44. Kai
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
KAI
Ozzy gives me an uncharacteristically shy smile and grazes a hand down my arm. “Thank you for bringing me as your date.”
“Who else would I bring?”
“I don’t know. Who do you usually bring?”
The question is so unlike him, a flicker of insecurity I rarely see. “Never brought a date before. You’re the first.”
“I’m honored then.”
I motion toward the door. “Let’s go.”
Nico and Packy’s place is full of players, wives, boyfriends, and girlfriends. Enthusiastic greetings welcome us as we go inside.
Packy walks up, beaming at us. “Glad you made it, guys.” He gives me a big hug, then turns to Ozzy. “Good to see you, Olofsson. Kai wouldn’t let you out of it, eh?”
Ozzy’s wearing a big grin, the bashfulness nowhere to be seen. “No such luck. How are you, Paquette?”
They exchange a proper, manly hug, and Packy says, “I’m well. Nico’s around here somewhere. Let’s get you some drinks.”
He takes us to a bar set up in a nearby alcove, and once I have my San Pellegrino with lemon and Ozzy has a beer, we make our way around the party.
“Kai! Oskar!” Theo’s voice cuts through the din, and he waves us over.
Jace, standing with him, yells, “Come celebrate with us.”
We weave through the crowd and join them.
Theo claps me on the back. “Can you believe it? We won the fucking Cup!”
“Someone pinch me,” Jace adds. “Except don’t, because I might already be too drunk to feel it.”
Ozzy chuckles. “Congratulations, guys. You earned it.”
Theo turns his attention to Ozzy. “We heard you were quite the spectator last night. Did you know they had you on the highlights reel when Kai hoisted the Cup?”
“I didn’t, actually.” Ozzy looks pleased. “I was supporting my man.”
“All the way from a rival team,” Jace teases. “Does that make you a traitor, or just smart?”
Ozzy grins. “Maybe both?”
Theo laughs, then asks me, “Feels pretty damn good to be a champion, huh?”
“Still processing,” I say. “Probably won’t feel real until I see my name on the Cup.”
Jace leans in. “Did you see the look on Thompson’s face when they chose him as the Most Valuable Defenseman in the Finals? I thought he was going to crack a smile.”
We glance across the room to where Thompson and his wife are talking with Noah. Thompson’s expression is as stoic as always.
“Thompson doesn’t smile,” I say. “He occasionally experiences mild facial relaxation.”
Theo snorts. “That’s the best description I’ve ever heard. Hey, McKay!” he calls out, spotting our youngest player nearby. “Get over here.”
McKay comes over, beer in hand, looking a little overwhelmed. “What’s up?”
“We’re talking about Thompson’s smile,” Theo explains.
“Or lack thereof,” Jace adds.
McKay snorts and nearly drops his beer. “I think I saw it once. Maybe during preseason. Or maybe I only imagined it.”
Ozzy is laughing now. “You guys are something else.”
“We won the Cup,” Jace says, puffing out his chest. “We can be whatever we want.”
Theo puts an arm around Jace’s shoulders and whispers something in his ear.
“Sorry about that, Olofsson,” Jace says. “I wasn’t trying to slam you guys.”
Ozzy shakes his head. “No worries. I didn’t take it that way.”
Noah joins us with his date, the same model he’s brought to events before. She’s wearing a lot of makeup and has long blonde hair.
“What are we talking about?” Noah asks.
“How Thompson never smiles,” Jace says.
“I just remembered I saw him smile last night,” McKay says.
Noah snickers. “He reserves them for special occasions like winning the Cup.”
“Speaking of which,” I say, “where’s our captain?”
“Right here.” Nico and Packy join the group, and Nico gives me a big hug. “How’s my favorite goalie?”
“Worn out but happy. How’s my favorite captain?”
“Same,” Nico says, then looks at Ozzy. “Good to see you again. Thanks for coming.”
“Wouldn’t miss it. Congratulations, captain. That was great leadership out there.”
“It’s easy when you have the right guys,” Nico says, then nudges me. “Including this one. He was a rock throughout the playoffs.”
Ozzy clears his throat. “Yes. I witnessed that during one of the rounds.”
“You were a rock yourself,” Packy says. “Whatever the Fury’s problem was, it wasn’t you.”
All the guys agree, some trading fist bumps with Ozzy.
The music and conversation slip into the background as my eyes find his. For a moment, we’re the only two people in the room.
“Hey, lovebirds,” Packy says. “Stop it with the fuck-me eyes. We’re having a party. You can celebrate any way you want when you go home.”
“They’ll celebrate, all right,” McKay says, slurring his words. “Question is, how many times?”
Everyone laughs, and when I look over, Ozzy is blushing. He isn’t used to how off-key McKay can be.
“Oskar,” Thompson’s wife Meadow says, appearing at his side. “I’m stealing you for a bit. The significant others want to meet the man who finally tamed our Kai.”
Ozzy shoots me a look, and I nod. “Go on. I’ll be fine.”
He allows Meadow to lead him toward a group of women and a few men clustered on the terrace. I watch him go, feeling a strange mix of pride and possessiveness. He’s mine, but he’s also becoming part of this world too. The Condors are my family, and Ozzy’s one of us now.
Nico nudges me. “Don’t worry. They’ll be gentle.”
“I know,” I say. “It’s just… different.”
“Different weird or different good?” Packy asks.
“Good. Definitely good.”
We trade stories and talk about summer plans. Once, I look outside and see Ozzy deep in conversation with the SOs. He’s fitting right in, which makes my chest tingle the way it does after I make a big save.
“So,” Theo says. “Is it weird having a Fury player as a boyfriend?”
I shake my head. “Not anymore.”
Jace rolls his eyes. “Not once they started doing the dirty hula, anyway.”
A chorus of groans and laughter goes around the group.
“That does tend to help,” Noah says, looking thoughtful.
“Is it okay when we play the Fury?” Packy asks. “When I was a Warrior, it was strange playing the Condors because of Nico.”
“Is that why you always beat the shit out of each other?” Jace asks.
Theo nods. “That was always crazy. Fighting while you were making fuck-me eyes at each other.”
“They didn’t fight after they actually started fucking though.” McKay’s slurring his words worse than ever and spills some of his beer this time.
“Think you’ve had enough, buddy,” Noah says, taking the bottle from McKay.
Nico looks at me. “It’s weird though, isn’t it? Playing against your man?”
I take a sip of my drink. “It always feels strange playing against him, but we’re both competitive enough that it’s not really a problem. Ozzy’s a rival on the ice, but once the game’s over, he’s just Ozzy.”
“And Kai’s just Kai.” A warm hand settles on my back; Ozzy’s at my side again. “We go home, and everything’s fine.”
While the guys start talking, I lean close to Ozzy’s ear. “Everything go all right out there?”
“Great. They’re very nice. Supportive too.”
“Good.”
“They wanted me to tell all the embarrassing stories about you,” he adds with a smirk.
I pretend to be worried. “Did you tell them any?”
“Saved those for later,” he says. “They told me I’ll be part of the monthly cocktail meetings now.”
I shiver despite myself, and he laughs, clearly amused by my reaction.
“All right, boys,” Thompson says as he joins us, wearing his usual deadpan. “Get a room. Some of us are trying to celebrate.”
Meadow swats his arm. “Don’t listen to him. He’s jealous because he’s not as cute as you two are.”
And then it happens. Thompson’s mouth actually twitches into a smile. My jaw drops along with everyone else’s.
“There it is!” Jace shouts. “The mythical Thompson smile! McKay, document this moment for posterity.”
Even Thompson laughs. We’ve worked so hard it feels good to let go for once.
Ozzy and I make a circuit around the room. He handles himself like he’s been around these guys for years, laughing at their jokes about being here to spy for the Fury, and holding his own in hockey conversations about everything from technique to philosophy.
But why should I be surprised? He’s been around people like this all his life. Hockey’s a small world, and players are much the same anywhere you go.
Around midnight, I catch his eye from across the room and give a small nod. He returns it, and we meet near the front door.
“Ready to escape?” I ask.
He nods. “Yes. But I’ve enjoyed tonight, baby.”
“I’m glad because you’ll be seeing these guys a lot, on and off the ice. And now that you’re an SO…”
“Wonder how many HFNA players are also SOs?” he asks as we head out.
“Not many, for sure.”
While we wait in the hallway, he asks, “Can we talk about our trip to Greece when we get home? I have some things to show you.”
The elevator doors slide open, and once we’re inside, I answer. “Best offer I’ve had all day.”
Twenty minutes later, another set of elevator doors slide open. This time we’re in the hallway outside our place. Before I can reach for my keys, Oskar already has his out. He unlocks the door, turns to me, and holds out his hand.
I take it, and we walk inside together.