Page 128 of Unsteady

“I’m here, for all of you, okay? I love you.”

My eyes flicker in the rearview mirror, locking with Oliver’s. “I love all of you.”

Liam giggles. “I love you too, Rhys.”

I unlock the car and Oliver waits a bit before getting half out of the car. He turns back to me, because he’s on my side of the car and nods. “Love you.”

My heart clenches because I know how rare those words are from him even to his own family.

He shuts the door and starts towards the ice plex entrance.

Sadie hesitates, but turns and kisses me on the cheek. For a moment I think about turning to try to catch her lips, but I stay still as she leans her mouth to my ear.

“Love you,” she repeats. “And thank you, hotshot. Now go kick their asses.”

* * *

We do.

It was an overtime game, and we didn’t play well enough for what’s coming—but I’m fucking beaming as I shower afterwards because that last goal was mine.

That, and because I know my girl saw it, because right at the glass was Aurora, decked in our colors, videoing with her phone nearly constantly. And when we came off to celebrate in the dressing room, her text was the first thing I saw.

You’re golden, hotshot. Can’t wait to watch you on my television soon.

I pick her and Oliver up, Liam fast asleep in the car seat—he’d been asleep in my father’s arms for half the game. So, the ride back is nearly silent.

I carry Liam in, laying him on the sofa and hating how cold it feels in her house. But I can tell she thinks I’m hovering, so I walk back out the front door, praying she’ll follow.

She does.

Sadie stands in front of her house, backpack hanging from one shoulder. I want to ask to stay over tonight, just to make sure they’re okay, but I hold back. Only if she asks me.

“I, um, I have a competition next week.” Her hand plays with a lock of hair and she looks more nervous than I think I’ve seen her before. “It’s three days, in New Hampshire. I missed the last one cause it was all the way in Colorado. And I was going to back out to take care of the boys, but…”

My chest squeezes. She’s asking for help.

“My parents would love it if the boys stayed with them for a few days, Sadie.”

“Really?” she asks, but I'm already striding to her.

I take her head in my hands and kiss her forehead hard, before tucking her whole body into a tight hug that I need just as desperately as she does—even if she won’t ask for it. She sinks into my arms, tension melting away.

“I’m so proud of you,” I whisper. “I know it takes a lot for you to ask for help. But, I’m so proud.”

FORTY-FOUR

RHYS

It takes one sentence out of my mouth to convince my parents to let me take the boys to Sadie’s competition. Even more, they decide they want to be there as well.

My mom, most of all. Something about Sadie turns her fierce in her protectiveness, stronger than it was over me as a child. She doesn’t tell me anything about it, but I can see the way she feels written across her face and in her frequent questions about my girlfriend—beyond the normal amount.

So, Thursday, the day of her long program for the competition, we leave before the sun is up, and while the boys sleep in the car my dad ordered, I chat quietly with my parents.

The rink is slightly crowded, but the majority of people in the ice plex are coaches and teams, a few news crews and reporters preparing for the streams, and a rather small audience.

Which means, we get good seats.

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