Chapter 27 Knox
KNOX
It’s Sunday morning, and while I’d normally sleep in, my ribs are killing me, so I’m up early baking instead. Last night’s game against the Capitals was a barn burner. It was hard-hitting, heavy on penalties, and the fans were rocking the Treehouse.
The entire place was electric, and I loved every second of it, despite the fact that we damn near went into OT. Thanks to a nasty deke by Bash, I managed to snipe one in the back of the net with twenty seconds left on the clock.
Despite the bruises I collected, it was a hell of a game, the kind that leaves you hungry for more.
Having Ava and her friends in the stands cheering us on was just the cherry on top.
The tickets were a gift, my way of thanking Lexie and Kayla for Friday night. And maybe it was my imagination, but I swear I could hear Lexie cussing like a sailor over the din of the raucous crowd.
I chuckle at the memory. Some things never change.
Ava’s friends are leaving today, so I thought I’d make a batch of cinnamon rolls before they head out to the airport.
Hartsfield is a nightmare on a good day, and on a Sunday, it’s going to be busy as hell.
They’re likely to spend a few hours in the security line, so they’re going to need the sugar.
“What is that delicious smell?” Ava asks, padding into the kitchen. Her hair is tied up in a messy bun, and her shapely legs are on full display beneath her Gliders jersey. My cock stirs at the sight of her, and I sweep her into my arms for a quick kiss.
“I made cinnamon rolls. I just need to frost them and then we can eat.”
She groans. “If you keep this up, I’m going to have to double my time at the gym.”
I swat her ass playfully. “Stop it, you’re gorgeous. But I mean, if you’re looking to burn a few extra calories, I volunteer as tribute.”
She snorts, amusement shining in her dark eyes. “I’ll bet you do.”
“What can I say? You look good wearing my jersey.”
Her eyebrow wings up. “Let me guess, I’d look even better out of it?”
“Hey.” I release her just long enough to throw my hands up in a show of self-defense. “You said it, not me. But now that you mention it…”
I grip her ass tight and pull her in for another kiss, this one slow and seductive.
I’d like nothing more than to fuck her in that jersey—in my jersey—but my ribs were too sore last night and my dumbass got so carried away Friday that I forgot to even give Ava her birthday gift.
She found the bag by her bedroom door on Saturday morning. To say she was touched is an understatement. She teared up, but in truth, I was the one left speechless.
The sight of the woman I love wearing my numbers, my name stitched across her back?
Nothing in the world can compare to that feeling.
Just the memory of it has my throat closing up now.
“Knock it off, lovebirds.”
Ava slips from my arms and wheels around to face Lexie, a shit-eating grin plastered to her face. “You sound a little hoarse. Too much screaming at the game last night?”
Lexie pulls a face as she slides onto one of the stools at the breakfast bar, looking like she could use a few more hours of sleep.
I offer them coffee, and while they chat about coaching techniques, I frost the cinnamon rolls.
Kayla joins us and begs to eat outside. “You’re so lucky it’s still warm here. It’s freezing up north. I probably won’t get this opportunity again until spring.”
Ava laughs, careful not to spill her coffee. “I wouldn’t call it warm.”
“Warm-ish,” Kayla amends, making prayer hands.
I plate the cinnamon rolls, and then Ava leads us out to the deck. She’s added a few chairs and a small table that doubles as a footrest. I let the ladies take the chairs and lean against the railing, ankles crossed.
The smell of cinnamon and sugar stuffs itself up my nose, and I dig in.
I’m always starving after a game, and today is no exception. I’m halfway through my second roll when my back door swings open and McGinnis swaggers out looking like the cat that ate the canary.
My stomach drops.
Oh, shit.
He smiles at the ladies, but his gaze settles on me.
“Hey, Cap. How’s it hanging?” He doesn’t wait for me to answer. “Oh, are those cinnamon rolls?” His face lights up, and he climbs onto the railing, making the leap to Ava’s deck with ease. “Hook me up.”
Ava shoots me a horrified glance, and I can’t blame her. The situation is…not ideal.
I set my plate on the railing and cross my arms over my chest. “What are you doing up so early? Shouldn’t you be sleeping off your latest conquest?”
McGinnis never gets out of bed before noon on a Sunday—ever.
“Funny thing,” he says, nodding at Kayla like he’s trying to pick her up in a club. She ignores him, and I’m not gonna lie, it gives me the tiniest bit of satisfaction. “I couldn’t catch a wink last night. There was all this banging and moaning. Did you guys hear it over here?”
McGinnis looks around the group as if seeking confirmation.
He’s full of shit. Ava and I didn’t even have sex last night. She took one look at the mottled bruising on my ribs and insisted I take it easy.
I throw my balled-up napkin at him. He must not be fully awake because it bounces off his forehead and lands on the deck.
“Come on, man. How long did you two think you could keep this up before I’d notice?” He hitches a thumb over his shoulder. “We live right next door.”
I shrug, but I’m not fooling anyone. My shoulders are tense as fuck. “You spend all your free time chasing puck bunnies, and you’ve got the attention span of a gnat, so…”
“So…” he says, picking up where I left off. “What’s a guy got to do to get a cinnamon roll?”
Lexie snorts. “Is this some weird pastry-fueled attempt at blackmail? If so, you’re failing miserably.”
“Who said anything about blackmail?” He pats his stomach. “I’m just a growing boy searching for some good eats.”
“So you’re not going to say anything?” Ava asks, her voice a few octaves higher than normal. “To anyone?”
He turns to her, face angelic as he points to his chest. “Who would I tell?”
My pulse thrums. It’s one thing for him to fuck around with me, but Ava is off-limits. My voice is a low rumble when I speak. “McGinnis.”
He throws up his hands. “I’m kidding. Your secret is safe with me.” He rubs the back of his head, making his sleep-mussed hair stick up even more. “I really was just following my nose. Can I please get some breakfast already?”
“Help yourself.” Ava shakes her head in disbelief, as if she can’t believe this is her life. Ditto. “Plates are over the sink.”
“Thanks,” he says, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. “You totally get me, Ava.” He glances at me and then cups his mouth to stage whisper, “Unlike some people.”
This fuckin’ kid. As usual, I can’t decide if I want to throttle him or hug him.
After breakfast, we drop Lexie and Kayla at the airport. The women exchange hugs and promise to plan another girls’ weekend, and when they’re through, they turn their attention to me.
“You’d better treat our girl right,” Kayla says, giving me what I think is supposed to be an intimidating stare. “She deserves the best, and she’s suffered enough assholes. She doesn’t need another one.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” I assure her. “You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
“Good.” Lexie flips her braid over her shoulder. “Because I’d hate to have to come back here and de-nut you mid-season.” She glances at Ava. “Not that I wouldn’t love to visit you again, babe.”
I must pass muster because both women hug me before they disappear into the terminal.
Ava watches them go, her smile wilting a little more with each passing second.
“Hey.” I slip an arm around her shoulders. “Are you up for a little ride? There’s something I want to show you.”
Forty minutes later, we pull into the driveway of my childhood home.
The brick exterior has been cleaned, the shutters have been replaced, and the landscaping—my summer project—is thriving, but the house still looks bereft.
Probably because it’s sitting vacant with a thousand unfinished projects.
“This is your family home?” Ava asks, her face warm and open as she turns to me.
I can’t help but notice the way she phrased the question, calling it a family home. I suppose that’s what it is now. It was my parents’, and now it’s mine.
“Got it on the first try.” I gesture toward the door. “Come on. I’ll show you around.”
We climb out of the truck and make our way up the path to the front door. The house sits on a two-acre lot at the end of a cul-de-sac, giving us plenty of privacy. Not that there are many prying eyes inside the gated community, but you can never be too careful.
“It’s beautiful,” she says quietly.
“Thanks.” I pull the keys from my pocket and search for the one that unlocks the front door. “My mom loved this house. When I bought it, I thought it would be like keeping a part of her alive, you know?”
Ava nods. “That makes sense. I’m sure you made a lot of happy memories here.”
Plenty of unhappy ones too, but I don’t want to dwell on that today. The sun is shining, I’m here with the woman I love, and for now, that’s enough.
I slot the key into the lock and open the door to let Ava go inside first. The alarm signals, and I switch it off.
“Do you want the quick tour or—”
“I want to see everything.” Ava grins and runs her fingers over one of the mahogany doors, her earlier sadness forgotten. “Give me the full tour.”
I take her hand and lead her upstairs. We start in the owner’s suite and her eyes go round at the size of the walk-in closets.
“What do people do with all this space?” She twirls with her arms extended. “I’m not even exaggerating when I say this closet is bigger than my first apartment.”
“I don’t know about most people, but I played a mean game of hide and seek when I was about this tall,” I say, holding my hand around mid-thigh.
She laughs, and after months of working on the house in solitude, the sound is refreshing.
Hell, maybe that’s what this place needs, more laughter. More life. A woman’s touch.