Page 58 of Desperate Pucker (Denver Bashers #6)

Ryker

Ilet out a deep breath as Eric massages the muscle around my injured knee.

“Hanging in there?” he asks.

I nod.

“Still pretty tender, huh?”

“Yeah, but a million times better than two weeks ago,” I say. “I’m just glad not to have to use crutches anymore,” I say.

“You’ve graduated to a brace. Well done.”

For the past couple of weeks, my singular focus has been rest and recovery.

Every night, I get at least nine hours of sleep.

Once the swelling went away in my knee, I started meeting with my physical therapists to do range-of-motion exercises and strengthening exercises.

And I meet with Eric almost every day so he can keep my body as limber as possible since I’m not playing currently.

I’m meeting with Sophie regularly so she can track my progress and make sure I’m not pushing myself too hard.

That’s the one thing that’s been the hardest—holding back.

As much as I wish I could rush through this process, I can’t. I have to be careful. I have to take it slow so that I don’t permanently injure myself.

“You’re still a little stiff, but that’s to be expected,” Eric says. “How is it when you walk? Any pain?”

I shake my head. “Just a little soreness if I extend my knee too much.”

Above him, there’s a TV playing the highlights from the Bashers’ most recent playoff game against the Toronto Titans. They managed to beat Boston and have made it to the next round.

I’m restless as I watch the highlights. As happy as I am that the guys made it that far, I’d give anything to be out on the ice with them.

“Easy now,” Eric says. “You’re tensing your quad too much.”

“Sorry,” I mutter.

He glances up at the TV. “We’ll get you back out there.”

Just then, Camden, Xander, Theo, Sam, Del, and Blomdahl walk into the room.

I look up at them. “Hey. You guys all have a session scheduled now?”

They nod and hop on the padded tables. Their physios start working on them.

“How’s the knee?” Xander asks me.

“It’s getting better. Slowly but surely.”

“Good. We’re dying to have you back out there with us,” Xander says.

“Yeah. It’s not the same without you, Georgie,” Camden says.

I crack a smile.

“I think that’s the first time you didn’t threaten to kill me when I’ve called you ‘Georgie,’” Camden says. The guys chuckle.

“All this time away from you guys is making me soft,” I say.

I think about how supportive the guys have been while I’ve been out recovering from my injury. Even though they’ve been busy traveling back and forth between Denver and Boston, then Denver and Toronto for the playoffs, they’ve been texting me and checking up on me.

“You’re girl’s taking care of you?” Camden asks.

I fight a smile. “Yeah, she is.”

Maddy’s been staying at my place so she can help take care of me. She even brought Bruce over to hang out with me when she’s gone at work.

“She’s got me on a strict diet. I’m not allowed to eat anything that isn’t a whole food,” I say.

“You better listen to her, dude. She knows her shit,” Xander says. “At our last training session, I told her I was feeling achy because of how insane our schedule has been, traveling and playing back-to-back games. She told me to cut out refined sugar and alcohol. I instantly felt better.”

A few of the guys nod along and say she’s been giving them helpful advice too.

Pride bursts in my chest. She’s doing so much for this team. She’s a big reason why they’re all playing so well.

I finish my session with Eric and wish the guys good luck for the game tomorrow.

I’m walking down the hall when I run into Coach Porter.

“How are you feeling?” he asks.

“Good. Better each day.”

“Sophie caught me up on your recovery. I talked to your physical therapists and your physio too. It sounds like you’re healing up well.”

Nerves fire off inside of me. “I think I am.”

He’s quiet for a second, his focused gaze studying me. “Let’s give it another week. If you’re still feeling good, then I want you to join us for practice.”

“I’d like that.”

He pats me on the shoulder and walks past me. The nerves inside of me morph into excitement. I’m so close to being able to play again. I can’t wait to tell Maddy.

When I walk into my place, I’m hit with the smell of something savory and comforting.

I head into the kitchen and see Maddy standing at the stove, stirring a big pot of broth.

She looks up and smiles at me. “Hey.”

“Hey.” I walk up behind her, rest my hands on her waist, and kiss the side of her neck. “That smells really good.”

“Chicken stew with bone broth. Very high in collagen.”

I smile against her soft skin and breathe in her sweet scent. “Sounds amazing.”

“How did your session with Eric go?”

“Good. I feel a lot less stiff.”

I glance down at the brace on my knee. “Sophie said I could take this off in a few days.”

Maddy beams. “That’s great.”

“And Coach Porter said that next week I could start practicing with the team again.”

She squeals and turns around, hugging me tight. “Really?” She’s so excited for me, it makes my heart bounce around my chest.

“Really.”

She makes me sit down at the kitchen island and sets a bowl of soup in front of me.

“Eat up,” she says.

Bruce comes scampering into the kitchen, sniffing the air.

Maddy chuckles and drops him a few treats, then he walks over and rubs his face on my feet while I eat.

“Aww, look at you two besties.”

I chuckle while I glance down at him. Maddy sits next to me with her own bowl of soup. Bruce plops down between our stools, gazing up at both of us.

A warm feeling burrows deep inside my chest. Despite all the stress from my injury, this moment with Maddy is perfect. And I want it forever.

The words “I love you” dance on the tip of my tongue. I stare at her, aching to say it.

When she notices me looking at her, she smiles. “What?”

I almost say it. I want to more than anything, but my nerves get the better of me. It’s too soon. I’ll scare her off.

I tuck her hair behind her ear, tracing the hinge of her jaw with my fingertips. “Nothing. I’m just happy you’re here with me.”

“I told you. I’m with you always, no matter what.”

Emotion surges through my entire body. I press a soft kiss to her lips.

“How the hell did I get so lucky?” I murmur against her mouth.

The smile she gives me lights up my entire being.

Coach blows the whistle, ending practice. He gives us his final remarks and observations before dismissing us.

It’s my first practice back since my injury. I haven’t been on the ice in almost three weeks. My knee’s a little stiff, but I felt well enough to go through all of the practice drills and exercises.

I’m drenched in sweat, but I’ve never felt this good, this enlivened. It feels incredible to be on the ice again. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

And even though I’m not playing at peak performance, I’m playing well for a guy who’s coming off a knee injury. I just hope Coach Porter sees that.

We head for the locker room, but he stops me.

“St. George. A word.”

My muscles tense as I brace myself for what he’s about to say to me.

It doesn’t really matter how good I feel. If Coach Porter doesn’t think I’m ready, then I’m not playing.

I take a slow, silent breath and try to tamp down my nerves.

He waits until everyone’s off the ice before he speaks.

“Honest answer: how are you feeling after that practice?” he says.

I take in his hard stare and no-nonsense tone. Coach Porter is a straight shooter. He doesn’t fuck around. If I try to feed him a line of shit, he’ll see right through it.

“I won’t lie. I’m exhausted. It’s always tough coming back after being away,” I say. “But I feel good. I’m happy to be back on the ice. And I think I put in a solid performance during practice.”

He’s quiet as he studies me, arms crossed over his chest. “I agree. I think you’re ready to play again.”

I try and fail to contain my grin.

Coach Porter cracks a small smile. “Well, that’s the biggest smile I think I’ve ever seen from you.”

“Can’t help it. I really want to be back out there with the guys.”

“We’ve got our first game of the finals against New York tomorrow,” he says. “That game is going to set the tone for the whole rest of the series.”

My whole body buzzes. The Bashers managed to beat Toronto in five games during the third round of the playoffs. We’re officially in the finals. I’m this close to playing in the Stanley Cup finals. This close to achieving something I’ve wanted my whole career.

“I won’t have you playing as many shifts as you normally would,” Coach says. “But I think you’re in good enough shape to be out there.”

“I’ll be ready, Coach.”

“Good. Now go get some rest.”

When I make it to the locker room, the guys are stripping off their gear and getting cleaned up.

“Well?” Xander says, staring at me. “What did Coach say?”

I huff out a breath. “I’ll be playing with you guys tomorrow.”

The locker room erupts in cheers and whistles.

Camden smacks my shoulder. “Fuck yeah! Georgie’s back!”

I can’t help but grin at the response from my teammates. When I leave the locker room, Maddy’s waiting for me in the hallway.

An eager smile plays on her lips. “How’d it go?”

I walk up to her. “Coach said I can play tomorrow night.”

She squeals and jumps up, then kisses me.

“Oh my god! I’m…so…happy…for…you,” she says between kisses.

I press her against the wall, ignoring the whistles and laughter from my teammates as they walk by us.

“Damn, Georgie. Get a room,” Camden hollers from down the hall. Still kissing Maddy, I flip him off. He just laughs.

Maddy giggles against my mouth. When we break apart, she grabs my face in her hands.

“I can’t wait to cheer you on,” she says.

“While wearing my jersey, right?”

Her smile is so bright and beautiful. “Absolutely.”