Page 41 of Defensive Zone

And while I’m sure Han Solo and Princess Leia would appreciate it, I don’t want the first time I tell him I lovehim to be over the Millennium Falcon.

“If we weren’t in the middle of the LEGO store right now, I’d kiss you.”

He drags his teeth over his bottom lip as his eyes drop to my mouth. “Yeah?”

“Hell yeah.” I round the box so I’m at his side. I squeeze his bicep, loving the feel of his solid muscle beneath my hand, and lean in to whisper in his ear. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Being amazing. Knowing what I need before I do. Being here for me and not running when I told you to.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “Thank you for staying.”

“Like I said, I’m not going anywhere, Reid.” He winks. “But can we go and pay for this thing because you’re gonna make me pop a boner soon, looking all adorable in your hat.”

I flip him off, and we’re both laughing all the way to the checkout.

Chapter Fourteen

Carter

Leaning against the doorframe, I simply stand there and watch Zach sleep. There’s a slight crease between his brows, almost like he’s thinking really hard about something. The covers have been kicked off, exposing one tattooed leg and his casted arm, while the other arm is tucked underneath his pillow. I’ve noticed he does that a lot. Like he needs to regulate his body temperature, but it’s too cold to be completely uncovered.

The headache-free days were short-lived, and they’ve returned with a vengeance. We only managed to build the base of the Falcon before they struck him down again.

I feel so helpless. I wish there was something I could do to help him aside from supplying him water and massaging his head and neck. I’ve spent hours scrolling the internet, trying to find alternate means to help ease the pain. Ice caps, vitamins, massage techniques, soaking his feet in hot water. Each of them has only given him a small reprieve, and when I called the doctor yesterday, she said it was normal and it will ease up in time.

Well, it’s easy for her to say when she’s not the one watching someone you love be in constant pain day after day.

What if they don’t go away? What if these migraines are the reason he has to retire early? He’s twenty-nine years old. It’s too early for him to hang up his skates.

Don’t think like that,my conscience scolds me.

It’s hard not to, though. I’ve seen firsthand how concussions have ended people’s careers over the years. In football, head injuries weren’t taken seriously for a long time, and even so, strict concussion protocols have only been in place recently. I know how much hockey means to Zach, and it will break my heart if this is it for him.

He’s due back at the training facility tomorrow, and I know how much he’s been looking forward to seeing everyone again. I just hope he’s well enough to go.

I step into the hall, closing the door softly behind me so as not to disturb him, and head into the living room.

“I don’t know what to do,” I grumble to myself, falling back onto the couch and tipping my head against the cushion.

Whenever Zach was away on the road before, I would go to the gym or take a drive to find some random cute coffee shop somewhere. But I can’t leave the apartment. I don’t want to leave Zach alone in case he needs me.

Fetching my phone from the coffee table, I scroll through my contact list, and my thumb hovers over Raegan’s name. Since we broke up a few months back, we’ve remained friends. I don’t harbor any ill feelings toward her for breaking up with me. In fact, come to think of it, some of the things she said make a lot of sense now. I hit Call before I can second-guess it. Maybe speaking with her will help clear up a few things in my head.

She answers on the third ring. “Carter, hey. I wasn’t expecting to hear from you.”

I smile at her familiar voice. “Hey, Raegan. I hope I haven’t caught you at a bad time.”

“No, no, not at all. I’ve actually been meaning to call you for a few days now and ask how Zach’s doing. I saw it while I was scrolling on social media. Not going to lie, it made me feel a little sick.”

“Yeah, me too. I’ve never felt fear like when I was watching him lying there unconscious.”

“Shit, I’ll bet. I would’ve been terrified.”

“I was, but he’s recovering. He’s got some shit side effects from the concussion, but his wrist is healing up nicely. So, depending on how his head is, he’ll be back on the ice in a month or so.”

“Wow, that soon?”

“Yeah, I think he’d go out now if they cleared him.”

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