Breathing out, I managed to reply from my shocked state. He was the last person I thought would end up here. “Uh, yeah. From juniors a hundred years ago. Wonder why he wanted to leave LA?”
“Who knows. Maybe he wanted a change. You know how this goes. Or maybe you don’t. This is what, your second team?”
I nodded. “I didn’t get moved around much.”
“Think he’ll jive with us?”
Nodding was all I could do. “Yeah. I think it’ll be fine.”
When my time was up, I slid off the seat to get suited up. “See you out there.” Striding to the bathroom, I needed a moment. The last time I saw Heath, I’d made a serious fool of myself. But what happened between us back then was water under the bridge. He’d moved on, and so had I.
Back in the locker room, I laced up my skates and put on my helmet. Gliding onto the ice, I warmed up for the drills. When Coach called out the first line arrangements, I quickly forgot about my new teammate. Decker was in the north net, stretching before we got started.
“Let me see Hughes at center, Kozlov, and Nichols. Five attacks on goal. Go,” Coach said.
Our line worked well, passing the puck back and forth, before I took a shot that sailed over Decker’s shoulder and into the net. Kozlov on the left worked well, but Nichols on the right had a lot to learn. I could help him if he were open to it.
“Good shot, Hughes. Do it again,” Coach called.
I looked over at Nichols. It was obvious the kid was nervous, and I was sure it had to do with me. Anyone who did their due diligence could easily find my reputation. I told it like it was, and if there was a fight to be had, it was me. But not now. I wanted to be the man Luca saw when he looked at me. So that meant a different approach. “Show me what you’ve got, kid. Teach me something new.”
A slow grin crossed his face. “Yeah?”
“Of course. Show me what you can do.” He took off down the ice, passing to Kozlov, then back to me. Each time we started, it got a bit better. More confident, until the last attempt, where I set him up to deke Decker. The puck sailed into the net under his glove.
The three of us met in a hockey hug to celebrate the goal. “Good job, kid,” I said, patting his helmet.
“Don’t get used to that,” Decker shouted. “At least not at practice.”
I tapped my helmet to Deck’s when he skated out of the crease for a water break. “There you are,” I said, patting his helmet. “We can’t let these teenagers show us up.”
He snorted. “You got that right.”
On the way home, I stopped by the market to pick up some fish and chicken for dinner. Luca had enjoyed the spiny lobster, but they didn’t carry it. I’d have to go to Chelsea to get it, but not tonight. Along with a variety of vegetables and a couple of bottles of his newly discovered favorite white wine, it would make for a delightful start to the weekend.
I was opening a bottle of wine when the front door opened, and Luca walked in. “Hey,” he said, eating me up with his eyes.“How was your day?” He put down his bag and came directly to me. I put down the wine and wrapped my arms around him. My mouth covered his as we sank into a kiss. The world was right when he was here.
Breaking the kiss, I went back to the wine. “It was pretty good. Much better now that you’re here. How was yours?”
Luca kissed my shoulder. “Not too bad.” His hand ran up and down my back as he stood with his torso along my side. “Lots of paperwork, but I’m ready for a weekend.” He couldn’t stop touching me, but the news about Heath lingered in my head.
Rather than further his advances for affection, I pushed the plate of appetizers toward him. “Try one of these. How about a glass of wine?”
Luca dropped his hands from my body as if I’d scolded him. “Did I do something wrong?”
I chuckled. “Yes. You took your hands off me. Put them back.” He didn’t listen.
“Not until you tell me what’s bothering you.”
“What makes you think something is bothering me?”
He chuckled. “Honestly, I expected you to be naked and maul me when I walked in the door. The kiss was a good start, then you stopped. That’s not like you.”
I smirked as I handed him a glass of wine. “Naked, huh? I can definitely do that next time. But I do want to talk for a minute.”
He froze. “Should I be worried?”
“No,” I said, trying to assuage his concerns. “It’s team business, nothing to do with us.” Luca visibly relaxed, but the damage was done. He was already in his head. One day, I would learn. “I’m sorry for worrying you, love.”
