Page 29

TWENTY-EIGHT

declan

I have a string of away games that’s keeping me from Willa for eight days. I’m not happy about it, and I wanted to ask her to come to at least one of them, but she’s using this time to try to repair her relationship with Belle. I couldn’t argue with that. Or the blowjob she gave me to hold me over as I was about to leave the house. I was almost late getting on the bus.

“Ben!” I yell, taking my seat next to him. He raises an eyebrow at me. Probably because it’s barely seven in the morning and everyone else is still half asleep. Or in Slava’s case, back asleep. “Just the guy I was looking for!”

“Why?” he asks, suspicious of me.

“I was wondering if you got any good shots from Friday’s game,” I explain. Usually he just texts me, but the game was the day after Thanksgiving, and I didn’t know if he had some family stuff happening. I didn’t want to bother him.

“Oh! Yeah, I did, actually. I forgot to send them to you. My dad flew in for the weekend, so I was occupied.” He quickly pulls out his tablet. I get comfortable while he navigates to what he’s looking for. “I did some editing to remove the reflections of the surrounding people.”

“Holy shit, Benny boy.” I snag the tablet and swipe through the pictures. “These are amazing.” There are a few shots from where he must have been standing somewhere behind Willa. But there’s one that stands out. I’m standing in front of my wife, my hand on the glass to meet hers on the other side. The awe on my face is front and center while you can see her smiling in the reflection on the glass.

I bark out a laugh, making Ben look at me in confusion. “Cal is going to be so pissed you erased him.” Ben rolls his eyes at my explanation. I tilt my head and watch him. Something in that movement itches at my brain. Like it’s familiar. Which I guess it probably is, since he’s my roommate when we’re away. Willa’s visit to the prison and the subsequent meeting has my brain overthinking everything.

“What? Is there something on my face?” He wipes his cheeks and then scratches his beard.

“No. Sorry. I’m just out of it today.” I keep swiping until I find a shot from the other side of the rink. This time my back is to the camera, but Willa’s face is in focus, smile wide and eyes sparkling.

“You really love her,” Ben says, his blue eyes assessing my face.

“I really fucking do,” I say.

“Here.” Ben swipes through a few more until he gets to one of Cal, arms up, eyes practically popping out of his head, and mouth wide open on a shout. He looks like a complete maniac.

“I love this,” I laugh. Ben got a few good shots of the three of them watching my game, and a cute one of Willa and Maggie cheering. “These are great, man. I appreciate it.”

“Anytime.” He takes the tablet and sends them all my way.

“I talked to Willa and got you two tickets and backstage passes to a Shattered Halo show in Boston that hasn’t been announced yet. I thought you might want to take your boyfriend. Gideon and Maggie will be there too.”

Ben’s eyes go comically wide, and his face pales. He said he was a huge fan, and I think I just blew his mind.

“As a thank you for the photos and for being a good roomie,” I explain. He’s still staring at me with a dumbstruck expression. “It’s not for another few months, but we don’t have a game that night if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Ben shakes his head, snapping himself out of it. “That’s very generous, Declan.”

“We’re friends, Ben,” I shrug. “It’s the least I can do.”

Ben nods, a strange expression crossing his features. He settles back in his seat and closes his eyes.

I pull my phone out to text the group chat Cal added me to last night.

Ben freaked out when I told him about the tickets.

Kai

In a good way?

I thought he may have stopped breathing, or he saw a ghost.

Princess

Most people aren’t used to the price tag on your presents, Dec.

Technically, I didn’t pay for anything.

Princess

Not the point. It’s a gift that would normally cost a lot of money. That makes some people uncomfortable.

Belle

Cal tried to buy me a car once, and it made me so uncomfortable I almost threw up.

Cal

I’m your brother. I can buy you a car if I want to.

Mav

Why does she get a car, and you got me a ten-pound block of cheese last Christmas?

Cal

You love cheese!

Mav

I’m lactose intolerant!

Jo

I watched you eat pizza last night.

Mav

Got me there.

I snort. Seems Maverick is doing better this morning, thankfully. Willa was really worried about him last night. I was too, if I’m being honest.

Willa texts me in our private chat.

Princess

Belle and I are getting dinner tomorrow night.

That’s awesome!

I’m nervous. I didn’t mean to hurt her, but I’m not sure she sees it that way.

Her agreeing to dinner means she’s working on forgiving you, right?

I think so.

It’s only been a few days. Let her work through it.

That’s the problem. Belle forgives within minutes. Hours at most. Days never.

See how dinner goes before you freak out. She may have just needed longer because it was a pretty big bomb you dropped.

I’ll try.

I miss you, baby. Can’t wait until you’re home.

I groan and look out of the window. We’re not even out of Massachusetts yet. She makes me want to jump off the bus and run home. Hockey be damned.

“You better not be sexting your wife right now,” Ben mutters.

“I’ll save that for the room,” I tease him. He grumbles and turns so his back is to me.

I miss you too, Princess. I’ll call you after the game tonight.

I’ll have my list ready.

I smile and lean my head back. The next eight days are going to be the longest of my life.