Page 74 of Slots & Sticks
Knight snickers into his fist. “As well he should be.”
“Dante’s scared of my wife,” Viktor shoots back.
“Did she make fun of your gut?” Lenyx pats Viktor’s stomach.
Viktor’s brows furrow. His bottom lip protrudes. I’m suddenly reminded of that kid’s picture book,Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.I bite back a laugh.
“No,” he mutters. “She called it cute. She said she didn’t mind if I had a little bit of a tummy.” He slaps one hand to his stomach. “A tummy. That’s not how people talk about abs!”
“Aww, poor baby.” Knight ruffles Viktor’s hair. “Good thing you got a dynamic workout last night.” He turns to me. “Speaking of which, did you earn major bonus points with Dot? You seemed kind of bummed when we left.”
“Oh, that.” I puff out my cheeks. “Yeah, that could have gone better.”
Viktor’s eye twitches. “For real? We skipped yet another summer practice sesh, and that’s all you have to say?”
“I didn’t mean you guys. You did great.” Everyone’s staring at me now, and since I implied that they were the problem, I scramble for the right words. “The room looks great. Coach’s going to be so comfortable. I’m just… I’m scared of losing Dot.”
“Why would you lose Dot?” Bowen asks.
I rub my forehead. “I was trying to tell her I loved her, and she pushed me away.”
Saying it out loud makes my chest hurt all over again.
I wasn’t expecting fireworks or some big cinematic moment. I just wanted her to know. But the look on her face—like I’d handed her something too heavy to carry—hit harder than any slapshot I’ve ever taken.
I keep thinking about that night in the motel, and the way she said my name with her tiny pants feathering my throat. How could that be the same person who looked at me yesterday like love was something dangerous?
Maybe it is, for her. Maybe it always has been.
Viktor whistles. “Damn. That’s a bad sign. Even Knova can say I love you.”
Tristan elbows him in the ribs. “Not helpful, Viktor.”
Knight places his hands on my shoulders. “Ignore them. Listen, she has a lot going on. Her mom just died. Her dad was badly injured. The dogs. And a relationship on top of that? Maybe it’s all moving too fast for her.”
“Maybe,” I agree, though I can’t help but remember the unopened boxes of books in her living room. Am I off the mark? Am I trying too hard?
Knight squeezes my shoulders. “I can give you more feedback after the party.”
“Party?” I repeat.
“What party?” Owen asks. “Did I get left off the group chat again?”
“We should throw a party. To celebrate Coach Shaw coming home, right? I assumed you’d be planning that already, to be honest.”
“No way. She’d hate that, and Coach’s still recovering.” I rub my jaw. “Although I could plan a night for just the two of us. Something to help her unwind and relax. The nurse stays overnight two times a week to give Dot a break. I could cook for her at my condo.”
I nod, already building the picture in my head: candles, her favorite tea, Soot purring nearby. Something quiet. Safe. Maybe if I can remind her what comfort feels like, she’ll start to believe in it again.
Viktor claps his hands, snapping me out of it. “Great. Good for Camden. Now that Mr. Romance has his plan, let’s get on the ice!”
As the guys groan and grab their sticks, I pull my helmet on and take a long breath. This morning started with Viktor’s nonsense, but it’s ending with purpose.
I’m not giving up on Dot. Not now. Not ever.
Chapter Eighteen
Dot
