Page 31 of Goalies Don't Date Ice Princesses

“Well, let’s at least get ready for bed,” I said. “Then we can watch a movie.”

Archer nodded wearily, his eyes heavy with exhaustion. We both knew that sleep was a distant dream for us to sleep tonight, but the idea of finding solace in each other’s company gave us a glimmer of hope. I led him into the bathroom and looked through the drawers until I found one of the toothbrushes supplied by the hotel. I handed it to him and put a small dollop of toothpaste on each of our brushes. Then, as if we were doing a cheers, we tapped the toothbrushes together and started to brush our teeth.

As we stood side by side in front of the bathroom sink, I couldn’t help but marvel at how surreal the situation was. How had it been four years since that first time we brushed our teeth side by side in his family home? Oh, how much had changed since those days when he ignored me entirely.

Now, here we were, sharing a tiny hotel bathroom and brushing our teeth together after making out in a hot tub. The familiarity and comfort of it was both comforting and bittersweet. It had been an odd journey here, yet it felt as if we had always been meant to end up here, two perfect puzzle pieces that fit together.

I went back into the room to change into my pyjamas, while Archer stayed in the bathroom to change out of his bathing suit. Since I didn’t have any clothes that would fit him, he would just have to sleep in the sweatpants and shirt he’d worn outside.

As I finished getting changed, I felt the exhaustion from the day start to hit me, seeping into my bones. With heavy-lidded eyes, I collapsed onto the bed, propping myself up against the headboard.

“Get under the covers,” Archer told me as he walked inside.

I groaned. “I’m not sure I have the energy.”

He chuckled. “Here.”

He reached under my back to pull the covers down for me, his movements soft. Once he pulled it down enough, he crawled onto the bed beside me and lifted the covers over us. I felt warmth radiating from his body as he settled in next to me.

Unlike most nights, I felt like I could fall asleep right then and there. But I could see in Archer’s face that he was still wired and we should do something to help him relax. I used the last bit of energy to grab my laptop from the nightstand and placed it in front of us on the bed. The dim glow of the screen illuminated our faces in the otherwise dark room. We searched for a movie, scrolling through an endless array of options.

“Let’s do something simple,” he said. He nuzzled his face against my neck. “A comedy.”

“Would you settle for a romantic comedy?” I asked. Taking his indifferent shrug as a yes, I happily clicked onThe Proposal. “You’re gonna love this,” I whispered.

As the movie began to play, we snuggled close together under the covers, our bodies fitting together in the best way. Archer’s presence alone provided me with an inexplicable sense of comfort and safety. I brushed his hair softly with his my hand, so desperately wanting to say four small words but too scared to let them out.

I love you, Archer.

twenty

The room was engulfedin darkness, save for the soft glow emanating from the laptop screen. The movie played on, its lighthearted dialogue filling the air as I lay there, entranced by the sound and feel of Archer’s steady breath against my neck. As I continued watching the movie, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Archer. His features softened in slumber, his eyelashes casting delicate shadows on his cheeks. In this moment, I wished time would stand still, allowing me to memorize every detail of his face forever. A gentle warmth spread through my heart as I realized just how deeply I cared for him.

Sometime later, when my blinks were becoming heavier and I wasn’t sure how much time passed every time I closed my eyes, the door creaked open, causing me to stir from my half-awake state. Barely conscious, I turned my head towards the door, squinting my eyes in an attempt to make out the figure that had just entered. Through the hazy blur, I recognized it was the silhouette of a person. Blair. She tip-toed across the room, her movements cautious yet purposeful. My heart raced as I desperately fought against the heaviness that weighed down my limbs. She wasn’t supposed to be here tonight. She didn’t know he Archer was here.

“Blair,” I managed to croak, my voice barely audible.

But before I could say another word, Blair’s hand touched the edge of the bed, just a foot from Archer’s arm, and she froze, her eyes widening in shock.

Blair quickly covered her mouth, stifling a gasp. Her eyes darted between me and Archer and even in the dim light, I could see her face flushing with embarrassment. But she recovered quickly, as she pressed a finger to her lips, signaling for me to remain silent. I could hardly contain my amusement as I watched her tiptoe around to my side of the bed, trying not to disturb the slumbering boy in her place.

As she reached the side of the bed, Blair couldn’t help but stifle a giggle. I raised an eyebrow at her, a silent question in my gaze. With a playful grin, she leaned in and whispered into my ear, “Well, well, aren’t you two quite the cuddly pair? Looks like someone had a cozy night.”

I bit my lip to suppress a laugh, glancing down at Archer’s peaceful face. He remained blissfully unaware of our secret conversation taking place just inches away.

“How long has this been going on?” she whispered. I glanced at Archer again and tried to think of a good answer to her question. When had all this really started? When I first found him on the rink in the middle of the night? When he kissed me in the locker room like his life depended on it? Or when he called me his girlfriend for the first time, defending my honour in front of Donovan?

“It’s a long story,” I whispered back. “I’ll explain tomorrow.”

“Fine,” she whispered back. She glanced at Archer again. “I guess I’ll just sleep on the floor.”

“I can move over,” I offered. “There’s enough room for you, too.”

“Nah,” she said. I could just see the smirk on her face. “I won’t ruin this moment for you.”

I smiled gratefully at her, appreciating the unspoken understanding between us. She quietly padded over to the corner of the room and retrieved the extra pillows and blankets closet, unfurling it with practiced ease. As she settled down on the floor, she shot me a mischievous wink before pulling the covers up to her chin.

With Blair now settled, I turned my attention back to Archer, studying his peaceful countenance with a newfound tenderness. The soft glow of the laptop screen cast a blue-ish tint on his face, accentuating his strong jawline and the way his tousled hair framed his face. He looked so serene in his sleep, as if all the weight of the world had melted away. I wished for his sake that he could he could look like that all the time.

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