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FORTY-NINE

AIDEN

“He’s bending his ankles too much,” I tell Gavin as we watch Andrew Keegan, the center we just drafted, practice with Camden Snow and Daniel Hall. Switching up lines is never a bad idea. That way, if one of us gets hurt and he has to change things up, the chemistry is already there and the change will be seamless.

My brother doesn’t even glance in my direction before shouting a correction.

“Cam needs to slow down and give Keegan a second to catch his bearings,” War notes from beside me. We both watch, arms crossed and assessing, as the guys continue running drills over and over before my brother calls in the next group and heads their way.

“I was thinking we should have a team dinner soon,” War says without taking his focus off the ice.

I can’t help but study him for a few seconds and really take in his posture.

Over the last few months, the right winger has changed in big ways. Becoming captain has settled him, making it clear that Gavin made the right decision by giving War the title. Though I do miss my aggressive winger every once in a while, his level-headedness has the potential to be a stronger asset for us this season than any of his fights have been in the past. Even if he instigated them to protect me or Hall.

I lift my chin. “Sounds like a plan. You going to do it at your place?”

“Fuck no. That’s my sanctuary,” he mumbles. “Team dinner, your place.” He turns and levels me with a commanding stare.

I merely grin. “It’ll be tight, but I’m sure we can make it work.”

War groans. “Fuck. Coach will probably suggest we do it as his place because it’s bigger, and don’t get me wrong, I love your brother, but we should do it somewhere that isn’t littered with baby toys.”

That’s an apt description of Gavin’s place. For years and years, he was the bachelor of all bachelors. Now, his apartment is all baby toys and feminine touches.

“We could set something up in the common area. Or Ground Zero?”

War’s eyes light up. “Common area. We can make it a potluck. Everyone brings a dish.”

Before we can hammer out details, Gavin calls us out for one-on-one drills, and then I lose myself in my second favorite thing: hockey.

Practice was grueling. Though I had no trouble assessing my teammates’ strengths and weaknesses, I couldn’t put my finger on what was slowing me down today. Gavin promised/ threatened me with additional time on the ice tomorrow so I’d be prepared for our next game.

Brooks offered to join me.

The idea of getting out on the ice with my brothers lit me up inside. I was tempted to text Beckett and ask him to join like the old days, but he’d only remind me that a family skate isn’t what I need, even if it sounds like a blast. When the Hanson brothers are in town, Gavin and Beckett get together with them for morning skates. It’s an activity I wish I could be part of, but risking injury for a pickup game would be unwise.

I shake off the disappointment that plagues me when I think about it. I play with Brooks every damn day. That should be enough to satisfy me.

“Honey, I’m home,” I say, imitating Ricky Ricardo as I step into our apartment.

The smell of sugar and fried dough instantly hits me, and the tension from practice begins to melt from my body. The apartment is bathed in a warm glow from electric candles set up on every surface. The television is on, but it’s paused on the opening credits to a movie. The couch has been pushed to the side and in its place is a cozy pillow fort. There’s a sheet draped over a few chairs, with Christmas lights strung beneath it. On the floor below is a pile of blankets and what looks like every pillow in the apartment.

“Lex,” I call out, my heart thumping against my chest.

The surprise itself lifts me up, but the overwhelming calm that settles over me even when I step into our home is because of Lennox.

She gives me a peace that can’t be replicated—there is nothing, including hockey, that settles me the way she does.

I drop my bags at the door and saunter inside.

“Hey, Hockey Boy.” Lennox’s sweet, teasing tone eases another ache inside me.

Warmth starts in my chest and works its way through me as I take in the hypnotizing sway of her hips as she peeks at me from where she’s bent over with her head in the fridge. Black spandex molds to her curves, making my mouth water. As she straightens and then finally turns to face me, my grin only grows.

“C’mere, baby,” I mumble, holding out my arms.

She doesn’t make me wait. In a heartbeat, she presses her soft body against mine and wraps me in a strong hug. No one hugs like Lennox. She puts her whole self into it. Her breasts press against my chest, and her heart beats against mine, matching its rhythm. Her warm breath ghosts against my neck as she sighs, like the embrace is just as comforting for her. Head tilted back, she kisses my chin. “Missed you.”

Fuck, coming home to this woman is the greatest thing in the world.

Every worry, every concern, every ounce of stress, evaporates when she’s in my arms.

Makes me wonder if she’s all I needed all these years. If she could cure my darkness…

“How did your meeting with Liv go?”

Lennox cuffs the back of my neck and forces her lips to mine, taking me in a rough kiss. As our tongues tangle and our breaths mingle, I get lost in her.

When she pulls back and smiles, swiping my lips clean from what I imagine is her lip gloss, I breathe out a curse. “Fuck, Lex. This is some way to come home.”

Her rosy cheeks lift, and her blue eyes sparkle. “Hopefully it’ll always be like this,” she says with that mischievous glint in her eye.

“You won’t find me complaining about that.”

Linking her fingers with mine, she leads me toward the fort she’s created. “Relax while I grab our dinner.”

I arch a brow. “You cooked?”

Her soft responding laugh has my cock growing impossibly hard. “Cooking would be grossly overstating what I did.”

I chuckle as I watch her walk away, craning my neck until she’s completely out of view. Then I lean back against the pillows she’s pulled from our bed and make myself comfortable.

“How was practice?” she calls from the other room.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, reminding me that it was blowing up as I was rushing to get home. The screen is filled with text notifications from my brothers, but for once, I don’t rush to read them. I have no doubt that whatever they’re talking about would make me laugh, but I just want her. I hit the power button, turning it off completely, and toss the phone onto the couch. Everyone else can wait. The outside world can fade away for all I care. Everything I need is in this room.

“It was good. I’ll probably need to get some extra time in with the rookies this week, but I just wanted to come home to you tonight.”

When Lennox reappears, a tray in her hand and a knowing smirk on her face, I know I made the right decision. “I appreciate that.”

As she approaches, I take the tray so that she can settle beside me. “Orange soda and sandwiches,” I muse as I take in the spread. Even as I tease her, my chest squeezes again, my heart trying to find a way out while my body pulls it right back in. I’d hand it to her on this platter if it was possible.

When Lennox is settled beside me, she turns those blue eyes on me. They’re tender rather than teasing.

“I thought that keeping things surface level with men would keep me safe. I knew I couldn’t survive another us, so I hid my true self behind my sass and loud personality. It was better that way. The only person who ever really got past the walls I’d put up was Sara, but she had her own walls—her own secrets. It was easier to sit atop them together than to break them down. So I flitted from job to job, casually dated, kept in touch with family and friends through text messages rather than making time for real connections, all because I thought that if I got too close, a man might worm his way into my heart, and I’d risk being broken again.”

I watch Lennox silently, understanding precisely what she means. Maybe I let more people in because I had— have —good relationships with my brothers. My sister and parents too. Teammates I’d fight for who’d also fight for me. I’ve allowed myself relationships, but like Lennox, when it came to love, I never truly gave myself to anyone else. Never let them see the broken pieces of me—or the real parts.

I gave the world a sugared version of myself, but for different reasons than she did. I did it because I was afraid if they saw the real me, they’d be disappointed. Different reasons, same outcome: we kept everyone on the outside.

“I don’t want to do that anymore. I want to feel. I want to risk. I want to love . And I want to do it all with you by my side.” Lennox takes my hand. “I’m going to take the job with your family’s company. I’m all in, Aiden.”

This declaration feels a hell of a lot more permanent than even her acceptance of my proposal. Unconsciously, I stroke her engagement ring. It should be one hell of a sweet reminder that she’s mine. If not for the timeline imposed by her family trust, I’m not sure she would have said yes. But right now? It sounds like she’s saying yes to us.

Whatever that entails.

And in the meantime, she’ll become my wife, and hopefully one day she’ll be happy about that too.

“That’s good, because I’ve been all in since day one.”

With a soft laugh, she angles in to kiss me again.

“I like the spread,” I say, grabbing one half of a peanut butter and Nutella sandwich and handing it to her.

Lennox hums as she takes a bite. “Figure we have a lot of movie nights to make up for.”

I perk up in excitement as I pick up the other half of the sandwich. “Oh yeah? What are we starting with?”

Lennox just grins and nods at the remote control. “Have at it, Hockey Boy. Figured I’d start with one of our favorites.”

When I hit play and Bridget Jones’s voice filters through the space, I bark out a laugh. “Yes!” I pump one fist.

Beside me, Lennox giggles and snuggles closer. With a deep inhale, I sink into this feeling. Into the past and into the present. Into the good.

And I say a prayer that this feeling never ends.