Page 87 of Pucking the Team

If ever I’d wanted to shake a man for not just getting on with his job it was now.

Theo appeared to have stopped breathing. I know I was holding my breath.

“Nothing to report, all clear.”

“Thank fuck for that.” Theo turned and shoved his hand through his hair. His cheeks were pale; all of his blood must have run to his legs. He stared straight at me.

“Always nice to give such positive news.” The doctor smiled and sat back, steepling his hands in front of himself.

I stood, rushed to Theo, and wound my arms around him.

He returned the embrace, tight, solid, and buried his face against my neck. He was breathing hard, and a slight tremble wound up his back.

“It’s okay,” I whispered. “It’s all good, nothing abnormal. You’re okay.”

He didn’t reply, just clung to me and kept me wrapped in his arms. I was holding him up…he needed me. Really needed me.

A sob was trying to break free—a sob of relief—but I held it in. Emotions had overwhelmed me enough times this last week, and now I wanted to be strong for Theo.

“I heard him right,” Theo said. He pulled back and cupped my cheeks. He searched my face.

“Yes, you did.” I nodded and smiled. “You heard right, you’re okay.”

“We need to call Ben.”

“Of course. Let’s get out of here.”

“Yes, go…go,” the doctor said, standing and walking to the door. “We’ll see you in six months, Theo, and in the meantime, take care of this beautiful girl you’ve found yourself and pick up the Stanley Cup, right? Orlando is rooting for you.”

“I’ll do my best, on all those things.” Theo gripped my left hand and with his right he shook the doctor’s. “Thanks for that, best damn news.”

“It is. Take care.”

We left the clinic, and I felt like I was floating. I understood what people meant when they said they were on cloud nine, because the relief was like being in the clouds. I was full of happiness and gratitude.

“Ben,” Theo said into his cell as soon as we stepped into open air. “All clear, everything normal.”

He grinned and listened to his brother’s loud, elated reply.

“Yeah, no worries, usual check in six months.” He paused. “Yeah, it was great to have Pippa with me. We’re gonna go for a walk, in the park, Mike knows I’m not practicing today.”

Chapter Twenty

The park was a twenty-minute drive from the clinic, and we were both glad of the Jeep’s AC. We chatted loudly and over each other about the doctor’s lack of urgency, the blood results, and The Vipers’ chances of lifting the cup. Theo seemed reenergized, bright, the future was his again and he’d grabbed it. It was heartwarming to witness.

When we parked up in the shade, I felt my shoulders relax. The park was beautiful with lots of old trees, flowering shrubs, and it was set around a large lake with a splashing fountain in the center.

“There’s a coffee shop on the other side of the lake, we’ll stop there,” Theo said, pulling on his baseball cap again. “That okay?”

“Yes, cool with me.”

We set off along the winding path, dipping in and out of the dappled shade. We spotted a great egret fishing on the shoreline, his long elegant legs moving stealthily as he stalked his prey. A woodpecker tapped in the distance, and a cloud of yellow butterflies hung around a shrub covered in deep-purple flowers.

I decided to bring something up that had been on my mind. “Who is Carrie?”

“What?” He glanced at me.

“I overheard you and Ben, you mentioned Carrie. An ex?”