Page 76 of The Boyfriend Zone

"I'm ready," I said immediately, already anticipating the feel of the ice beneath my skates, the familiar weight of full gear, the rush of competition I'd been missing for months.

"Easy there," Dr. Shaw cautioned, though he was smiling. "Remember, this is a test run. Any pain, any instability in the joint, and you're right back on the bench. Clear?"

"Crystal," I agreed, willing to accept any conditions if it meant playing again.

The locker room before the game was a familiar chaos of equipment being adjusted, tape being applied, music blasting to get everyone in the zone. My presence in full gear caused a stir of excitement, teammates clapping me on my good shoulder and expressing their enthusiasm for my return.

"The prodigal defenseman returns," Tristan grinned, bumping his fist against mine. "How's it feel?"

"Like coming home," I admitted, the simple truth of it evident in my voice.

As we lined up to take the ice, I scanned the crowd until I found Lucas near the bench, his face alight with anticipation. We locked eyes briefly, and I tapped my stick on the ice in a subtle salute. He responded with a thumbs-up and a grin that made my heart skip despite the pre-game adrenaline already coursing through me.

The game itself was intense, each shift a test of my rehabilitated shoulder. I played cautiously at first, testing the limits of my mobility, bracing myself for pain that largely didn't materialize. By the second period, confidence growing, I delivered a solid check that sent an opposing forward skittering off course. As I skated back to the bench, I couldn't suppress my grin of satisfaction.

"Looking good out there, Sean," Coach nodded approvingly. "How's the shoulder holding up?"

"Fine, Coach," I reported honestly. "Better than I expected."

"Good. Keep it simple, focus on positioning. No heroics tonight."

We secured a decisive win, though I didn't score or even assist. But my defensive plays had been solid, my presence clearly boosting team morale after months of my absence. As we celebrated on the ice post-game, Lucas was allowed out with the other media for interviews. Instead of heading for the star forwards who had scored, he made a beeline for me.

"Sean," he began, his professional facade firmly in place despite the warmth in his eyes. "How does it feel to be back on the ice after your injury?"

I matched his formal tone, aware of the other reporters nearby. "It feels great. The shoulder's responding well to the rehab, and it's good to be contributing to the team again."

"Any concerns about re-injury as you return to full play?"

"Not really," I answered truthfully. "The medical staff has been excellent, and I've got a good support system in place." I couldn't resist adding that last part, watching as Lucas fought to maintain his serious expression.

"Well, we're all glad to see you back," he concluded, professional mask slipping just slightly as our eyes met. "The team clearly benefits from your presence."

Later, in the quiet of the locker room after most of the team had cleared out, I sat on a bench untying my skates when Lucas slipped in. He carried two cups of the team's post-game protein shake concoction, handing one to me with a grimace.

"Your teammate Jonah's recipe is still awful," he commented, watching as I downed the chalky mixture without hesitation.

"Tradition," I shrugged, setting the empty cup aside. "Can't mess with what works."

Lucas moved closer, his expression softening as he looked at me. "I'm proud of you," he said quietly. "You were amazing out there."

"Hardly," I laughed. "I played maybe twelve minutes total. But thanks. It felt good to be back."

Lucas leaned into me, his voice dropping to a murmur. "I missed you. The two weeks, I mean. But also seeing you play. You look... right, on the ice. Like that's where you belong."

The locker room door banged open as Zach and a couple of teammates burst in, singing a ridiculous made-up victory song.

They froze comically at the sight of us, clearly recognizing they'd interrupted a moment. One teammate dramatically shielded his eyes, asking in an exaggerated tone if they were interrupting a rom-com moment. Zach just laughed, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help grinning as I stood, pulling Lucas up with me. "Shut up, you dorks," I said without heat. "Let's go celebrate. First team win with me back on ice deserves at least midnight pancakes at the diner."

The group spilled out of the locker room, making plans and continuing their off-key singing. As we walked down the hallway, I turned to Lucas, our hands brushing between us.

"I owe you a proper date," I said quietly. "After all those video calls over break."

"Hmm, I don't know," Lucas pretended to consider. "I've gotten used to seeing you only from the shoulders up. The full three-dimensional experience might be overwhelming."

"I'll risk it if you will," I replied, linking my fingers with his briefly before we stepped outside into the brisk night air.

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