Page 75 of What If I See You

I toss my glove to the side and then rip the tape off my skates in order to steady myself on my feet. This time, I don’t slip and fall.

Thank fuck.

I glance up at the ladies one more time and Layken smiles at me, her hand rising in a small wave. She looks really pretty today. Her golden hair hangs in curls past her shoulders. I’ve noticed she doesn’t wear it down a lot, but when she does I really like it. I note what she’s wearing today and then quickly realize I never gave her a jersey.

Dammit.

Why didn’t I give her one?

The last thing I want is for her to wear anything tonight with one of the other guys’ names on it.

Talk about embarrassment.

I make a mental note to make sure she’s properly dressed before the game starts and then rejoin the guys to focus on today’s game prep.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

LAYKEN

I’ve been down through tunnels like these before in our home arena several times. Coming to hockey games with my best friend who just happens to be the coach’s daughter does have its perks. But something about being down here this time feels different. And not just because we’re in another team’s arena. I’ve never given thought to having any type of relationships with any of Anaheim’s players but now…now I’m married to one. And although he probably doesn’t feel any different as today is just another day in the life of a hockey player, I find myself all kinds of nervous.

Nervous for him.

The idea that I could see him get hurt or banged up by another player has my chest tightening.

I don’t like it.

And since he left for the arena this morning I’ve been feeling especially guilty that he spent last night on the couch. His body was way too large for that tiny piece of furniture. I shouldn’t have let him do it. I should have told him sharing the bed was fine. He’s right. We did it on our wedding night and survived just fine. We’re both adults. I should have done better for him last night. If I’m honest with myself, I think I would have slept better knowing he was next to me than I did with him across the room all curled up and uncomfortable.

I won’t make that mistake tonight.

On our way to wish the guys good luck, we stop in Ella’s dressing room to say hello before she has to go be her best self as Lumin, the team’s shooting star mascot.

“Hey girlie!” Corrigan says when we step inside and find her half dressed in her Lumin costume.

“Hey guys! How was dinner?”

Corrigan hitches her thumb at me. “This girl barely ate a thing, but I thought the burgers at Molly’s Pub were out of this world.”

Ella tilts her head and glances at me. “Oh no, you okay Layken? Is the Colorado air getting to you?”

“Maybe something like that.” I shrug nonchalantly.

“Nah, girl.” Scarlett shakes her head, grinning at me with this I-told-you-so expression on her face. “Tell her the truth!”

Ella’s eyes grow. “Uh oh. What does that mean?”

Corrigan hooks her arm around me. “Our little princess is nervous for her husband.”

“Aww,” Ella coos. “That’s so cute!”

“Seriously though,” I say to them all. “How do you guys handle the nerves on gamedays? I’ve never been nervous about any one of them before when I’ve come to games but today. Ugh. Like, what if Griffin gets hurt? What if his teeth get busted out or he breaks a leg or something terrible?”

The girls laugh at my expense and then Ella shrugs. “It’s a fear you just get used to shrugging off, I guess.”

“Says the girl who munches on cinnamon rolls every time she’s nervous about something.” Corrigan gestures to the box of cinnamon rolls on the table next to her stuff.

“Wait,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “Cinnamon rolls? That’s your nervous snack?”

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