Page 46 of Defensive Zone

Holy shit. I don’t think I’ve come this hard before. The lightheaded buzz in my head tells me my body needs a minute to recuperate.

“Holy shit.” He lets out a breathy chuckle. “So, what’s your recovery time like so we can do that again?”

“You’re so eager,” I tease.

He nips my chin as he flops beside me, wrapping an arm and heavy leg over me. “Is that a problem?”

“No, not at all.” I lean down and press a kiss to his swollen lips. “Give me fifteen minutes, and I’ll be good for round two.”

His grin hits me square in the chest, and that small bout of insecurity fully disappears.

“Text me when you’re ready and I’ll come pick you up,” Carter says as he pulls my car into the practice facility parking lot the next day.

I may not be skating today, but I’m really looking forward to being back with the team and getting back a slice of normality. The boys returned from a road trip late last night, and the groupchat has been blowing up all morning in excitement over the fact I’m coming in.

Luckily, my appointment with the team’s physician won’t take too long. My wrist is still in a cast for at least another few weeks before we begin intense physiotherapy to get me back on the ice as soon as possible, but today’s assessment will let me know if I can start training lower body.

Which means I’ll have more time to spend with the guys.

“You don’t need to wait around for me. I’m sure I can catch a ride with Blaine or Elliot,” I offer, knowing Carter is planning on speaking with Hayden today and hitting the gym.

The twins both live in the same building as me, and we often carpool to the rink. Blaine bought an apartment not long after I got mine, then Elliot bought one a few floors down when he was traded from Vancouver.

Carter turns slightly in his seat to face me. “No, I want you to text me. I want to pick you up.”

A small noise escapes my throat as I try not to laugh at his serious expression. “Okay, okay. I’ll text you when I’m done.” I lean over and squeeze his thigh. “Maybe we can hit up the bakery after?”

His features soften as a bright smile lights up his face. “Yeah, okay, let’s do that.”

Leaning over the center console, I give him a kiss goodbye. A quick peck because I don’t want to risk getting caught lip-locked before I’ve had the chance to tell the guys.

I get out of the car and flash him a smile before closing the door and sauntering inside. The second I head down the hallway, a wave of familiarity washes over me. The smell, the sound of skates on ice and sticks hitting pucks bring me a sense of relief. It’s only been just under two weeks, but it feels like forever. Having a bout of amnesia and consistent migraines really fucks with your sense of time.

The guys are on the ice already, running through some drills, so they don’t see me as I slip behind the bench and lean against the boards. I feel like I haven’t seen them in so long. Carter mentioned they all came to the hospital the night of the incident, but in my delirious state, I don’t remember. I also missed out on the times they came to the apartment for a visit because I was asleep.

But just being here again, feeling the chill from the ice against my skin, reminds me that it’s not always going to be this rough.

“Hey! I didn’t know you were here already.”

I turn to see Chris stepping up beside me on the bench. He’s been with the Thunder as the team’s head physician for coming up to seventeen seasons now. He’s treated me through a number of injuries, and this is just another one to add to the list. He also doesn’t like us calling him Doc, as apparently it makes him feel old.

“I’m a little early. Just wanted to…” I trail off, motioning to the ice with my hand.

“Glad to be out of the apartment, huh?” He chuckles.

“Yeah. As much as I love Carter’s company, it’s nice to be back here.”

“And how have you been feeling?” He motions to my wrist with his chin as he rests against the boards. “They’re changing the cast in a few days, right? It’s looking a little loose now.”

“Yeah, they are, and honestly? I’ve had no issues with my wrist. It’s my head that I’ve been struggling with.”

His dark brows furrow in concern. “Post-concussion syndrome?”

“Yeah. I had constant dizziness for the first few days, and I’ll occasionally have a dizzy spell, but I’ve been getting a lot of headaches. Some have completely wiped me out and given me some sensory issues.”

I hate the look of worry that crosses his face. It’s what I’ve been dreading the most.

As a defenseman,statisticallyI’m less likely to get my bell rung than a forward, but this is my second concussion in my professional career, and regardless of my position on the ice, I know that the more concussions I have, the higher the risk of developing post-concussion syndrome or other neurodegenerative diseases.

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