Chapter 24 #2
I flipped him off discreetly, still smiling for the cameras.
By the time I made it home, the adrenaline had faded, leaving a bone-deep exhaustion alongside the low throb in my knee. But as I unlocked the door, fatigue gave way to anticipation.
Kate stood in the living room, surrounded by what appeared to be a science-themed hockey celebration.
A banner read "HYPOTHESIS: AUSTIN KICKS ASS (CONFIRMED)" in her messy handwriting.
The coffee table held champagne, post-game protein snacks meticulously arranged, and what looked like homemade cookies shaped vaguely like hockey sticks.
"You scored the fucking game-winner!" she shrieked, launching herself at me with surprising force for someone her size. "I screamed so loud Dr. Barnes texted to ask if I was conducting unauthorized experiments again!"
I caught her easily, spinning her once despite my protesting knee. "Did you watch in the lab?"
"We projected it on the wall of the conference room." She kissed me hard, then pulled back with narrowed eyes. "That hit looked bad. How's the knee really feeling?"
"Functional. Probably just soft tissue inflammation," I replied, using her terminology.
Kate's smile was blinding. "Listen to you with the medical jargon! I've created a monster."
"Speaking of creating things together," I began, setting her down carefully. "I need to tell you something."
Kate's eyes widened, a mix of curiosity and concern flashing across her face. "Why do you have that look? Did you tear something? Is your knee worse than you're admitting? Because I swear to god, Austin, if you're hiding a medical issue—"
"MedEdge Sports Medicine wants us," I interrupted, unable to hold it in any longer. "Both of us. Together. For their new recovery science campaign."
She froze, champagne flute halfway to her lips. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Tom called before the game. They saw our viral post—you in the lab coat, me in hockey gear.
They want to launch a whole recovery science line with us as the faces.
" I guided her to the couch as her legs seemed to wobble.
"Equal billing. You as the scientist, me as the athlete. Research funding included."
"Research... funding?" Kate's voice had gone high and thin. "Like, actual, no-strings funding for my work?"
"Six figures worth, according to Tom. Plus appearance fees." I sat beside her, taking her hands in mine. "They specifically want your expertise, Kate. Your actual science, not just your pretty face next to mine."
Her mouth opened and closed several times without producing sound, like a particularly attractive fish out of water. Finally, she whispered, "Holy fucking shit."
I laughed, relief washing through me. "That's a good reaction, right?"
"I don't know yet," she admitted, standing to pace in that frantic way that meant her brilliant brain was processing at warp speed.
"This is... unprecedented. Scientists don't get sponsorship deals with their hockey player boyfriends.
My colleagues will either be insanely jealous or think I've sold out completely. "
"Is that your main concern? Academic perception?"
"Partly," she nodded, hands gesturing wildly. "There's this unspoken rule in science that popularity and serious research are mutually exclusive. Like you can either be respected or accessible, but never both."
"Sounds like hockey," I observed. "You're either a team player or a superstar. Can't be both according to media."
Kate stopped pacing, surprise softening her features. "That's... a really good analogy."
"I do occasionally have insights outside of defensive strategy." I patted the couch, beckoning her back. "So what's the other part of your concern?"
She sank down beside me, tucking herself against my side as if finding her natural habitat. "What if this changes us? What if turning our relationship into a commercial product somehow... ruins the real thing?"
The vulnerability in her voice hit me harder than any Chicago defenseman could. I tilted her chin up, making her meet my eyes.
"Kate, do you really think anything could change how I feel about you? How we are together?"
"No," she admitted softly. "But I've never been in this position before. Having my personal life and professional life so completely intertwined with someone else's."
"Me neither. But think about it—isn't that what we've already been doing? Your science helped my recovery. My injury inspired your research. We've been crossing these lines since day one."
She considered this, her scientist's mind visibly working through the variables. "That's true. And having legitimate funding would accelerate my superbugs research."
"Exactly." I brushed her chaotic hair back from her face. "Plus, imagine all the science nerds who'll see a woman like you partnered with a sports brand and think, 'Holy shit, maybe I can do that too.'"
Kate's eyes widened. "You're using representation arguments against me? That's fighting dirty, Callahan."
"I learned from the best. You used the exact same argument when convincing me to post that photo."
"Touché." She laughed, tension draining from her shoulders. "God, when did our lives get so ridiculously complicated and amazing?"
"January. When you spilled coffee on my floor five minutes after meeting me."
She leaned up to kiss me, soft and sweet. "Best coffee I ever spilled."
I deepened the kiss, my hands sliding under her shirt to find warm skin. The day's adrenaline redirected itself, arousal replacing game-time intensity. Kate responded immediately, climbing into my lap with a hunger that matched my own.
"Wait," she gasped as my lips found that sensitive spot behind her ear. "We need to talk about us. About the future. If we're doing this campaign together, we should discuss—"
"I can't imagine my life without you," I said against her skin. "Without your chaos balancing my order. Your brilliance challenging my discipline. Your goddamn bacterial cultures with names taking over my refrigerator."
She pulled back, eyes suddenly bright with unshed tears. "Austin..."
"I'm not good with words like you are. But I know when something works, when the chemistry is right." I held her gaze, baring myself completely. "And we work, Kate. Better than anything I've ever known."
A smile bloomed across her face, radiant and full of joy. She launched herself at me so enthusiastically that we nearly toppled backward off the couch. I caught her, laughing as I steadied us.
"That wasn't a proposal," I clarified, unable to stop grinning. "Just so we're clear. When I propose, there will be a ring and much better timing."
"When, not if?" Kate raised an eyebrow, delight dancing in her eyes.
"Definitely when." I pulled her back to me, capturing her mouth in a kiss that said everything words couldn't.