Chapter 34
ONE STEP AT A TIME
Winter
Once we set up a schedule, getting BJ to and from his classes isn’t a problem. After a discussion with his advisor, he drops Advanced Research Methods. It won’t impact his ability to graduate, since he can retake it next semester and get the grade he wants.
We study together, do homework together when possible, and because he’s not on the ice while he’s healing, he comes to some of my hockey practices, and he’s always at my games.
A few days ago, the doctor told him he could switch from crutches to a cane, so we went shopping for one.
BJ even makes that accessory look badass.
And the timing couldn’t be more perfect, because tonight we’re going to my very first NHL game.
Maverick and Clover have come up for it, and Lavender flew in this afternoon.
I’m staying with BJ tonight so she and Kody can have her old room.
Although I stay at his place most of the time these days anyway, because three flights of stairs is hella ambitious for him at the moment.
We’re congregated in the living room, just waiting on River, who went to pick up Josiah, and Laughlin. The latter has become a semiregular fixture around here over the past month. He shows up randomly, hangs out for a couple of hours, and then disappears.
“Lavender, catch!” Rose tosses something across the room.
Lavender screams and ducks, though the item doesn’t land anywhere near her.
Lovey picks up the roll of tape with a candy cane pattern on it.
“Oh fuck,” BJ mutters.
I remember when Rose was settling in her room and found that roll of tape.
BJ told her to hold on to it and give it to Lavender the next time she visited.
It isn’t until now that I make the connection to the tie-me-down conversation BJ and I had, which led to the use of silk ties. I choke back a laugh.
Lavender flings her hand in the air. “Why would you throw something at me? You know I have the coordination of a newborn foal.”
Lovey frowns. “Why are you giving Lavender duct tape with candy canes on it?”
“I found it in the closet in Kody’s room when I was unpacking.” Rose crams herself between the twins on the couch. “I thought maybe he’d want it back.”
Lavender’s face turns beet red, and she points an accusing finger at BJ. “You were supposed to take that to the grave.”
“Take what to the grave?” Rose asks. She looks around the room, and most everyone seems like they’re trying not to laugh. Except Maverick. He excuses himself to the bathroom.
BJ holds up his hands. “I didn’t say anything to anyone.”
“No one, huh?” Lavender points to me. “Why doesn’t Winter look surprised?” Then she points to Quinn, who’s crammed into the corner of the couch beside a very confused-looking Lovey. “Or Quinn. Or anyone but Lovey, Lacey, and Rose!”
“I think you’re forgetting that Kody was my roommate for a lot of years, and we played hockey on the school team together,” Quinn says.
Lovey leans in and asks Quinn something, but he shakes his head. “I’ll tell you later.”
Lavender crosses her arms. “Is Mav out of earshot?”
“He’s still in the bathroom,” Clover says.
“Kodiak and I don’t use duct tape anymore!
We graduated to less conspicuous methods of restraint after BJ put two and two together last year and realized what was going on.
Plus, it was ripping out his arm hair. Can we drop it now, please?
Because there are some things my brother doesn’t need to know, and this is one of them. ”
“I’m going to need more details on this later,” Rose says.
Lavender waves a hand. “Yeah, yeah. We can talk about it when my brothers aren’t around.”
“When we’re not around for what?” River asks.
“Great! Everyone is here! Let’s roll out!” Quinn shouts, saving Lavender from answering.
We pile into vehicles and make our way to the arena. We have seats behind Philly’s bench and access to a box with food and refreshments, but I’ve never been to a game before, so I want to be on the ice where the action is.
I end up sandwiched between Rose and BJ. The seats are amazing, giving us a perfect view of the rink and the action. While the crowd is dominated by Chicago fans, there are still lots of Philly jerseys dotting the crowd, and a startling number of fans appear to be university-aged women.
When Kody takes the ice, several girls scream and hold up homemade signs professing their undying love. It seems to happen no matter where he plays this season. He’s on every hockey blog, and the fact that he’s otherworldly gorgeous increases his popularity.
When the team takes the bench, he removes one of his gloves and stops in front of Lavender.
A camera homes in on them, projecting them onto the Jumbotron, but they’re too wrapped up in each other to notice.
Kody brings his fingers to his lips, then taps the plexiglass.
Lavender does the same thing, and then they draw a figure-eight together and say, “I love you.”
There’s a collective sigh throughout the arena, followed by cheering.
That’s when they realize the entire hockey-watching nation has witnessed this.
Their faces turn red, and Lavender slouches, pulling her hood over her head as she waves at the cheering crowd.
Kody shrugs and takes a seat on the bench, cheeks flushed, but he’s wearing a smile.
“Why do they have to be so cute all the damn time? They’re like couple goals on crack, especially now that I know they’re kinky freaks,” Rose says.
The camera pans back to the rink, and the first shift is called onto the ice. Kody scores a goal and an assist during the first period, and Chicago ties it up in the second. But Philly recovers in the third with another goal by Kody, and they keep the lead, winning three-two.
After the game, we end up at the restaurant with Kody’s team, and I meet a bunch of the players before we all go back to our place to hang out.
We lounge around in the living room. Kody, BJ, Maverick, and Quinn talk hockey, and I’m sitting with the girls, making plans for tomorrow since Lavender doesn’t leave until late in the afternoon.
I’m half paying attention to their conversation, but also half listening to the guys, who are trying to get some ice time tomorrow morning.
Maverick and Clover rented a hotel room so they can see Kody in the morning.
“When do you think you’ll be cleared to get back on the ice?” Kody asks BJ.
“Dunno. I’m not really in a rush, now that the Olympics are off the table,” BJ replies.
“That’s temporary, though. Maybe you’re not looking at next year, but you could aim for the ones after that, can’t you?” Mav asks.
“I’m not skating pairs again. Not after this.” BJ’s voice is tight, clipped.
“That’s fair, but you skated solo before Caroline and Adele. You can go back to that.”
“I dunno if it’s what I want anymore.”
“BJ just needs some time,” Quinn says. “It’s only been a few weeks since the accident. Being physically ready is one thing; being mentally and emotionally ready is something else. All those pieces need to line up.” He points at BJ. “You can keep score for us tomorrow.”
“That’d be good.” BJ yawns loudly and stretches. “I can’t miss my first-period class though, so I’m gonna hit the pit.”
He welcomes a round of back-pat hugs from Kody and Lavender, and I excuse myself as well. We get ready for bed, and I slide under the sheets and stretch out alongside him.
“You have fun tonight?” he asks.
“It was amazing. So cool to watch a live game. Kody’s a fantastic player.”
“He really is. He’s going to blow his dad’s career out of the water.”
“That’s a lot of pressure, isn’t it?”
BJ trails his fingers along my spine. “It is, but the only thing Kody’s ever been obsessed with—apart from Lavender—is hockey. He used to play in his crib, so he was sort of born for the sport.”
“Sort of like you were born to figure skate,” I murmur.
“It felt that way for a lot of years.”
“But not anymore?” I ask.
“I don’t know. I worked so hard to get where I was, but if I get back on the ice, I’ll be starting at square one, just like when I started skating with Adele.
It took us years to get where we were, and that was without an injury.
Walking up and down those stairs at the arena tonight was a challenge.
My leg is achy all the time, and the nerve pain makes it hard to think sometimes.
I just…don’t know if the things I wanted are possible now.
” He brings my fingers to his lips and kisses the tips.
“Can we put a pin in this? I had a great night, and thinking about this stuff… It just messes with my headspace.”
I kiss his neck. “You want a distraction from the noise in your head?”
“You sure you want to get into that now? It’s late, and I know orgasms aren’t a sedative for you like they are for me.” His fingers are already dipping under my sleep tank.
I run my hand down his stomach and slide my hand into the waistband of his boxer shorts. He’s halfway hard. “I can handle a night light on sleep if it means I can help get your head out of bad places.”
“I love you,” he groans as I wrap my hand around his length.
“I know. I love you too.” I press my lips to his and help him get lost in feeling good.
This conversation isn’t over, but for now, we can put it on pause.