Chapter 18
Levi
“This place is a hell of a lot nicer than where I went to school.” I surveyed the gym that looked as if it had been decorated by a movie production crew.
Arizona remained focused on placing cupcakes onto a three-tiered stand. “You pay more in property taxes than a lot of people make in a year. Are you really that surprised?”
I pursed my lips. “Guess I never really thought about it before.”
“Becoming a parent opens your eyes to a whole new world.”
Huffing a laugh, I agreed, “Yeah, it definitely does.”
“Okay.” She dusted her hands off on her dress. “This restock should buy us at least fifteen minutes before the hungry scavengers clean us out again.”
“Sounds about right. They’re burning a lot of calories out there.”
As music played by the DJ pumped through wall-mounted speakers, a throng of preteens congregated in the middle of the large space, dancing like they didn’t have a care in the world.
Maisie was surrounded by a group of girls, their hands in the air as they jumped around. You could tell even from this distance that she was having the time of her life. The giant smile on her face made my soul sing.
While my concerns about the boys had been for naught, I still kept a close eye on my girl, searching for any sign of discomfort from the vigorous activity.
Her new prosthesis wasn’t due to arrive for another couple of weeks, and I didn’t want her to have another brush with what I’d since learned were stump sores.
My gaze tracked across the room to find Austin leaning against the far wall, arms crossed, his scowl firmly in place. It was impossible not to notice the shy glances darted in his direction by a gaggle of blushing girls.
I leaned closer to Arizona. “Look at our boy being all broody. The ladies are eating that shit up.”
She sighed. “I had to resort to bribery just to get him out the door tonight.”
My eyebrows lifted. “Oh yeah? What’d you offer him?”
“A visit with our mom.” Eyes closing, Arizona pinched the bridge of her nose. “He’s been begging to go for a while, but what he doesn’t understand is that he’s going to leave wrecked.”
I cringed. “That bad, huh?”
“Worse,” she breathed out. “Most of the time, she doesn’t recognize me. Austin is adamant that he can make her remember him, but I’ve been there, and it doesn’t end well. The trauma that comes with witnessing a near-violent forced sedation is hard to shake.”
On pure instinct, I reached for her hand. “I’m sorry.”
Blinking rapidly, my wife lifted her eyes toward the ceiling. “I’m trying so hard to protect him. Why can’t he see that?”
My thumb brushed over her knuckles. “I know it’s hard, but maybe when he sees how advanced her disease progression has gotten, he’ll be able to find closure.”
Arizona sniffled. “Yeah, maybe. But he already struggles with not having a dad. When he realizes he’s lost his mom, too? He’ll be devastated.”
“At least he’ll still have you.”
She hauled in a shaky breath. “He needs more than I can give him.”
“I don’t believe that for a minute. I might have only known you for a short time, but I’ve seen how much you care, how you always put him first.” A wry laugh was pulled from my chest. “The only reason you agreed to marry me was because you were scared of losing Austin. He might not be able to see it now, but when he looks back on the years spent under your guardianship, he’ll appreciate all you’ve sacrificed to give him the best life possible. ”
Her fingers tightened around mine. “I hope you’re right.”
The music shifted from a song with an upbeat tempo to one with a slower cadence, and there was a mass exodus from the dance floor, leaving it completely empty.
I chuckled. “Gotta love that awkward stage where boys and girls crush on each other but no one’s brave enough to make the first move.”
Arizona reared back, scoffing. “Please, I bet you had all the preteen girls falling at your feet. Probably looked like one of those boy band heartthrobs in middle school, while the rest of us mere mortals looked like the trolls, with acne and braces.”
“Oh, I had an ugly duckling phase, trust me.”
Lips twisted to the side, she hummed. “Yeah, sure.”
With my free hand, I tucked a curl behind her ear, letting my fingertips skim the side of her neck before retreating. “I don’t want to talk about the past. Not when I’m here with you.”
A tint of pink colored her cheeks, and her dark lashes fluttered. “Levi.”
“Come on.” I gently tugged her toward the dance floor. “Let’s show ’em how it’s done.”
I half expected her to dig her heels in, to turn my request down flat, but instead, she let me pull her into my arms and guide her in a controlled sway as our captive audience watched on.
God, it felt incredible to hold her like this, and I wondered how much cash I’d have to slip the DJ to keep playing slow songs for the rest of the night.
“We never got to dance at our wedding,” I mused.
Her bright blue eyes snapped up. “Did you want to?”
I lifted one shoulder. “If you had asked, I wouldn’t have said no.”
Laughter burst past her lips. “Oh, I was supposed to ask you?”
My smirk couldn’t be contained. “I’m a big believer in women taking the initiative.”
Grinning wider than I’d ever seen, she teased, “Sure, it’s all fun and games, saying you want a woman to take charge, until you’re the one tied to the bed and begging for mercy.”
Blood rushed south so fast that I grew lightheaded. “Don’t tempt me with a good time, babe.”
Arizona’s mouth dropped open, her eyes wide and searching mine for any hints that I was telling the truth.
This was so not the place, but I couldn’t resist leaning in to rasp in her ear, “Are you brave enough to find out how good it could be between us?”
Her stuttered exhale fanned my cheek as she panted my name. “Levi.”
Withdrawing, I made sure to meet her eye. “It’s okay. You’re not there yet. Just know I’ll be patiently waiting for the day that you are.”
“I—”
The song came to an end, the start of another pop hit eliciting a cheer from the kids, while simultaneously cutting off whatever Arizona was about to say.
It was probably for the best. Any longer in close contact, and I was in danger of confessing that the more time we spent together, the more obsessed with her I became.
I thought about her constantly. Coming home to her was the highlight of my day, and while the sex would no doubt be off the charts, I was content with the company we shared without it—something that was completely new for me.
Arizona was different from other girls I’d been with. Not one of them had ever called me out on my bullshit, that’s for sure, but there was one very prominent distinction that couldn’t be ignored.
None of them had been my wife.
When I wasn’t traveling, my hockey schedule was perfect. I was home in the morning to send the kids off to school, then went to the rink for practice, weight training, and meetings, and was back before they got off the bus.
Arizona often worked late, catering to her clients’ schedules, so in the afternoons, it was just the three of us.
Today, Maisie was in her room putting the final touches on a project for history class, while Austin and I were snacking on the couch, watching the early slate of hockey games, which had become our post-homework ritual.
He was a quick study, memorizing the rules with ease when I’d initially explained them, and after only a few weeks, he could analyze a play better than some of the announcers.
It was kinda nice having a pseudo-sidekick who was quickly falling in love with the sport I’d dedicated my entire life to.
Glancing over at where he sat beside me, I teased, “You’ve got a little something on your lip.”
Austin immediately reached up to wipe away what he assumed to be crumbs from the chips he’d been eating.
“Did I get it?” He turned his face for inspection.
“Afraid not.”
Scrubbing harder at his mouth with his whole hand, he asked, “What about now?”
Chuckling, I shook my head. “Sorry. I was joking about that tiny mustache you’ve got brewing.”
He pressed two fingers to the hair above his upper lip. “Oh, that.”
“What’s the play, my man? You wanna grow it out or get rid of it?”
For a minute, Austin considered his options before declaring, “Get rid of it.”
I rose from the couch. “All right, let’s do it, then.”
His blue eyes bulged. “Like, now?”
“You got something better to do this afternoon?” I challenged.
“No. It’s just . . .” A frown tugged at the corners of his lips. “Never mind.”
Instantly, I understood his hesitation.
“If it wasn’t clear, I was offering to teach you, bud.”
Austin peeked up at me shyly. “You were?”
I jerked my head in the direction of the stairs. “Come on.”
He was off the couch in a flash, following me to the owner’s suite, where the bathroom featured a double sink.
Opening a drawer, I pulled out a can of shaving cream and two fresh razors.
Passing one to Austin, I moved to the linen closet and grabbed a couple of washcloths before returning to the sink and pulling my shirt over my head.
“First thing you wanna do is get the skin wet,” I explained, turning the faucet to warm and motioning for Austin to do the same.
He continued to follow my lead when I soaked a washcloth and dragged the damp fabric across my face.
“Now we’re gonna put on the shaving cream.” I squirted a generous amount onto my palm, then gave some to Austin. “Rub it between your hands, then spread it over your cheeks, upper lip, and jaw.”
With his eyes fixed on the mirror’s reflective surface, he watched as I demonstrated exactly how to do it before following my example.
It struck me that this was a major milestone for Austin, and I said, “Let’s take a picture.”
Under the white foam, his cheeks pinkened. “Oh, we don’t have to,” he began to protest.
“Of course we don’t have to, but this is a memory I don’t want to forget. Especially since it’s not something I’ll get to do with Maisie.”