“This was tied for my favorite I think,” I shared sleepily.
He pouted his bottom lip out slightly, “Damn...But I just gave you like three orgasms!” He paused and cut his eyes toward me, “Did the asshole do a better job?” He didn’t have to say Kevin’s name for me to know who he was talking about. Since being with Grey he never once fully said Kevin Tate. I knew he hated Canyon's last name and I knew it was something that we would have to talk about because it wasn’t about to change, but not tonight.
“You must be joking,” I returned and patted his face. “I’ve never had better, and you know it.”
That satisfied him and he smiled triumphantly, proud in his manhood.
“No,” I closed my eyes and turned my body to allow him to be the big spoon. I nuzzled into him, relishing in his warmth. He placed a large, outstretched hand on my stomach. It was funny, our size difference made it so his hand took up my entire stomach, one of his fingers grazed the bottom of my boob and his pinky rested under the band of my undies. “The first time you said you loved me. On the floor in the rink. 17. I held onto that one.”
It was true. That particular memory had become a secret that I held close to my heart. A memory I never uttered aloud, in fear that it would become tarnished or cast away as silly teen love when I know it hadn’t been. It was a moment I thought of every time Kevin had made me feel unlovable.
He was silent for a minute. I enjoyed the rhythm of his breathing. I felt so relaxed and safe that I could fall asleep in a second.
“I’ve never said I love you to anyone else,” he told me.
That sentence held so much power to me. I clung to it. It was an admission that filled me with so much love for him and I was so grateful I’d shared that secret with him.
I could tell he was waiting for me to respond. I felt his hand tense slightly against my stomach in apprehension.
“Mmm…I’ve said it a lot to another guy,” I told him.
I felt him start to remove his hand and I snatched it back before he could. I loved him pulling me close; I wanted it to last forever.
“Canyon,” I said, patting his arm with a giggle.
He let out a breath and pinched my stomach playfully causing me to jump further into him, “Brat,” he said in my ear before playfully biting it.
I felt a warming joy spread inside of me in the moment.
“Me neither,” I said quietly with a smile on my face. “Only to you.”
He kissed the top of my head and we both relaxed into each other to sleep.
Chapter Thirty-nine: Grey- present
“Yes!” I shouted, making a fist as the goal buzzer sounded. The dad in the score box cued up the Griffin’s goal song.
My little guys erupted in cheers and I turned to Smitty, who was also standing on the team bench, to give him a solid high five. I was still only using my left hand even though I’d gotten the cast off a couple days ago. The doctor had recommended another week in the cast, but I couldn’t take it. I kind of regretted that decision though because it felt pretty damn fragile, and I was 100% babying it. I needed to man up and start using it again. I told myself the next fist bumps would be with my right hand.
The line that just scored the fifth goal of the game to break the tie against the Griffins’ rivals sped towards the box to give their teammates celebratory fist bumps. I heard a bunch of the boys yelling out their celebratory “wooo!” Much higher pitched than I was used to hearing, but I was proud of how these little guys were forming such a tight-knit team. I leaned over to be included in the fist bump line, chastising myself for flinching like a pussy.
I couldn’t help but be a little extra proud that Canyon was on the scoring line. The little dude had put in two goals and now just got his second assist in the game.
He was still missing the net half the time- definitely better than all the time like he had during the first game- but we needed to continue working on that shot of his. We’d been working on it in the driveway almost every day after school. Once he got that down he’d be an unstoppable force.
When Canyon’s line came back on the bench, I gave them all a pat on their helmets and got ready to watch the last shift of the game.
At the final buzzer, my team flew out of the box to stampede our little goalie, who promptly collapsed into the ice, causing a dog pile to form.
I was finding that I loved coaching these little guys. It was like being able to live it again, and there was nothing better than youth hockey. Even the NHL wasn’t as much fun as playing on the Griffins with my best buds.
After the game, I knew Smitty would be handling the post-game speech, so I took a minute to run to the concession stand for a bag of ice for my hand. It had started cramping up a bit and I didn’t want it to get worse.
I quickly explained what I needed to the high school kid behind the counter and he nodded in awe, probably recognizing me, before turning to get the ice.
Holding the bag to my hand, I turned to head back to the locker room and almost ran over Jules.
“Woah, there, sorry,” she laughed.
