Decker nudged me. “He’s good for you. You seem less tense.” He pointed to the buns with his flipper. “Open those, will ya? But clean your hands.”
I put my beer down and took a hand wipe before opening the package. As I held each bun, I glanced at Luca, talking with Kozlov. “He deserves the world. And good friends.”
Decker looked over at him. “He fits right in. Good choice, Hughes. I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say you’re gonna have your best season to date.”
He held a burger out for me to bun. “Why would you say that out loud? You know the hockey gods are always listening. You remember what happened in Germany.”
Decker chuckled as he picked up another burger. “Fuck that shit. That was Munson’s fault. It doesn’t count until we go to practice.”
“Whatever,” I said, drinking my beer.
He nudged my shoulder. “It’s nice to see you smile, Axel.”
“It’s nice to be happy.”
We Uber’d back to my apartment at the end of the evening. Luca was all smiles and relaxed. He was too tipsy to drive, and Ineeded to make sure he didn’t get sick. So I got him out of the car and hauled him upstairs.
“Let’s get you some water and pain reliever.”
“Oh, posh,” he said, waving his hand as I helped him to the sofa. “Nothing hurts.”
“It’s for later, lightweight. You don’t drink much, do you?”
He snorted. “Nope. Too expensive.”
“How about something to eat? It will help soak up the rest of both of your beers.”
Luca had managed to eat two burgers after his vodka shots, but with his low tolerance to alcohol, it hadn’t been enough when he had a couple of beers later in the evening.
“No,” he sighed, falling over on the sofa. “I think I’ll just rest here until I go home.”
“Yeah, okay,” I said, taking his keys from the table. He knew I wasn’t allowing him to go home. “You just rest while I get you some water.”
Luca’s eyes closed. “Thanks, babe. You’re the best.”
I doubted he knew what he was saying, but that one little word buried itself into my heart. When I returned to him a bit later with a bottle of water and two pain relievers, it was too late. He’d passed out. I sat down on the edge of the sofa next to him and took the time to really look at him. There was a small scar on his forehead above his left eye that I itched to touch. But I didn’t want to wake him.
I collected an extra blanket and gathered two pillows before returning to him. Removing his shoes, I shifted him to his left side, then tucked the throw pillows behind him. When he was situated, I draped the soft blanket over him.
Lowering the temperature in the room, I found a trash can to place beside him. It was unlikely he’d be sick, but better safe than sorry.
Stretching out on the other sofa, I was unable to sleep. I watched Luca as the soft hum of the air conditioning and the rain falling on the terrace finally lulled me to sleep.
I wasn’t sure of the time when my brain registered him whimpering. Throwing off the blanket, I got on my knees to wake him. “Luca. You’re dreaming. It’s okay.”
My mistake was wiping the hair out of his face. His eyes popped open as the terror sent him crab walking across the sofa, as far away from me as possible. “Don’t touch me, asshole,” he cried.
Shocked, I backed away as quickly as I could, knocking the table over. It wasn’t me he was seeing, but I gave him space. He squinted as he looked around the room, his breath rushing in and out of his chest. When his eyes focused on me, realization set in as to where he was. Should I speak, or wait for him to acknowledge me? It was the most agonizing minute of my life, watching the terror in his eyes, knowing there was nothing I could do.
“Axel?” he breathed out. When the tears streamed down his face, I had my answer.
“Yeah, love,” I said, bounding to him. Gathering him in my arms, I held him tightly as I brushed the hair from his face. I kissed his forehead as he clung to me, gripping my shirt in his hands. He couldn’t get close enough. “It’s me. You’re okay. I’m here. I’m never letting you go.”
Chapter 17
Luca
My eyes fluttered open as cool air swirled around the room. I had a headache, but my stomach was okay. The nightmare had shaken me, but now Axel’s arms held me like a vice, even though his chest rose and fell in a slow, steady rhythm. We were melded together on the sofa with my head on his chest.God, I hope I hadn’t drooled on him.I could have stayed here all day with my left arm draped across his abdomen. Even though my arm was tingling from being pinned under me, I wanted to memorize how it felt to be in his arms, the scent of his cologne, and the sound of his heart beating under my ear, strong and steady. Normally, I hated being touched, but not by him. Somehow, Axel’s demons had joined with mine. We couldn’t be more opposite, except pain wasn’t choosy. It didn’t matter where the hurt came from, just that it existed and lived in the soul. And his soul had found mine.
