14. Layken
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
LAYKEN
I ’ve been down through tunnels like these before in our home arena several times. Coming to hockey games with my best friend who just happens to be the coach’s daughter does have its perks. But something about being down here this time feels different. And not just because we’re in another team’s arena. I’ve never given thought to having any type of relationships with any of Anaheim’s players but now…now I’m married to one. And although he probably doesn’t feel any different as today is just another day in the life of a hockey player, I find myself all kinds of nervous.
Nervous for him.
The idea that I could see him get hurt or banged up by another player has my chest tightening.
I don’t like it.
And since he left for the arena this morning I’ve been feeling especially guilty that he spent last night on the couch. His body was way too large for that tiny piece of furniture. I shouldn’t have let him do it. I should have told him sharing the bed was fine. He’s right. We did it on our wedding night and survived just fine. We’re both adults. I should have done better for him last night. If I’m honest with myself, I think I would have slept better knowing he was next to me than I did with him across the room all curled up and uncomfortable.
I won’t make that mistake tonight.
On our way to wish the guys good luck, we stop in Ella’s dressing room to say hello before she has to go be her best self as Lumin, the team’s shooting star mascot.
“Hey girlie!” Corrigan says when we step inside and find her half dressed in her Lumin costume.
“Hey guys! How was dinner?”
Corrigan hitches her thumb at me. “This girl barely ate a thing, but I thought the burgers at Molly’s Pub were out of this world.”
Ella tilts her head and glances at me. “Oh no, you okay Layken? Is the Colorado air getting to you?”
“Maybe something like that.” I shrug nonchalantly.
“Nah, girl.” Scarlett shakes her head, grinning at me with this I-told-you-so expression on her face. “Tell her the truth!”
Ella’s eyes grow. “Uh oh. What does that mean?”
Corrigan hooks her arm around me. “Our little princess is nervous for her husband.”
“Aww,” Ella coos. “That’s so cute!”
“Seriously though,” I say to them all. “How do you guys handle the nerves on gamedays? I’ve never been nervous about any one of them before when I’ve come to games but today. Ugh. Like, what if Griffin gets hurt? What if his teeth get busted out or he breaks a leg or something terrible?”
The girls laugh at my expense and then Ella shrugs. “It’s a fear you just get used to shrugging off, I guess.”
“Says the girl who munches on cinnamon rolls every time she’s nervous about something.” Corrigan gestures to the box of cinnamon rolls on the table next to her stuff.
“Wait,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “Cinnamon rolls? That’s your nervous snack?”
“Yep. Don’t ask me why. It’s a thing and I don’t even have a reason.” She giggles, motioning to the ones on her table. “Those are a gift from August,” she explains. “He brought them to me before my very first game and he’s done it for every game since.”
“That’s so sweet of him.” I smile.
“Yeah. He’s pretty great. I get your fears though. I used to have them too. Hockey is a contact sport and everyone knows it can get rough but if it helps at all, I can tell you the guys are more than prepared each time they take the ice. They know the risks but they also know how to keep themselves as safe as possible.” She shrugs her shoulder. “After that you just have to trust they know what they’re doing and have faith everything will be just fine. If you let your nerves get the best of you, you’ll never be able to enjoy the game.”
Nodding, I consider her advice. “I suppose you’re right.” I take a deep breath and try my best to shake my nerves away. “All right. Let’s go tell the guys good luck and then I need a beer.”
Corrigan laughs. “That’s my girl.”
We say goodbye to Ella and continue down the hall toward the locker room. Scarlett pushes on the door and then shouts, “Put your balls away gentlemen! The girls have arrived.”
Harrison spots me walking in with Corrigan and Scarlett and says, “Yeah, Ollenberg! Stop slapping your balls. Your wife is here to wish you luck.”
“That’s the perfect opportunity to have my balls on display though,” he says as I round the corner. My eyes find his and then they immediately drop to his body. He stands before me wearing the bottom part of his uniform without a shirt on. His immaculately sculpted chest and strong arms making my insides flutter for reasons other than fear of him getting hurt.
“Hey Naughty.” His soft husky voice is suddenly the most attractive sound I’ve ever heard and when he opens his arm for me, I step into it without question like it’s something we do all the time. He wraps his arm around me and kisses the top of my head as I bring my hands to his back and rest my cheek on his chest.
Wow, he feels…warm.
Strong.
Protective.
Loving.
Tender.
Amazing.
I would do just about anything to never have to walk away from this embrace.
“You okay?” he murmurs in my ear and I nod my head against his surprisingly soft skin.
“Mhmm. You?”
He inhales a deep breath and to my surprise says, “I am now.”
His comment has me biting back a smile.
“Aww, Griff,” Bodhi says from the other side of the room. “Your wife’s nervous for you.”
I step out of Griffin’s embrace, but he doesn’t let go of me when I turn around to show Corrigan that if looks could kill she’d be a dead bitch right now. She merely chuckles at my expense and shrugs. “What? It’s cute!”
“You’re nervous, Naughty?” Griffin asks, peering down at me with an amused smile. “For me?”
Rolling my eyes and trying to play off my unease, I huff out a breath. “Oh, my God, she’s making a way bigger deal of this than it is.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” he says with a knowing grin.
“Okay, yes! Yes,” I acquiesce. “I’m a little nervous, okay? I know I’ve seen plenty of home games and I’ve seen you play before but this is the first time I’ve gotten to watch you play a game that isn’t in our hometown and also as…well…”
“As my wife?” He smiles, knowing he’s got me right where he wants me.
I nod. “Yes. As your wife. And I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“Aww. That’s so sw?—”
“Because I don’t want to deal with your cry-baby drama when you need help taking a shit,” I say, playfully punching him in his stomach.
The guys laugh but he doesn’t even budge when I hit him because clearly his abdomen is made of fucking steel. Deadpanned, he looks at me and asks, “Is your hand okay?”
I burst out a laugh. “Fuck you, you?—”
“Aww, she really does love me!” He beams, wrapping both his arms around me this time in a tight hug rocking us back and forth. “Don’t worry, Naughty. I promise you won’t have to help me take a shit.”
“Glad to hear it,” I say muffled into his chest.
“But a sponge bath on the other hand…” He chuckles and I pinch his side causing him to recoil.
“You wish, big guy. You wish.”
He shrugs. “Can’t blame a husband for trying.” He releases his arms from my body and says, “Hey I have something for you.”
My brows furrow. “For me?”
“Yeah.” He reaches into his cubby space and pulls out his game jersey, unfolds it, and pulls it down over my head.
Oh. My. God!
I’m literally wearing Griffin’s jersey!
With his name!
And his number!
“But don’t you need this?” I ask. “In case you haven’t noticed, you’re not wearing the top half of your uniform.”
“Nah, I’m going out like this tonight.” He chuckles when I give him my best get-real expression. “Kidding. I have several others and my wife should wear my name, right? I’m sorry I didn’t think to make sure you had one before we left.”
“Thank you, Griffin. That’s very kind of you.”
He leans down and whispers in my ear so only I can hear him. “I noticed you sniffing my hoodie the other night on the way home from my parents’ house.”
Fuck.
He noticed that?
My cheeks heat with embarrassment. “Oh.”
“It was cute as fuck and I liked it very much,” he confesses. “So, I wore this one most of the day and sprayed it with my cologne. Hope that’s okay.”
The smile that grows across my face is all the answer he needs. He smiles back at me, nodding his head. “Good. You look hot by the way. The leggings are killer but knowing you have my name on your back?” His eyes penetrate mine with a look of hunger and desire I haven’t seen from him before. Like he’s stripping me down right in front of his eyes and getting a good long look at his prized reward.
And I’m his prize.
I’m his reward.
I’m his.
He shakes his head. “It does things to me, Naughty.”
It does things to me too.
I rise up on my tip toes and kiss Griffin’s cheek. “It does things to me too, Griffin. Good luck out there, husband. Score one for me.”
“I’ll score them all for you.”
Holy shit are we flirting?
We’re totally flirting.
And I don’t hate it one bit.
Corri and Scarlett say goodbye to Bodhi and Oliver and then Corrigan hooks arms with me on our way out of the locker room.
“What in the Outlander -season-one-episode-seven was that just now?”
A short laugh bursts from my mouth. I love how much she loves Outlander , but she may be a little obsessed. “What?”
“You know what!” She smirks. “You guys looked like you were standing naked in front of each other admiring each other’s bodies.”
I shrug a shoulder and grin a little too much before I say to her, “So what if we were?”
Scarlett giggles and loops her arm with Corrigan’s other arm. “Corri, I’m willing to bet all my husband’s money that Griffin Ollenberg won’t be sleeping on the couch tonight.”
Anaheim is down by two at the start of the third period and it’s not because the guys are playing like shit. Both teams have been intense since the start, which has made for quite a fun game. Griffin took a few checks to the glass that made me jump out of my seat each time, but he recovered quickly and kept playing.
How they do that, I’ll never know.
Griffin’s down low in Boulder territory when August gets control of the puck and passes to him. He shoots the puck off his stick toward Harrison but it’s blocked by Boulder. Oliver battles on the inside and then the puck is loose. Boulder sprints for it but it’s still loose when August takes control again and shoots it toward Griffin who circles around the net and takes a shot.
“Dammit!”
Blocked again.
“Come on Griffin!” I shout through my cupped hands hoping he can hear me but knowing the chance is low.
The puck banks off the net and Griffin passes to Oliver who sweeps it to Harrison and then it’s back to Griffin again. He crosses back in front of the net this time, pivots his foot, and shoots the puck right between the goalie’s legs and scores.
I lift my arms over my head and jump up and down cheering in excitement as I shout, “Yes! That’s my husband! Way to go Griffin!”
How does he make it look so damn easy?
We watch as the guys surround him for a quick hug and a helmet tap and when he’s free from his brothers on the ice, he turns and looks directly to where I’m sitting, lifts his hand, and points at me as he skates away.
“Aww.” Corrigan brings her hand to her chest. “Oh, my God he just acknowledged you, Layken!”
As cocky as can be, I bob my head and smile as I say, “Well, I am his wife after all.”
Scarlett laughs. “Listen to this girl. Not even married a month and she already knows how to play the game.”
“Speaking of weddings…” I turn to Scarlett who is sipping her beer. “When the hell are you and Oliver getting married? Haven’t you been together a few years now?”
She nods. “Yep.”
“Okay…and? Do you need lessons on how to have a shot-gun wedding? ‘Cause I got you girl if that’s the case.”
“Hell no,” she says, shaking her head. “Our wedding will be an extravagant and over the top affair after the season is over because I want my new husband and his extraordinary bedroom skills all to myself for a solid few weeks before he has to get back to the ice.”
“That’s fair.” I nod. “You guys both deserve it for sure.”
The final period begins with another face-off, but this one Oliver loses and the puck is sent down the ice toward Barrett. Boulder’s Sanderson shoots it to Chetlikov but Griffin and Harrison are on him in an instant defending their net any way they can. Chetlikov loses possession to Ledger who sends it to August. Harrison skates to the bench to end his shift and Bodhi jumps into the action, sprinting to defend Barrett. Chetlikov gets the puck again and shoots but the puck flies behind the net. Barrett pivots to retrieve it but Boulder’s Henning is coming too fast and knocks Barrett right off his feet.
“What the fuck?” I shout, gesticulating my displeasure at their foul play.
Clearly the rest of the team feels the same way because Oliver starts a fight on the ice as Barrett slowly lifts himself back to his feet.
“Make them fucking pay Magallan!” Scarlett shouts.
Gloves and helmets come off and punches are thrown. Every player on the ice is packed into a small space around the net leaving Barrett vulnerable once again. Referees blow their whistles and send both Henning and Oliver to the penalty box but the adrenaline is pumping and the energy is high. The entire arena is on their feet as the play continues with two less players on the ice.
Bodhi’s got the puck and passes to Griffin but Boulder intercepts it by checking Griffin hard into the glass. He slips and falls on his side just as Ledger comes speeding into the zone fighting for the puck with Chetlikov. Sticks clash and bodies rock and I see Griffin lift himself to his knees and then raise his arm to get his stick and then without knowing what the hell is happening, I see him grip his wrist and bend over. When he lets go of his arm for a moment blood splatters on the ice.
“Oh my God!” I gasp, bringing my hands to my mouth. “What just happened?”
Bodhi circles around Griffin and helps him to his feet, his glove covering his arm, blood splattered down his jersey.
“He got cut, it looks like,” Corrigan answers, watching on with me. Our eyes teeter between Griffin and the jumbotron hoping to see a playback.
“Where? Is he okay?” Bile rises in my throat as I look on in horror. “He’s going to be okay, right?”
Bodhi and Ledger help Griffin off the ice and then he’s swept down the tunnel and out of sight. There’s a quick replay on the jumbotron that looks like Griffin lifts his arm to grab his stick at the same time Chetlikov leans for the puck. When Chetlikov lifts his right foot off the ice, his skate blade slices Griffin’s arm.
Fuck!
Corrigan cringes. “Damn, I bet that one hurt.”
“What do I do? Is he okay? It’s just a cut, right?”
Scarlett nods with a sympathetic smile. “Yeah, babe. Just a cut. I mean it’ll be deep and will probably need stitched but I imagine he’ll be back in the game if he can get back.”
To my surprise, Griffin only misses about two minutes of game play given Boulder’s time out before he’s back on the ice.
“No way did they stich that,” Scarlett says, huffing a laugh and shaking her head.
“This late in the game?” Corrigan asks. “You’re right. He probably told them to bandage the hell out of it until the game is over.”
Of course that’s what he would do.
God forbid he miss his time on the ice.
Because my husband is a fucking beast.
But I hope he’s okay.
“You know,” Corrigan says, his brows arched, “Griffin’s going to need a really good night’s sleep after that tragic accident. His wrist is probably going to be super sore.”
“Totally.” Scarlett nods. “I imagine the only thing that would make that cut worse is having to rest his arm on the floor all night. Or worse, an uncomfortable couch.”
“Yeah. I mean, what if dirt from the floor gets down into those stitches?” Corrigan asks.
Scarlett points to Corrigan. “Could get infected.”
“Right?”
“Yeah.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh, my God, you two! I hear you loud and clear, all right? I promise, I can take good care of my husband, thank you very much.”
“Oh, we know you can.” Corrigan says, smirking as she leans over and nudges me with her shoulder.
Scarlett nudges from the other side. “And you will.”