Page 33 of Zero Pucks

Every time I blinked, I saw Amedeo’s face, and I didn’t know what to do with myself. Something about him made me feel…hell, there wasn’t really a word for it. Safe was a good start, but that wasn’t entirely right.

It was almost like I knew him, which was wild since I only had a few foggy memories from our drunken night together. But obviously, something about this guy had struck my fancy enough to agree to be his husband, even if it was fake Elvis blessing our union.

So maybe I didn’t need to wham-bam-thank you-ma’am his whole thing. Maybe I could take my time with him and get to know him. Even if I never saw him again, the memories I got to keep this time might be worth it.

“I need to stop by the store,” Boden said as I climbed into the passenger seat. “We haven’t been shopping in a while.”

I fell back against the seat and groaned. “I wanted to shower before he gets there.”

“So shower. I’m not going to talk to him if that’s what you’re worried about.”

I did not believe him, but he was right about the groceries thing. This morning when I tried to grab a protein milk, all that was left in the fridge was leftover fried rice from so long ago it was probably growing little sentient colonies of mold, and metaphorical tumbleweeds.

If Boden was going to feed us tonight, we had to make the stop.

“Send me a list when we get into the parking lot. I’ll be faster than you.” I was in my wheelchair, my thighs too sore to deal with my prosthetics, but he only had his walker, and he refused to use a motorized cart out of both pride and spite.

He looked irritated but agreed with a stiff nod, and I let myself drift until we made it to the shop. As I assembled my chair, I felt my phone buzz, and I grabbed it out of my jeans and stuck it in my shirt pocket so I didn’t have to do that awkward little butt-wiggle in front of strangers to get it.

“I’ll be five minutes.”

“Take longer and get the right stuff,” he demanded.

I groaned again but nodded and hurried into the store, grabbing a cart and setting it on my lap before heading for produce. The list was for poutine because he always went full Canadian whenever there was a first-time guest. But of course, he was also making a mountain of steamed broccoli and roasted chicken because the man just couldn’t let me fucking live with my cheese and carbs.Protein and fiber, I could hear him say in my head.

I tossed the broccoli into the basket, then went for the cheese section, where they kept the good cheese curds. Meat was next, and I was able to snag a chicken breast off the top of a pile without having to strain my sore back, and then I hit the frozen aisle for the fries.

I snuck in a box of brownie mix and some eggs, then headed for self-checkout and zoomed through. Just as I was swiping my card, my phone began to buzz again. It was a call, and my heart leapt into my throat when I realized it was Amedeo.

“Hey,” I said, my voice raspy with nerves. Fuck, was he canceling?

“I have a flat tire.” His own voice was shaking. “I’m s-so sorry. It’s a rental, and they can’t get anyone out to fix it until t-tomorrow.”

Did he stammer that much when we’d met? It was weirdly adorable.

“Okay. You wanna do another night?” Damn it, why did I ask that! I wanted to see him. “Or do you want us to come pick you up?”

“I can get an Uber if it’s okay that I’m a little later than we planned?”

Oh, he sounded sweet. “Yes. I want to see you tonight. I don’t care what time it is. We got out of practice late anyway. Boden has a vendetta against our new coach, and he was fucking around to throw him off his game. Not that you asked. I’m going to shut up. Can you send me your address so I can send the car?”

He laughed softly, and my arms broke out in goose bumps. “You don’t need to do that for me.”

“Yes, I do. I invited you. Stop arguing and send it to me.”

He sighed, but I swore I could hear a smile in it. “Alright, thank you. I’m sorry for being an inconvenience.”

He said it like he believed it—like too many people told him he was one, and I wanted to pull him close and wrap around him so no one could hurt him. But that might have been a bit much, considering I had just seen his face for the first time. Or well, had just seen it without a ton of booze to make me forget.

“You’re good. See you soon.” I hung up before my mouth betrayed me any more, grabbing my bags and heading for the exit.

The parking lot was dark enough that it was hard to navigate, but I could see Boden’s silhouette against his car. He was hanging out the side with the door open.

“Change of plans,” I said as I rolled up to the trunk and waited for him to pop it open.

“Don’t tell me?—”

“He has a flat tire and needs a ride.”

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