Page 59 of The Game Changer

We both step into her place, and I head for the kitchen to set the bags down. I get to work pulling out two plates, along with silverware, before setting the food out on the bar for us to both dig in to.

“Would you like anything to drink?” she asks from behind me.

“I’ll just take some water. My head is still a little foggy from earlier,” I tell her.

She grabs two glasses, filling them both with ice and water before joining me at the bar.

“So, besides worrying about me, how was your day?” I ask, filling a tortilla with the fajita mix.

“Busy, I had a full patient load. Worked right through lunch with coming in a little late because of Walter’s appointment.”

“Makes sense why you’re so hungry tonight,” I tease her.

“Hey now. I only had time for a granola bar and some coffee, so excuse me if I eat my weight in these amazing fajitas,” she says as she takes a huge bite.

We fall into a comfortable silence as we both eat our way through the food in front of us. Once we’ve both polished off everything, I grab the dishes and start cleaning up.

“You want to curl up and watch something on the couch?” Jill asks once we’ve got everything loaded into the dishwasher.

“Whatever you want to do, babe,” I tell her. We take a seat on the couch, and she flips on the TV.

“I’ve heard good things about the show Yellowstone, want to give that a try?”

“Sure,” I agree as we get situated on the couch together, her back to my front as we lay down along the entire length. I slide my left hand along her torso, resting it on her abdomen. “Mark and Beckett want me to stop by the rink tomorrow and see the guys,” I tell her as she pulls up the show on demand.

“Oh yeah?” she asks.

“Mark asked if I’d mentor some new rookie that just got called up. Said he’s pretty green and needs some guidance from someone who’s got experience.”

“Ah, are you going to do it?”

“I don’t know, I guess it doesn’t hurt to stop by and meet the kid. I don’t know why one of the guys in the locker room isn’t taking him under their wing and showing him the ropes. I can only do so much from the sidelines. It’s not like I can travel with them when they hit the road, or be there every practice to give him pointers.”

“No, but having someone he can call or text and confide in that isn’t fully connected to the coaching staff anymore might be a good thing for him, and I’m sure that someone will help him out when you aren’t there. It’s not like they’re going to let the wolves eat him alive.”

“No, but they also won’t keep the bunnies from seducing him.” I chuckle as I bury my nose in Jill’s neck.

“Eww.” She shudders. “I really hate that term and the thought of them.”

“Just a part of every sport, babe. Some women are desperate.”

“And the men are more than willing to partake,” she states.

“That we are, well, some of us are.”

“I’m so glad that you weren’t really into that scene,” she says as she sets the remote on the side table and rolls in my arms so she’s facing me now. “I love you,” Jill says as she presses her lips to mine.

“I love you, too,” I tell her as I push a lock of hair out of her face and behind her ear. “I’m sorry about today. It wasn’t my intention to scare you like I did. My meds just tend to knock me out, which apparently, my body needed.”

“It’s okay. As soon as your name popped up on my screen, I let out a huge breath. I just didn’t know what was going on and was worried that something had happened to you. I’m sorry if I overreacted by calling your friends to go check on you.”

“It’s okay, babe, I would have done the same if our positions were reversed.” Jill slides an arm around my torso, as she rests her head on my chest. I tighten my own arms around her as we both just lay here together, breathing one another in.

“Are you sleeping?” I ask about twenty minutes later. We’ve been still, just holding one another.

“No, just enjoying your warmth and the sound of your heart beating in my ear,” she says before shifting to look up at me.

I press my lips against hers, the kiss starting slow and innocent. We both hold on to one another as we lazily deepen the kiss until we’re fully making out on the couch like two teenagers. I know she hasn’t been feeling well the last day or two with it being her time of the month, so I don’t press to move things any further than they already are.

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