Chapter 26
Axel
I hung the painting in my bedroom as soon as I got home.
Rather than placing it on the wall behind the bed, I chose the one across from it.
I wanted to see that view every time I got into bed to remind me of our trip.
It was a ridiculous notion since all I did was think about Luca and how much I missed him.
It had been less than an hour, and I wanted to go back over and demand he come home with me.
Instead, I distracted myself with unpacking and doing my laundry.
But it could only fill so much time, and when it was done, I crawled into bed with my laptop to refresh my memory regarding my teammates' statistics. They were young and inexperienced. Normally, that would have meant being assertive and dominating until everyone fell in line. But that was before, and I wanted this team to feel different. If they weren’t pompous shitheads, then we could get somewhere.
I would need to open up and curb my natural inclination to take control.
As I spent time with Luca, I’d become less angry. About everything.
It wasn’t long before the house became too quiet.
Reaching for my phone on the nightstand, I downloaded a white noise app and found what I was missing.
The sound of the waves crashing outside our villa.
Closing my laptop, I turned off the lights and stretched out in my bed.
I looked over to Luca’s side of my now too-big bed.
Clutching his pillow, I breathed in the scent of his shampoo and tried to sleep.
Wednesday morning, I got up and texted Luca.
It was my last day to wrap up things before hockey commandeered my attention.
After emailing Sutton for an update on the outstanding shares, I hit the gym.
When he still hadn’t replied, I cleaned the entire house and went grocery shopping.
With the fridge overstocked, I found myself ready to drive into the city when I remembered the app.
It took less than a minute for my unease to settle when his blue dot blinked from his office address.
My phone rang, and when I answered, his face filled my screen.
“Hello, love.”
He smiled back. “Hey. Sorry. I was in a meeting, and forgot to tell you that if I’m working and don’t respond, it’s a legality. HIPAA and all.”
I didn’t know what that meant, but it didn’t matter. “It’s okay. How did you sleep?”
He shot me a grin I knew well. “Not as good as I did in Bermuda.”
“Ditto,” I said.
His eyes cut away as he spoke to someone. He looked back at me with an apologetic look. “Sorry, babe. I’ve got to go. I’ll call you after work.”
I nodded. “Okay. Love you.” It slipped out easily.
“Love you, too.”
“Aww,” a woman’s voice said, as he went wide-eyed before ending the call.
Placing my phone on the counter, I stared down at it. “Only two more days.”
After surviving another restless night, I felt like a kid on the first day of school.
Without regard for my lack of sleep, partly due to excitement, the official start to the season came bright and early.
It was the beginning of our preparation for the grueling regular season, and I was ready.
New team. New city. New perspective on life.
The only thing that would have made this day perfect would have been waking up with Luca in my bed.
Video calls didn’t quite do it when I knew he was only a couple of miles away.
I arrived at the practice facility at seven a.m. for our opening meeting.
With my equipment bag over my shoulder, I strode in the front door to the familiar smell of the ice.
It had always invigorated me and put a smile on my face.
But this year, the smile lurking there was more genuine.
As the door closed behind me, Coach Byer rounded the corner. “Axel, you look relaxed and tan.”
I smiled and held out my hand. “Good morning, Coach. I took a few days off in the sun.”
“That’s good. It’s important to get that in when you can. Everyone else should be arriving soon.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “I’ll see you all at breakfast. Can’t wait to get started.”
His enthusiasm was contagious. “See you there,” I said as he walked away, leaving me standing in the foyer. My phone buzzed with an incoming text.
Luca: Don’t break a leg!
I laughed at his text.
Me: Thank you. That would mean I’d need a nurse. Know anyone interested in bathing me?
Luca:
Luca: I volunteer as tribute.
I laughed at his reply.
Me: Have a good class tonight. Tomorrow night you’re mine.
Luca: Looking forward to it.
The doors behind me opened, so I stuffed my phone into my pocket. Decker and Leo Boucher, a defenseman, came into view.
Deck was all smiles as he approached. “Hey, buddy. Where ya been? You’re not your regular pasty white.”
I supplied him with a rude gesture. “Bermuda. How are the kids?” We exchanged small talk before he introduced Leo. “Axel, this is Leo Boucher. Leo, the Axel Hughes. DEL player of the year last season.”
I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you. You’re overselling me. That shit is bad luck.”
“Doesn’t count until we hit the ice the first time.” That was true. “How’s Luca?”
Just the mention of his name did something to my face I was sure my friends would not allow me to forget.
“He’s good. Starts his last semester tonight.
” I left it at that and headed for the locker room.
Decker and Boucher followed as other players came in with conversations and introductions flowing happily around the locker room.
I waited for the inevitable questions that would come, and didn’t have to wait long.
“Hey, you’ve got a twin?” Anders Karlsson asked. “He’s a pro-bowler in the NFL, right? Are you as good as him?”
Normally, I would have popped off with a smart response. But it was obvious it wasn’t a derogatory question or made with ill intent. My response would set the tone for the entire season. So, I smiled. “Yes, I do. Mason dominates the grass. I own the ice.”
He grinned. “That’s cool.” I waited for more questions, but he moved on to what it was like to play overseas and where I was living.
As it turns out, he and his wife lived a couple of blocks away.
“If you need anything, let us know. I like to run in the neighborhood early in the morning before the sun comes up. Let me know if you want to join.”
Much to my surprise, things already felt different. More upbeat. “Yeah. I will.”
“Cool,” he said, pulling out his phone. “Let me give you my number.”
I already had it from my team paperwork, but I didn’t stop him. As he rattled it off, others joined in to exchange them. The normal competitive tension from bringing so many men into one space seemed to be absent. Now I had to match the energy.
“Welcome back,” Coach said over the conversation. “We’ve got some new members on the team. Two more were just signed, and another is getting ready to be traded our way. We’ll see them in the next couple of days.”
Byers introduced the assistant coaches, the training staff, and the dieticians.
“After assessments, everyone gets an optimal nutrition plan. Management has given you access to our dieticians and team chef for those of you who want to order take-home meals. Stay out of the bougie restaurants except when we’re on the road.
” Everyone laughed. “Let’s get breakfast and the medical over with, then move on to see how many of you kept up with your training over the offseason.
Dryland is up first, then the on-ice skills.
” He clapped his hands together. “Let’s go, Nighthawks.
This is the first day of the quest for the cup. ”