Page 39 of Offside Play (Love The Game #1)
Cody
TEN MONTHS LATER
Jude stepped onto the section of glass floor directly ahead of us, leaning back against the full-length window.
“Thanks for taking me up here. I didn’t really get to do any touristy stuff the first time I came to Calgary.
” His gaze took in the people around us, and he lowered his voice as he dragged me onto the glass floor with him.
“Guess I was a bit preoccupied with sneaking around with a hot hockey player turned coach.”
I smirked at him. “Worth it.”
“One hundred percent.” He glanced at the group of tourists posing to our left. “’Scuse me. Would you mind taking a photo of me and my boyfriend?”
Of course, he had to go and pick fucking Brits. They immediately recognised him, and it was only after six autographs—three each—and eight selfies that we got our own photo. But after that, they gave us space, and we were able to make a full circuit of the tower without being accosted.
Back when I was in the NHL, I steered clear of enclosed public places like this.
But now, I was able to enjoy the tower for what it was, taking in the views of the city as I strolled hand in hand with Jude.
Every now and then, he’d drag me to a stop, pointing out something that had caught his eye, and every time, it made my heart stutter.
It hit me over and over just how uncomfortable I’d been in my life before he’d come crashing into it with a “huh.”
As if he could read my mind, he tapped on the glass. “Wasn’t that club you abandoned me in down there somewhere?”
“I didn’t abandon you. I came back and we had mediocre sex.”
Jude laughed, even though I was half-serious. I still wished I’d known it was his first time and we hadn’t done it up against a cum-stained wall in a public place. No matter how dark it had been.
“Whatever. We both enjoyed it. And since then, we’ve had epic sex.
Mind-blowing. Ten out of ten, award-winning sex.
” His voice was rising, and I elbowed him in the ribs.
Unfortunately, my warning came too late, because the couple a few feet away from us stared at us with wide eyes before collapsing into giggles.
“Okay, I think it’s time to leave. We need to meet Petrov and Davis soon, anyway. Did you hear from your brother yet?”
Jude nodded, shooting an unapologetic grin at the giggling couple. I rolled my eyes, gripping his hand tightly and dragging him towards the elevator.
“We’re meeting him and Jesse for coffee tomorrow morning. I picked a public place because I know you’re worried he’s gonna shout at you.”
My jaw clenched as we stepped into the elevator, the doors sliding closed behind us.
“I’m not worried . It’ll just be the first time we’ve seen him in person since he found out about us.
I wouldn’t put it past him to throw a punch or two, and I’ll have to stand there and take it because I’m not going to hit my boyfriend’s brother. ”
“That’s sweet,” Jude said, leaning over to brush a kiss across my lips. It wasn’t sweet. “Nah, he wouldn’t try and punch you. He’s not like that.”
I wasn’t sure, but I pushed it out of my mind. It was time to check out the upgraded community rink, and then?—
No. I couldn’t think about that, either. It was fucking terrifying.
“They’re almost as good at coaching as you, but you still beat them overall,” Marcus told me, directing a playful grin at Davis and Petrov. He skated backwards, showing off, and then did an axel like he was a fucking figure skater. I stared at him, my mouth falling open.
“What the— What was that? What have they been teaching you?”
Petrov came up next to me, clapping me on the shoulder. “Nothing to do with us. Our young protégé got himself a girlfriend. Very talented figure skater.” He shrugged. “They’ve been teaching each other a few tricks.”
“So I see,” I muttered, biting back a smile.
It was good to be back here. When I’d arrived with Jude, and Petrov and Davis had shown us around, a weight had lifted from my shoulders to see how much this place was thriving.
The community rink still had that same welcoming, understated vibe I remembered, but the worn edges had been smoothed out, repaired and restored with care.
I’d spent some time speaking with Marcus’s dad, too.
He told me how the local community had embraced the upgrades to the facilities and assured me that CC Youth Hockey genuinely cared about improving the skills of these kids.
And all for the same miniscule amount I’d been charging for my coaching sessions—one of my stipulations when I’d first brought the idea up with my former teammates.
It was everything I could have ever hoped for.
“Marcus! Time’s up!” Petrov shouted, jerking his head towards me. I grimaced, glancing over at Jude, but he was thankfully engrossed in conversation with Davis.
The rink cleared out quickly, leaving me, Jude, and Petrov. I remained on the ice while Petrov headed to the stands, where my fucking gorgeous boyfriend was draped over the seats in a casual sprawl, all long, lean lines and bright green eyes trained on me.
“Jude.” Petrov crooked his finger. “Could you come here for a second?”
Jude’s brows rose, but he unfolded himself from his seat. Petrov moved, rolling out the carpet he’d “borrowed” from the Bobcats’ supplies—one they used when they needed people to walk onto the ice for awards or interviews.
It unrolled across the ice, the end kissing the toes of my skates. At the same time, an unseen Davis dimmed the main lights, turning on the sweeping spotlights that had been installed as part of the rink upgrades.
“What’s going on?” Jude said to Petrov, who gave him a shove towards the carpet before making a run for the exit.
Then it was just the two of us, alone in the place that meant more to me than anywhere else in Canada.
Jude was the first person I’d told about my coaching.
The first person to see me right here, working with the kids, doing something no one else knew about.
The first person to see the vulnerable parts of me I’d kept hidden from the world, fragile and uncertain and raw.
The breakable parts I was too afraid to share, in case they were smashed into pieces.
“Jude. Come here.” My voice was so fucking hoarse, my heart in my throat as the man I loved above everything stepped onto the carpet.
His gaze remained fixed on mine as he drew closer, too slow and too fast all at the same time.
My palms were sweating, closed around the puck that I’d stashed inside the pocket of my hoodie.
“Cody,” he breathed when he reached me, and I dropped down on one knee, digging the tip of my skate into the ice to keep me in place.
“I have something for you.” My hands shook as I tugged the puck from my pocket and handed it to him.
“What— Cody ?”
“I want you to be mine forever,” I choked out, which wasn’t even close to the words I’d planned to say, but I meant them with every single part of me.
Jude was staring down at the puck with wide eyes, his own hands trembling as he took in the ring I’d carefully taped to the surface. His gaze went to mine, and he blinked, dropping to his own knees and launching himself into my arms.
I didn’t even care about the tears blurring my vision, because he was here, holding me like he never wanted to let me go. Burying my face in his neck, I kissed his warm skin over and over again before I dared to raise my head. “I love you so fucking much. I want forever with you.”
He swiped at his eyes with one hand, the other pulling at the tape on the puck. “Fuck you, you bastard. You taped this fucking ring too well. I can’t get it off.”
“Is—are you saying yes?”
His gaze went so fucking soft. “Of course I am. I want forever with you, too. You’re the love of my life, Cody.”
“ Fuck . I don’t know what I did to deserve this.”
Shaking his head, he smiled at me. “You didn’t do anything. You didn’t have to do anything. You deserve it. You deserve everything.”
Later, we’d have to discuss logistics and press releases and letting our friends and his family know. But for now, as I finally freed the ring and slid it onto Jude’s finger, it was just the two of us.
The realisation struck me as he brushed his lips over mine, whispering words of love into my skin. I felt like I was home.
Home wasn’t a place, after all.
It was a person.
THE END