Page 38 of Stick By Me

Archer strode out from the hallway. “Hey, guys. When’s dinner? I’m starved after that game.”

“And your head injury?” With smirk, Jonah licked mashed potatoes off the spoon.

Flashing a glance at me, Archer said, “I don’t have a head injury.”

With a twinge in my chest, I stirred a water and flour mixture, then poured it into the pan. I knew there was no way he got out of that fall without hurting himself.

“I cleared the concussion assessment. I’m fine.” Planting his hands on his hips, Archer stepped to me. “Don’t scare Leo like that.” He wrapped an arm around my waist. “Leo was all worried about me when I found him outside the arena.”

“Damn right I was. You should have seen how pissed off I was at that asshole who hit you.” I stirred the now bubbling gravy.

“Maybe we should have let Leo out on the ice.” Ace chuckled. “But the problem wasn’t the hit, it was Bergman cuffing Archer in the knee with his stick.”

“Shit, how is your knee?” I glanced at him. He hadn’t been limping at all.

“It’s fine. The asshole caught the edge of my pad, so now I have a weird bruise.” He kissed my cheek and wagged his brows. “I’ll show it to you later.”

All the guys yelled, “Oh…” Mason whistled. “Damn, Archer, way to make us all jealous.”

“Shut up.” With a grin playing on his lips, Archer’s cheeks pinked. “Are we ready to eat yet?”

“I’m ready.” Ace set his carving knife and fork down next to the slices of meat. “Come and get it, Angie.” He smirked at me.

Oh, here we go. With a shake of my head, I freed a soft chuckle. I wasn’t expecting it out of Ace. Jonah? Yes. I strained the gravy into a bowl. “Yeah, I deserve that.”

Jonah grabbed a plate next to me and spooned mashed potatoes onto it. “But you will come out eventually, right?”

“I will.” I just had to figure out how. Plating my food, I glanced at Archer, smiling at me. “What?”

“Nothing.” He set a few slices of pot roast onto his plate.

CHAPTER TWELVE

ARCHER

After dinner, we all helped with the cleanup and surprisingly no one gave Leo any more shit. Maybe they didn’t know him well enough yet. Or maybe the way Leo had handled it calmed them down.

Leo dried the last pan and set it in the cupboard.

With a sharp slap to his ass, I said, “Follow me.” It was time to take things a little further if he’d let me.

“Sure.” He folded the towel and hung it on the oven door handle. “Lead the way.”

I snatched Leo’s hand and led him toward the hallway leading to my bedroom, my dick waking. I couldn’t wait to have him in my bed again.

The guys hooted at us with Mason calling out, “Enjoy yourselves, boys.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I waved behind me, my cheeks heating. “They can be so juvenile sometimes.” I guided Leo into my bedroom, then shut the door and flicked on my nightstand lamp.

Leo strolled across my room toward my closet, then picked up my old hockey stick from when I was a kid. My first one. My lucky charm. “What’s this?” He turned to me. “It’s a little short, isn’t it?”

Holding back a grin and cupping my chin, I stepped to him. “Yes, it was my first stick.” I took it from him and set it inside my closet in the corner. I must have forgotten to put it away earlier. “My mom bought it for me.” I puffed out a breath. Might as well tell him all about it. “I keep it for good luck. I kiss it before every game and most of the time, it gives us a win.”

“You’ve got to be shitting me.” The corners of Leo’s lips twitched, then he full on smiled and poked me in the ribs. “You have a superstition.”

“I do. We all have something.” I shrugged. “I wouldn’t be a proper hockey player without it.” Leo had to know about hockey players and superstition.

“So, what happens if you don’t kiss it?” He eyed me, crossing his arms over his chest.

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