Page 37

CHAPTER 37

Cami

“Lan, where’s my jersey?” Alex yells from down the hall. “I thought you put it in the wash.”

“Seriously, Ashford?” She walks toward the bedroom that they share and I follow, because I want to see how this turns out. She grabs the jersey, which is laid out on the bed, and holds it up for him to see as he walks back in the room. “If it was a snake it would have bit you.”

“Well, good thing it wasn’t a snake then.”

He squishes the jersey between the two of them as he winds his hands from her hips to her lower back, pulling her into him. He kisses her softly and looks down at her lovingly. I look away, feeling like I’m intruding on a private moment.

“You look beautiful,” I hear him whisper.

“Not so bad yourself,” she replies.

I look back up in time to see him grab the jersey from her hands and exit the room, heading back to the bathroom where he was freshening up for the game tonight. I came over to Alex’s, now Alex and Alana’s, place to get ready for the game because we’re all going together. I am so happy to have her back, things finally feel somewhat normal.

We’re all sporting Cade jerseys tonight, as usual, but instead of pairing mine with my normal leggings, I grabbed a new one that is one size bigger and am wearing it with a pair of knee high boots. It’s a little shorter than I’d normally wear, but I made sure to put some shorts underneath just in case. I know Charlie is going to love it and that’s really all that matters.

I have been increasingly worried about the game tonight, because I know they’re going up against the Hurricanes, which means Troy, and while they usually don’t have any major issues besides a short penalty box visit for one or both of them, something just feels different tonight. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I’m hoping it’s just paranoia.

“Cam, you good?” Alana asks, placing her hand on my shoulder and giving it a squeeze.

“Yeah, just a little nervous. Hurricanes and all.”

She nods knowingly. “He’ll be okay. He’s got this and you’ll be there if anything happens. We’ll all be there.”

“Thanks, bestie friend. I’m glad you’re home.”

“I’m glad too,” she says and throws her arm over my shoulder to give me a side hug.

“And I’m glad too,” I hear from behind as Alex wraps both of his arms around us both. “Group hug.”

“I love a group hug,” I say, patting him on the arm. It’s been interesting getting to know Alex in this way. He is Alana and I’s coworker at Impress , so I knew him before they got together, but now they’re living together and he is spending a lot more time with us, and it’s fun.

We disperse and start collecting our bags, then head out and down to the subway. The journey to Madison Square Garden isn’t too long and before I know it we’re walking into the arena and heading to our seats. They’re close to the glass, courtesy of the tickets Charlie provided us, and the fans start to file in around us. They’re all wearing different colors of red, white, and blue, and some are wearing various designs of face paint.

About half an hour before the game starts, the guys come out for a warm up skate. We watch them stretching and skating, and Alex heads out to grab some snacks for the three of us. Fans watch from their seats and the excitement in the building only grows as we get nearer to game time.

“I’m really glad he’s had you these last few weeks,” Alana says out of nowhere.

“He’s always had me, Lan.”

“Not like he’s had you recently. Even if the kissing and hand holding and touching only happens in public, which I’m not convinced of by the way, he’s been able to have that closer connection with you and I’m glad. He needs it.”

I’m not sure what to say, so I just smile over at her and she pulls me into a quick hug. I’m saved from having to discuss this further when Mia comes up behind us.

“Oh my gosh, what are you doing here? Did you switch your seats?”

“I didn’t know, but it looks like the boys switched us so we were together.”

“Yay,” I exclaim as I pull her into a hug. Lots of hugs tonight. “Mia, you know Alana.”

“It’s good to see you again,” she says, hugging her as well. “How was your trip?”

“Really great, thanks for asking.”

About that time, Alex returns with our snacks and passes the soft pretzel and Diet Coke to Alana. I take my popcorn and Dr. Pepper from him, then settle into my seat.

“Are you nervous?” Mia asks from my right.

“A little. The Hurricanes are hard for Charlie. An old rival.”

“That makes things tough for sure. Soren will swear left, right, and center that he doesn’t have any teams that are that way for him, but don’t look too closely when they play Seattle.”

I laugh at her, thankful the joking has brought a little lividity to the tension I’m feeling. I haven’t been able to shake this all week and it’s frustrating. I just want to be able to support Charlie and not worry so much about his time on the ice. It’s his job and he does it effortlessly, so I have nothing to worry about. I keep reminding myself of that as the guys take their places for the start of the game.