Page 100 of Goalie Secrets

“Make me feel everything all at once. It’s like my insides are exposed when I’m around you. Everything I need and want right in front of me. That’s you.”

“Jeremy,” I murmur.

“I love you, Vanya. So much. I have for a while, but I was too chicken to say it out loud. Because you were going to leave eventually, I held back. It’s no longer possible to stop myself. If you leave in October or if you leave tomorrow, it doesn’t matter. I love you and I want to take care of you here and now and for however long you’ll let me. For once, letmebe the one to take care ofyou.”

My head feels light but not from discomfort. I’m floating on the elation of hearing his words.

“You don’t have to say it back,” Jeremy continues. “I know this is temporary for you. And I’m fine with anything you can offer me. But please let me stay tonight. If not, I’ll wait outside, even if it’s just to make sure you get the best care this hospital can give.”

“That might prove distracting for the nurses.”

“So, can I stay here with you tonight? And when you get home, will you let me take care of you?”

“I, um, I asked Ashley to help me. I’m staying with them while I recover.”

“If that’s what you want, I’ll get a short-term stay in Boston so I can visit you every day.”

“That’s nuts, Jeremy. What? That doesn’t make sense. And what about hockey?”

“I already told Kyle and my coach that I’m not coming back until I get the clear from Dr. Leroi. Mavericks management isn’t happy, but my agent is overseeing it. I told him the best doctor in the world thinks that’s what I should do. I ignored her medical diagnosis once, and I will never make that mistake again.”

“Really? You’ll go through the tests?”

“All of it, Vanya. You were right. If the labral tears got worse, pushing myself will only threaten my career.”

“Oh, Jeremy, that’s incredible.”

“You’reincredible.” He gives me a tentative kiss at the side of my lips.

“I’m not fragile. You can kiss me for real, you know,” I say.

He places light kisses on my cheeks and my eyelids and my forehead. “Not tonight. Rest and I’ll be here. You’ll get all my kisses tomorrow and all the days after that, I promise.”

“Jeremy?”

“Yeah, beautiful?”

“I love you, too,” I confess, my heart bursting. “When I got into the accident, my first thought was that I never told you. I love you so much.”

His expression goes feral.

“In that case, I’m going to have to kiss you for real.”

Jeremy leans over and joins our mouths gently, his soft and supple lips full of delicious warmth. He tastes so good, like home and joy and love. My tongue runs along the seam of his mouth to urge it open. He moans and lets me in.

Even though it has none of the bruising force of our most passionate lovemaking, the kiss is even more sensual becausehe’s savoring me thoroughly, like a delicate dessert he wants to make last for as long as possible.

The end of the summer coincides with the beginning of our new life.

Today, Vanya moves in.

It’s a low-key move, since it’s a matter of crossing the street with a few boxes in her car.

The first thing Vanya does after pulling into the driveway is march straight into the garage and haul my hockey gear out of its rightful spot. She drags the large bag across the concrete.

“What are you doing?” I ask, setting down the coffee I’d been holding for her triumphant arrival.

She straightens and nods toward the empty corner where my stuff used to live. “Making room. My car deserves a spot inside, and this,” she points at the offending bag, “is going somewhere else.”