Page 78 of Mr. Broody

“Yeah, they’re true, but you have nothing to worry about with Henry.”

I shake my head. “But before I came back?”

She laughs. “You’re kidding, right? I mean, I haven’t been with Rowan a terribly long time, but I’ve never seen Henry with someone. And that includes at the clubs. He just hangs out with the guys mostly.” She puts her hand on my arm. “But I get it. There’s a lot of temptation around them, and you’re wondering what he was like before you came along. I did for a while too, but when I’m with Rowan, he’s really good at making sure I know that I’m the only one he wants.” I don’t say anything, and she leans closer. “And I’m pretty sure Henry will be the same. You know, right?”

“Know what?”

She giggles and shakes her head. “That he’s been waiting for you.”

Before I can respond, Bodhi comes out of the bathroom. “Let’s go. I don’t wanna miss my daddy’s next goal.”

We walk back to our seats, but I can’t get Kyleigh’s words out of my head. Has he been waiting, and I took eight years to discover that I could have found myself here?

“Hey now, let’s give Rowan a chance to get a goal,” Kyleigh jokes with Bodhi.

I’m not sure what Bodhi said because I was so in my head.

“Daddy told me he was going to score a lot tonight.”

Kyleigh glances at me over Bodhi’s head as if Henry would do that to impress me.

In the third period, Henry is everywhere and scores another goal and earns an assist. Chicago beats Minnesota three to zero. I love watching Henry play, but it’s the smile on his face after they win that I love the most. Especially when he seeks me out in the stands, and his smile only gets bigger.

“Can we go see Daddy now?” Bodhi jumps off the seat and waits for Kyleigh and me to stand and take his hand. “Don’t worry, he showers before we see him,” he says to me.

Kyleigh and I laugh because I don’t think either one of us minds our men a little sweaty.

I shouldn’t be as nervous as I am to see Henry after he played such a great game, but all I can think of is that I want to give him a big congratulatory kiss.

Thirty-Three

Henry

“Shit, Daddy, trying to impress someone?” Tweetie slaps me on the back on the way to the locker room.

“Just a good night,” I say, but hell yes. I wanted Jade to see me excel. I wanted her to watch that game and think to herself that’s my man.

“Nah, it was the Jade effect.” Conor sits on the bench, taking off his equipment.

“Are you guys suggesting I usually suck?” I take off my skates, wanting to get in the shower and out to see Jade and Bodhi as soon as possible.

“You were just everywhere tonight, that’s all,” Tweetie says.

Rowan sits next to me and peeks up at me as he unties his skates. He knows how it is because I saw him do it for Kyleigh when she came to her first game. He was a monster out there too. It’s something we share that Conor and Tweetie can’t understand. For their sakes, I hope they do one day.

“I gotta hit the showers.” I drop my uniform in the wash pile and head toward the showers for the quickest shower of my life.

I hate that we’re keeping this dating thing a secret, but I don’t want all eyes on us while we’re trying to discover what we could be. When she said she wanted to stay in Chicago, I just about pounced on her, begging her to marry me. Thank God I have some composure, and I didn’t embarrass myself.

“Hensley, get your ass ready for interviews,” Coach Buford hollers at me. “It’s you and Nilsen.”

Fuck, another delay.

I get dressed, and Rowan slaps me on the back. “I’ll let her know you’re coming.”

Conor and I head into the press room and sit beside each other. I glance at my watch, hoping this doesn’t take too long.

They call on the first reporter. “Impressive game by both of you tonight. Did you have any extra incentive because you were playing against a former teammate, Henry?”

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