Chapter 11 #3
Almost like he can hear me, he stands and gets back into the play.
He’s slow and wobbly at best, but he’s able to get the job done.
Half of the arena—me included—jump to their feet as the sound bite indicates that the Seattle Serpents are back at full strength, and it happens just as Hayes swats the puck up the ice.
It lands perfectly on Lawson’s stick, and he’s off to the races for a jailbreak.
“Go, go, go, go!” Rory screams at the top of her lungs, and he skates harder and faster, putting distance between himself and the Calgary player.
He fakes a shot and the goaltender bites, going down, and Lawson zips it right over his glove.
The crowd explodes, cheers ringing out, the goal song blaring through the speakers.
Everyone is high-fiving and hugging like they were the ones who just scored.
The players on the ice gather around Lawson, tapping his helmet before he leads them down the line so they can bump fists with the guys on the bench.
He stops at Callum, then throws his arms around him. Several other guys flock around to give him kudos for his big blocked shot and playing through the discomfort. I wish I could be down there too, only I wouldn’t be hugging him or patting his helmet. I’d kiss him.
The arena settles down, but the buzz is still alive as the teams take the ice again. The puck is dropped at center, and this time the Serpents win the draw. Calgary is pissed they gave up the goal, which means they come in faster and check harder than before.
Though a casual fan might not notice it, I catch the laboring in Callum’s strides as he takes another shift.
He’s not as quick as usual, wincing through a few hits he takes.
When there are just over two minutes left, Calgary gets possession, and their goaltender hustles toward their bench as another player comes on.
The Serpents don’t let it change their game, and they quickly get the puck, then zip it down the ice toward the empty net. The goal horn goes off again, and much to Vanessa’s delight, it’s Locke they’re all gathering around to congratulate.
“God, I’m going to miss this when they’re away,” Rory says.
I hadn’t even thought about Callum leaving.
They’re hitting the road for a 5-game trip tomorrow, and the idea of not seeing him for that long makes my heart ache, which is funny, all things considered.
What’s going to happen while he’s gone? Will we talk?
Will we put our marriage on pause again?
Is that what he wants? Is that what I want?
No.
The word rings loudly in my head, and I realize it’s more honest than I’ve been with myself in a long time.
“Do you want to come with us?” Auden asks, pulling me out of my head.
“Where to?”
“We’re going to the green room, then meeting the guys. It’s Friday, so we’ll probably end up at Top Shelf for a bit.”
Though I hoped for it, Callum and I didn’t discuss getting together after the game, and I have no idea what I’m supposed to say. I want to see him—of course I do—but does he want to see me? I wish we didn’t have so many questions hanging between us, but I have nobody to blame but myself for that.
Auden notices me hesitating and leans in close.
“He’ll want you there. I know he will.”
It’s all the reassurance I need.
“Okay, I’ll go.”
She throws her arms around me suddenly, squeezing me tightly. It all happens so fast that she’s letting go before I can register what’s going on.
“Ahhh! It’s going to be so much fun. All the Serpents Singles and their partners who make them not-so-single under one roof. It’s perfect.”
She stands, and I follow behind her, Vanessa leading us down the aisle.
“Serpents Singles?” I ask when we reach the top of the stairs.
The four girls exchange looks, and it’s obvious I’m out of the loop about something.
Lilah’s the one to speak up. “Uh, yeah. Hutch, Hayes—whose girlfriend isn’t here tonight since she’s on kiddo duty, but you’ll meet her eventually—Lockey Poo”—that earns her a look from Vanessa—“Lawson, Keller, and Fox all made a…well, I think it depends on who you ask what it is.”
“A club,” Rory says with a secret smile, almost like it’s an inside joke, but I’m not sure who it’s between.
“A pact,” Auden amends. “They promised each other they wouldn’t start any serious relationships and would give all their focus to hockey until they hoisted the Cup together.
” She giggles. “It’s silly, I know. Even funnier now since we know Keller has been married the whole time and so clearly head over heels for you. ”
“I should have known something was up,” Rory says, tossing a chip from her second bag of smuggled-in snacks into her mouth. She doesn’t bother swallowing before she adds, “He who doth protest too much or whatever the hell that saying is.”
The other girls laugh, but I don’t. Is that how Callum has been since I left?
Does he no longer believe in love? Does he not believe in forever?
Does he not believe in…us? He sure as hell didn’t kiss me yesterday like that was the case, but maybe I imagined it.
Maybe it was just a sex-starved man who was hoping for more.
Stop it, Chloe. He loves you. He’s still your husband.
I try to block out the thoughts, but it’s hard to as we make our way to the green room, the area designated for family.
We sit in there for a bit, waiting for the guys to finish all their obligations.
We watch on the screens as the three stars of the game—Locke, Lawson, and Fox—toss snakes into the crowd, then a few players address the media.
We make our way to the hallway just outside the locker room, and finally, after what feels like hours, the Serpents file out. Callum is staring at the ground, his brows pulled in tight, and his shoulders dropped low.
“Oh shit,” Lawson says, and his girlfriend hisses his name. “What? The dude has been sulking in the locker room since the game ended. He’s going to be so happy. Right, Kells?”
He lifts his head at his name, and that’s when it happens—his eyes lock on mine, and all my worries from earlier vanish.
“Clover.” His smile is so wide it’s almost disarming as he walks toward me. “I was worried you left.”
I thought about it, I want to tell him, but I don’t.
“I didn’t. I’m right here.”
“Good, because that’s exactly where I want you.”
Then he kisses me in front of everybody.