off the rafters.
I watch, fascinated, as Cal slips the guards from Natalia’s skates and situates her on the ice. She pushes off with ease, the movements as easy and natural as walking for her. I sigh, seeing the joy light her face as she chases after Charlie.
Violet and Crosby skate together, looking like a pair of dancers as Gus does loopy jumps around them. Obie and Leo race from goal line to goal line, careful to avoid a giggling Natalia. Cal watches over everyone with his usual austerity. Nicky skates backwards, joining the whimsical scene, flickers of magic lighting me up inside.
Nicky comes back, the extra pair of skates in his hand, a mischievous smirk blooming on his face. He lifts his brows. “What do you think? Finally time for you to learn?”
“Promise you won’t let me fall?” I answer, nerves joining the sparks in my blood. Nicky comes close to the edge, arm looping the small of my back and kissing me hard. I want to lose myself in the way his tongue strokes mine, soft and sensual, hot and demanding all at once. And I’m about to when he pulls back.
“I can’t promise that. Can’t promise it won’t hurt, either.” He drops his forehead against mine. “But I can promise to be there to pick you up and take care of you every single time it happens.”
EPILOGUE
NICKY, FOUR MONTHS LATER
“…expect traffic to continue building around the arena as we get closer to puck drop. The Midnight’s home opener is drawing huge crowds as goalie Nikita Baladin is slated to return to his net for the first time since his terrifying, life-threatening injury back in January.”The radio announcer’s voice comes through the car speakers.
“I’ve never watched hockey, but I remember when it happened and tuned in toBeyond the Boards, that NHL documentary,”the announcer’s co-host comments.“His whole journey has been nothing short of miraculous. So, I know I’m not alone when I say we’re all rooting for him and the team tonight.”
“That documentary was insane,”the announcer responds.“All the stuff before his injury was crazy. I had no idea these guys put that much time in at practice. And the schedule? It’s making me rethink how much other professional sports complain. Three games in a week, plus travel? Insane.”
I finally manage to park my SUV and switch off the chatter. I let the engine idle, sitting in the cool air conditioning for a few minutes. My phone buzzes from its spot in the cup holder, and I smile as I pick it up.
Solnyshka
