Ice Contact (Milwaukee Steel Riders #1)

39. Hayes

39

hayes

I ’ve had concussions before, they always suck, but this one is especially bad. In addition to the brain fog, every beam of light and smallest noise make me want to puke. At least I’m home in my very expensive bed, with a sleep mask on trying to rest. But I can’t. I’m fucking beyond pissed some idiot hit me; now I’m basically on bed rest. And to make things worse, the doctor said no screens for forty-eight hours, then another forty-eight hours of limited screens and rest. So I can’t even check my texts, scroll social media, or watch TV. It’s like a fucking prison sentence but I’m stuck in an episode of Little House on the Prairie. I’m used to being on the go. Always traveling. Always practicing. Always working out. I don’t sit around all day. I kick my legs and pound my fist on the bed in frustration. This is the worst form of torture.

The one bright spot is Olivia. She took off work and has been waiting on me hand and foot, making sure I have what I need. She helped me puke into the airline type barf bag the hospital sent home. She even helped me call Dr. Gregory, Coach Cal, and my agent.

It’s such a stark contrast to relationships I’ve had in the past. Last summer I had the flu while dating Chelsea. She refused to come near me for fear she would get sick too. She actually opened the door to our room, threw a box of tissues at me, and told me to get well soon. Then she left and went to stay with her friend until I was better. I wonder if Spam Risk Brian is helping her puke through her morning sickness or if he doesn’t want to risk getting pregnant. With the combined brain power of the two of them, I don’t doubt he would believe he could catch a pregnancy like the flu.

But Olivia? My body calms, finally finding peace in my compromised state. She has not left my side once. I don’t know how she’s dealt with my crabby, frustrated ass, but I know one thing…

I fucking love this woman so much. She’s it. My future. My present. My everything.

My phone buzzes next to me, and I ask Olivia who it is.

“It’s your mom; want me to answer? She’s actually FaceTiming you.”

“Yeah. I’d better let her see I’m okay,” I groan, throwing an arm across my eyes and squeezing my lips together to keep the nausea at bay.

“I’ll um…. I’ll swipe to answer, then let you have some privacy to talk to her.” I hear the shakiness in her voice, but I want my siren here with me.

“No. Stay. I want my mom to meet you. Even over the phone.”

I can’t see her smile, but I can hear it in her soft voice as she says, “Okay.”

I know I’m not supposed to, but I take my eye mask off to let my mom see me and that I’m alive. And that I still have eyes. “Hi Mom.”

“Hayes, oh my God your poor face! How are you feeling, honey? Who’s there taking care of you? I can’t get a flight out until this afternoon, but I’ll be there as soon as I can. My car is in the shop, otherwise I’d already be on my way.”

“Mom, it’s okay. I want you to meet Olivia. My girlfriend.” I see a wide smile stretch across her face on the phone, a similar one appearing on mine. “She hasn’t left my side and is giving me the full Kristi Larson treatment. She won’t even let me listen to the TV, let alone watch it,” I grumble as my mom laughs in approval.

“Hi Ms. Larson, it’s nice to meet you. I wish it wasn’t under these circumstances, but Hayes talks about you all the time. It’s nice to put a face with a name,” Olivia says.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Olivia. Hayes hasn’t mentioned you yet,” she says somehow giving me her evil side-eye over the phone, “but I know he’s been busy with a new team, so I’ll let it slide just this once. I’m glad to hear he’s bragging on me when I’m not around. I did dedicate my entire life to raising him and taking him to all his hockey games, so he better be saying nice things.”

Olivia laughs. “Only good things, Ms. Larson, I promise.”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake, dear, call me Kristi.”

“Okay, Kristi, if you’re sure. Hayes is doing well; the doctor said he needs at least forty-eight hours with no screen time and plenty of rest, so I’m making sure he keeps to that. He’s not even supposed to have his mask off right now,” she says as she gives me a mean side-eye and a smirk.

“Well, Olivia, it sounds like you’ve got Hayes under control, and believe me, I know what a challenge that is.” She laughs, some of the worry leaving her face. “Thank you for being there for him when I’m so far away.”

“There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”

“Olivia, would you mind terribly if I had just a quick minute to talk to my son alone? You can come back in just a moment.”

“Of course; no problem at all. I’ll refill his water and take the trash out, so you two can have a minute.”

“Olivia,” I say, reaching for her hand as she walks away, “Do not take the trash out. I can do that later.”

“Hayes Michael Larson, you let that girl help you if she wants to. You need your rest,” my mom scolds over the phone. I see Olivia laughing as she waves and closes the door. Great, now I have two women telling me what to do . But for some crazy reason, I’m okay with it.

“Okay, Mom. What did you need to tell me?”

“I want to make sure you’re actually okay, and I need more details about you and Olivia,” she says, wiggling her eyebrows, and I can’t help but laugh.

“I think you are more interested in the second part of that question than the first.”

“Listen, I am old. I live alone. Other people’s relationships are my livelihood. So yes , I want to know how it’s going.”

“She is amazing, Mom. I don’t know what else to say. She’s gorgeous, funny. She’s an unbelievably talented singer, and she loves hockey. And when I give her shit, she gives it right back to me. She has not left my side since she arrived at the hospital. She helped me call and text everyone, helped me walk to the bathroom when I got a little dizzy this morning…Mom, she even started my laundry. I don’t know what I did to deserve her.”

“You are a good man, that’s what you did to deserve her. You take care of everyone around you all the time. You paid off my house, for Pete’s sake. You deserve someone to take care of you like you take care of the world.” She pauses, a faraway look in her eye. “I know I’ve only met her over the phone, but…I like her.” My mom winks at me with a giant grin on her face. Holy shit. She has never said she liked anyone I’ve dated . She for sure did not like Chelsea, always referring to her as Gold Digger or Cheating Gold Digger once the truth came out .

“I like her too. A lot. I’ve never loved anything like this outside of hockey.” Wow…I just said that out loud. My heart is pounding in my chest. “Mom, she’s the one. I knew it from the moment I first saw her.”

“I’m so happy for you, honey. I really am,” she says wiping a tear from her eye. “I may take that flight just to meet her in person.”

“Not to see your only son and make sure he’s okay?!” I raise an eyebrow at her and give her a wincing smile, my body still in pain but my heart so fucking happy that my amazing mom gets me. But that doesn’t mean I can’t give her the same shit I’ve given her my whole life.

“Well, that too,” she laughs, “But I can see you’re in good hands, so that helps.”

“Actually, Mom, why don’t you hold off on booking that flight. I have an idea, and I may need your help.”

My in-home prison sentence is finally over, which means I have my screens back and the first thing I’m going to do is watch that Muppets movie. Despite feeling like shit for days, I’ve enjoyed spending time with Olivia. She’s been my saving grace through this entire shitty ordeal. My heart swells at the way she’s taken care of me. Even in the little things like making sure I took my meds on time and reading to me in bed. Everything from sports scores, league news, and even a few chapters from what she calls her smut books. Who knew women were reading this word porn, and why has it been kept a secret from us men?!

We also talked about a lot of real things while holed up in my apartment. Our family dynamics growing up, the fact we both want to start a family someday, the sometimes-shitty nature of being in the league and having to pack up and move your entire life at the drop of a hat. Luckily, I have a no-trade clause for the next three years in my contract, but three years will be up before you know it.

Today though, Olivia is dropping me off at the practice facility to get evaluated by our doctors and trainers before running to her house to grab some of her things and catch up on work. I feel like a kid getting dropped off and picked up, but I don’t mind another excuse to be with Olivia for a few more minutes of the day.

“What’s the word, Doc? I’m feeling great. Fog is gone. No more headaches or light sensitivity. I’m ready to play.”

“I know you’re itching to get back out there, Larsy, but these things take time,” Dr. Gregory says, glancing down at my chart before eyeing me warily. “I’m going to clear you to skate for now , and we’ll re-evaluate after you get a couple of sessions under your belt.”

“I’ll take it.” I sigh, dropping my head back to stare at the ceiling. “Better than nothing. You know, I actually skate better than I walk.”

“I’m sure that’s true, but it’s my job to make sure you can do both and stay healthy. So, you’re cleared to skate for tomorrow’s practice only, and we’ll take the rest of the week day-to-day. Deal?”

“Deal. Thanks Doc!” I shout, literally racing toward the locker room. The first thing I do is grab my phone and text Olivia the good news.

Hayes

Cleared to skate tomorrow! No games yet, but skating is a big win.

Olivia

YESSS!!! So happy for you!

Let’s celebrate tonight!

Hayes

And how do you propose we celebrate?

A wicked grin spreads across my face. I am so ready to get my hands on every inch of my siren.

Olivia

Well…what else are you cleared to do?

Hayes

Olivia Brooks, what are you implying?

Olivia

I wasn’t implying anything, sir. Just a concerned caretaker asking what all you’re cleared for. That’s all.

Hayes

Sure.

Olivia

What time should I pick you up?

Hayes

I want to do a quick workout since I’ve been laying around for the past few days, so give me a couple hours.

Olivia

I love how a ‘quick workout’ for you is two hours. A quick workout for me is walking up the one flight of stairs to my office. And that’s only if there are super judgy people there telling me not to take the elevator up one floor.

As if I’m not proud enough of everything she does, I fucking love that my girl is so damn funny.

Hayes

Lol. I’ll see you in a bit.

Olivia

“Larsy!!!!! They cleared you?” Zack asks.

“What’s up, Z?” I laugh as I shake his hand. “I’m cleared to skate, then day-to-day.”

“Can’t wait to have you back out on the ice, man. I’m so glad you’re okay.” He cringes, his face warping with fear and pain. “I saw the pics of your car. Thank God you got hit where you did, or you’d be out for the season.”

“No shit. I’m glad I don’t remember much of it or I’d be scared to even get in a car. I don’t know who was watching out for me, but I’m glad they were. Thanks for sending food over to me and Olivia. She would not leave my side, so it was nice to have dinner show up unannounced.”

“That’s what we do. We take care of our team. All part of my Captain duties.” He winks as he gives me a captain salute. “Also, Kara made me, but I was going to do it anyway.”

I laugh, thankful to have the whole Reeves family looking out for mine. “How are you feeling after being back a few games now?”

“Feeling great. If anyone knows how bad it sucks to be out, it’s me. Hopefully we’ll get our line back on the ice soon.”

“Dude, I can’t wait,” I groan, already itching to be back in uniform during a game. “Hey, I wanted to thank you for talking to David Green about Olivia. The day of the accident he called and offered her the anthem job back.”

“Oh, thank fuck. I mean, the other singers are okay, but Olivia is the fucking shit. The Riders need their weapon.”

“I’m glad you think so. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you swear this much about the national anthem,” I snort, pulling my clothes off to change into my workout gear.

“I gotta get my swearing out here, ‘cause I can’t at home around the kids. Fuck. Shit. Cocksucker!”

Man, have I missed the chaos of the locker room.

“Who’s a cocksucker?” Bougie yells as he saunters into the locker room after practice. Vladi shuffles in behind him rolling his eyes, the usual irritation on his face from any time spent around his favorite rookie and good luck charm.

“Bougie…always so classy entering a room,” I snark, as he comes over to bring me in for a quick bro hug.

“Larsy! Damn good to see ya! Are the rumors true? We getting The Weapon back?’

I glance over to Zack shaking his head, raising his hands saying he had nothing to do with this. I look back to Bougie with one eyebrow raised. “How did you hear about that?”

“When are you going to learn that I know everything?”

“Ignore him,” Vladi growls, as he smacks Bougie on the back of the head. “We saw David in the hallway and I asked if we could get The Weapon back. We have not won a home game since she’s been gone. He said it was in the works. You know how it goes, brother. Now that Olivia is yours, she’s part of the Rider family. And we look after our own.”

How the hell does my grumpy-as-fuck best friend say the most profound words and why is my chest so damn tight right now.

“Fuck, Vladi. You’re like…Russian Yoda,” Bougie pipes up. “So Larsy, is it true? Is she back?”

“Well…there’s more to the story. Apparently, they are not allowed to date the players. So, we’re in a bit of a situation now. I don’t want her to give up this singing gig. She loves it so much. But I’m sure as hell not ending things with her.”

Zack looks up from unlacing his skates, his brows furrowed with worry. “Oh, shit. I didn’t think about that.”

“I didn’t either. I don’t want to get her in trouble or fired, and I don’t know what the organization will do.”

“Well, you won’t go anywhere. Milwaukee isn’t going to trade their new star center because he’s dating the anthem singer. Her on the other hand…” Zack glances at me with a sad look in his eyes.

I look to Vladi, needing some more of his Yoda-like wisdom. He pauses for a moment, his eyes narrowed, deep in thought. “You know Larsy…there is a way to fix this situation.”

My heart races faster than me flying down the ice on a breakaway and I can’t help the dumbass smile forming at what he’s implying. “Yeah…I do. You guys down to help me with it?”

Bougie walks over, putting his arm around my shoulder. “That’s what teammates are for.”