Page 18

EIGHTEEN

RILEY

Puck Kings

G-Money

I need an excuse to get out of Pilates on Friday.

Maybe I can say I have foot-mouth disease?

That’s contagious, right?

Huddy Boy

You’re not skipping, Grant. Lexi and Coach added this to our training schedule for a reason.

G-Money

I almost tore my hamstring last time, Huddy. Don’t make me go!!!

Easy E

Better than tearing your shorts.

Mavvy

If you’re not wearing underwear this time, Ethan, I’m going to make you skate laps for fucking days.

I don’t want to see your balls.

Easy E

Some people do.

Sully

I can assure you that no one on this earth wants to see your balls.

Easy E

Ouch, Goalie Daddy. That wasn’t very nice.

Huddy Boy

Lexi said you’re coming today, Ri. That’s exciting, man.

Me

Not sure how many moves I’ll be able to do. I’ll probably fall on my face. But I’ll give it a try.

G-Money

You’re going to be better than me.

Huddy Boy

You don’t have to be good at everything, Grant.

G-Money

It’s like you don’t even know me!!!!

Mavvy

Dinner after Pilates? You can all come to my place and I’ll order pizza.

G-Money

Pizza??? During the season??? Cap has lost his mind.

Sully

No dinner.

Easy E

We’ll drag you there, Sully.

Me

I guess I can do dinner.

G-Money

We’re getting the band back together, boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Huddy Boy

You’re going to have to kidnap Goalie Daddy if you want him to show up.

G-Money

Don’t underestimate my abilities, Huddy Boy.

* * *

Me

I have my last fitting for my permanent prosthetic today.

Dad

Already? Wow. Time flies, doesn’t it?

Me

The temporary one kind of sucks, doesn’t it?

Dad

It really sucks. And think of how far technology has come!

My old ass had to use something that felt like it was made of plastic!

Me

I’m going to notice a difference, right?

Dad

Without a doubt.

You’re going to be so impressed with how much more complex it is. It’ll be functional and lightweight too. It’s also tailored to you, so it should be more comfortable.

Me

I can’t wait. Now I understand why you were constantly moving your hips and trying to adjust your leg when you first got your prosthetic. I can’t do anything if the limb feels even a little bit off where it’s sitting in the socket.

Dad

The adjustments will be start to become more and more minor. I’m not even aware I’m doing it anymore.

Send me a picture when you get yours. I want to compare it with mine.

Me

You can ask for an upgrade. Maybe they have a BOGO deal.

Dad

Ha. Glad to hear you getting your humor back, son.

* * *

The last fitting for my permanent prosthetic is easier than I thought it would be. My doctor lets me know he’ll send the final product to my apartment in a few days, and that’s it.

One chapter closed, another opened.

I feel light on my way to Pilates. The November weather is tolerable. There’s a pep in my step that wasn’t there two weeks ago, and I’m not experiencing any phantom limb pain. Turns out, following the exercises I’m supposed to do makes everything easier, and I’m finally figuring out my balance and gait.

When I pull open the door to the studio downtown, I’m immediately hugged by Piper.

“Riley Mitchell,” she says, face buried in my shirt. “It’s about time you showed up to a team event.”

“Piper Mitchell. I saw you two nights ago at our home game.”

“I know. But this is different. I missed you. I missed hanging out with you outside the barn.”

“I missed you too, Piper,” I say, giving her a hug.

She steps back and holds my hands, surveying me. Her attention doesn’t linger on my legs even though it’s the first time I’m wearing shorts out in public with my prosthetic, and when her gaze moves back to my face, she lets out a heavy breath.

“How are you feeling?” she asks. “You look good.”

“I’m getting there.” I squeeze her palms. “You look good too.”

“Watch yourself, Mitchell,” Liam says, appearing behind Piper and pulling her to him so her back is flush against his chest.

“Which Mitchell?” Piper teases.

“That one.” Liam lifts his chin my way. “I don’t like when people play with things that are mine.”

“Wow.” Piper elbows his ribs, and a smile works its way onto his mouth. All this fresh air away from my apartment is making me hallucinate. “Don’t call me your thing .”

“Sorry, sunshine. You know I didn’t mean it like that.” Liam glances my way. “You do look good, Mitchy.”

“I didn’t know this was going to turn into a compliment train,” I say. “Flirt with me a little more, Sully.”

“Don’t expect anything else,” he tosses back.

I point over my shoulder to the reformer device in the corner that’s calling my name. “I’m going to grab the machine away from the front before someone can steal it. I’ll see you all after.”

I stop to say hello to the other guys, doling out high fives and hugs before I make it to the back of the studio. It’s darker over here. Quieter too, and I’m glad I have a space where I can try the exercises and, inevitably, fail privately.

“Hey,” a sweet voice says, and I relax at the sound of it.

I glance up and find Lexi in front of me, hands on her hips and a wide smile on her mouth. She looks like a fucking knockout in tight leggings and a shirt that shows off the bottom half of her stomach. Her dark hair is up in a ponytail, but some pieces fall out and frame her face.

Fucking hell.

I’m never going to get over this crush.

“Hi,” I answer, hoping my voice doesn’t crack. “What’s up?”

“I’m sorry it’s cramped in here. I had to rearrange the room so I could fit an extra reformer. I wanted you to have an area to try the exercises you feel comfortable with, and I thought it might be better than putting you front and center.” Her posture straightens and she smiles again. “There’s no pressure to do any of the workout, and I’ll be showing modified moves if you want to try those instead.”

“Thanks,” I say. “I’m going to try my best. I, ah, did some research earlier. I read a couple articles that said Pilates helps to align the body, which is important for people who?—”

“Experience postural imbalances due to the loss of a limb.” Lexi nods, eyes bright. “I read that article too, and I immediately thought of you.”

I know it’s part of her job, but the idea of Lexi spending her free time researching ways to help me sends a rush of exhilaration up my spine. It makes me imagine there’s a world in which she’s doing it because she wants to, not because she has to. Because she likes spending time with me, not because she’s required to spend time with me.

The thought makes me puff out my chest and stand taller. It gives me some of the confidence I haven’t been able to find since the accident.

She told me it takes a lot to impress her, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure I have her attention.

“Thinking about me in your free time, Lex?” I ask, testing the waters.

Lexi smirks and takes a step closer to me. Her finger touches the center of my chest, and the press of her nail into my thin shirt is enough to send my brain reeling.

“Sounds like you might be thinking about me,” she says. “Looking up the exercise I teach? Keeping your word about showing up? I’m going to pretend it’s because you missed me.”

I did miss her.

I haven’t skipped a single rehab session since the morning she barged into my apartment like a tornado and we had that good conversation. I’m at the arena every day, putting in the work like I’m supposed to, but with the season underway, she’s had to adjust our schedule to accommodate the other guys who are starting to get aches and pains.

I didn’t travel with the team for their first extended set of away games of the season last week, sitting at home while they played back-to-back games in Oakland, Dallas, Denver, and Toronto, and I’ve been looking forward to spending time with her again.

“I’m only here to watch Grant cry,” I say, and that makes her laugh.

“I made sure the class was going to be hard as hell just for him,” she says.

Lexi pulls her hand away from my shirt and spins on her heel, heading for the front of the room. I do my goddamn best not to drop my eyes to her ass, but I fail miserably. I only blink out of the trance I’ve fallen into when Hudson drops his towel on the machine next to mine and snaps his fingers in my face.

“You’re staring,” he tells me.

“No, I’m not.” I pull off my hoodie and slide out of my shoes. “And mind your fucking business, Hayes.”

“Deny it all you want, Mitchy. But I see everything, and your subtlety is shit.”

* * *

Lexi wasn’t kidding.

Her class is hell on earth. I know I’m weaker than I used to be and still trying to figure out how to move this new body of mine, but even Hudson, who’s normally a fucking rockstar at Pilates, is struggling next to me.

“What the hell?” He wipes his face with his damp towel and chugs half his water bottle. “I don’t remember her being this cruel last season.”

“Last season you were busy flirting with your personal chef.” I put my hands on top of my head and try to control my breathing. “You didn’t pay attention for half the class.”

“And I’d do it again,” Hudson says smugly. “You’re moving really well, dude. Looks like you’re getting some of your flexibility back.”

“Really? Because it feels like I can barely touch my toes. This prosthetic is heavy as fuck.” I haven’t really been participating today, but it’s nice to get my heart rate back up and do some of the upper body moves.

“How’s everyone feeling?” Lexi asks through her microphone, and Grant wails.

“Like I’m going to die,” he whines from two rows in front of me. His thighs shake, and he digs his fingers into his muscles. “This is torture. Hell. The worst thirty minutes of my life. What did we do to deserve this?”

“I talked to the Oakland athletic trainer when we were out in California, and he told me some of the cross-training his players do to prevent injuries,” Lexi says.

“They had the worst record in the league last season,” Connor calls out. “Who cares what they’re doing?”

“They’re a team on the rise and going to be one to watch over the next five years. The only way you all are going to be Stanley Cup champions for the third time in a row is if you work harder than everyone else and do things they aren’t doing. You have to be the best on and off the ice, and that includes training underused muscles.”

“Goddammit.” Ethan rips off his shirt and throws it on the floor. “Now I want to run through a brick wall. Let’s fucking go.”

Lexi grins. A new song starts over the speakers. “Everyone up. We’re going into Warrior two lunges.”

My teammates and Piper get into position and I watch them. I don’t trust myself enough to balance, so I take the opportunity to sip on my water and decide who I think is going to topple over first.

Grant.

It has to be Grant.

“Want a modification?” Lexi asks, appearing in front of me and turning off her microphone. The guys might look like they’re dying, but I can’t find a drop of sweat on her body. She could probably go for another hour and a half at this intensity and not bat an eye. “You can do it on the ground instead of on the platform. It’ll give you more stability.”

“I’m not sure I’ll be good at it.”

“Who said anything about being good?”

“Okay.” I stand and look at my legs. “What do I do?”

“The same thing you’d do on the machine. Do you remember this move?”

“Vaguely. Can you give me a refresher?”

“Sure.” She smiles and moves to my side. “Is it okay if I touch you?”

Screaming out fuck, yes, anywhere you want is probably too aggressive, so I nod. I try not to blush when she rests her palm on my hip, and I’m glad the lighting is shitty back here. The last thing I need is for Hudson to glance over and point out how red my cheeks are, even if I would blame it on my lack of athleticism rather than the hot girl I’m crushing on giving me a lick of her attention.

“Tell me what to do, teach,” I say.

“Put your right leg forward and your left one behind you. Lunge into your right leg—don’t worry about getting too deep—and make sure your knee points the same direction as your toes. You’re really going to feel this in your core, quads, and hamstrings. You should also notice your hip abductors being engaged. We’ve worked on those in our sessions, remember?”

“How could I forget? They hurt like hell.”

Lexi flips her microphone back on. “Let’s go two more, then we’ll switch sides, everyone,” she says.

I grit my teeth. Sweat rolls down my forehead, but I stay focused. I take a deep breath, trying to center myself, and Lexi gently pushes down on my shoulders.

“Relax. There you go,” she murmurs, her touch warm and soft. I bet the rest of her is warm and soft too. Her thumb presses into the muscles around my neck, and I almost whimper. “That’s so good, Riley.”

Fuck me .

Up to this point, my attraction to her hasn’t been a physical thing.

It’s been something manageable. Something I can pretend only exists because we’ve been around each other for years and she’s one of the few women I interact with, not because I think she’s smart, talented, gorgeous, and incredible.

But now it feels like her hand is lingering on my body longer than it needs to, and my mind can’t help but wander. I’m dreaming about what her palms would feel like skimming across my stomach. Dipping under the waistband of my shorts and wrapping around my cock. How she would taste if I was given the chance to take her to bed and worship her like she deserves.

I squeeze my eyes shut and try to get rid of the images of her on her knees, mouth open and tongue out while she tells me she can take more , but then she exhales a breath that tickles my skin. She gets me to stretch an inch lower, and I’m a helpless mess of thoughts that would get me in serious fucking trouble.

Jock straps.

Sweaty jerseys.

Two-year-old skates that smell like death.

I try to think of anything but her, because I refuse to get fucking hard in front of my teammates.

“Jesus,” I mumble. Any pain I might be close to experiencing disappears when she moves her hands to my hips, her grip settling there.

“Are you okay?” Lexi asks, and the question makes me want to laugh.

No, I’m in hell. I’m picturing you naked, and I want to die. Do you have any other secret tattoos besides the one on your hip I want to see? What about piercings? Would you like it if I tied your wrists together, or would that freak you out?

“Great,” I say instead. I focus my attention on the guys in front of me. On Grant falling off his machine and Maverick shaking out his sweaty hair. “I’m great.”

“I’ve been working on a strength-building program for you. It’s similar to what I give guys to work on to prevent injuries, and we’re going to start that next week.”

“Does it involve any other torture methods?”

“Nope. Just a mat and the ground.”

“I can get behind that.”

“One minute break,” Lexi calls out, turning her microphone on. “Then we only have two more exercises.”

“Are you going to Maverick’s after this?” I ask when she clicks her microphone back off.

“Maybe. I don’t want to intrude on a guys’ afternoon out. It’s important for you all to bond, and I’d be in the way.”

“I’ve seen more of Hudson’s ass over the last five years than I’ve seen women naked. I’ve probably seen it more than my own ass, if we’re being honest. I think we’re all set on bonding.”

“You don’t look at your ass in the mirror?” she asks.

“No. Do you?”

“Regularly. I have a spectacular ass.” Lexi fixes her microphone over her ear. “I want you to try the last two sets of exercises. They’re core exercises, and they’re going to help with your altered center of gravity and the balance challenges you’ve been experiencing.”

I’m still caught on her spectacular ass comment, but I nod. “Want to make a deal? You say you’ll come to Mav’s, and I’ll try the exercises.”

“Riley Mitchell.” She pops a hip out. I’m a fucking champion for not looking at her curves. “I didn’t know you were the bartering type.”

“What do I have to lose?”

“Fine.” She grins and flips her hair over her shoulder. “You’ve got yourself a deal, but don’t expect me to go easy on you.”

“I’d never expect that.” I lift the hem of my shirt to wipe my cheek, smirking when her eyes dip to my stomach. I’m going to pretend she likes what she sees. “Stop staring at me, Armstrong.”

“Just for that, I’m adding in a third exercise.” She flips me off and walks to the front of the room. “You all can blame Riley for these next moves,” she tells the guys and Piper. Everyone groans except me, and I don’t care.

I’m having way too much fucking fun.