Page 71 of Head Over Skates

I nod. She moves her hands down my body, down my legs. She starts unlacing my skates.

“I need you to name three things you can see. Owen, trust me. Three things.”

I watch her, making quick work of my laces. The pressure begins to ease.

“I… see you. Unlacing my skates.”

“Good. Two more.”

My eyes dart around the room. “I see the big TV.”

She has one of my skates off by now. “One more. You can do this.”

I look up. “Lights. Lights on the ceiling.”

My other skate comes off. “Now name three things you can hear.” She pulls down a big sock. Then unfastens a shin guard, moving to the next leg to repeat the process.

“I can hear your voice. And the Velcro.”

Gradually, inch by inch, the panic starts to loosen its talons.

“You’re doing such a good job, Owen. What else do you hear?”

“Uh… the hum of the air conditioner.”

She bends over to place a soft kiss on each of my knees. “Now I need you to move three different body parts. Can you do that?”

“Yes.”

I clench and unclench my fingers, then with my legs free from the armor, I bend my knee.

“I’m going to pull you up to a sitting position so we can take off your padding. But you’re heavy, so you need to help me out, Owen.”

“I… think I can sit up on my own.”

“Okay good. That will be number three.”

I hoist myself up and Emily helps me out of my jersey and padding. I feel much better now. I can breathe. She sits with me, stroking my legs, my arms, my shoulders. Her hands are the most soothing things ever to touch my body.

After a long while, she asks, “How often do you get these?”

“Not since I was seventeen or eighteen.”

“Are you seeing a therapist?”

“No.”

“Okay.” She strokes my beard, combing it with her fingernails. She can ask anything she wants of me right now andit’s hers. Jewelry, designer clothes… a house. She just continues to soothe me, then gently adds, “But can we talk about what happened another day? When you’re feeling up to it?”

I cast my gaze on her beautiful face. “Sure.”

Cupping my hands under her jaw, I lean over to kiss her softly. Her lips are warm and pliant, and although I could completely lose myself in her, she grounds me. She’s an anchor to all that is good. I lift her by the waist and settle her on my lap, roaming my hands up her back.

As my mouth moves over hers, I vaguely register several sets of hard footsteps marching down the hallway. There’s excited chatter, people rushing by, mild commotion somewhere in the building.

Then Griffin pokes his head in the room, looks at Emily straddling me, then glances at my clothes and gear spread all over the floor.

“What are you guys doing in here? Actually, I don’t wanna know. Just get up to check this out. The Hart Memorial Cup was found.”

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