Page 78 of Uniquely in Love

I shook the thought from my mind. Thinking about Ellie was a distraction, and I couldn’t afford that. Not when I wanted that cup so badly I could taste it.

The timer ticked down on our warm-up period, and I skated off the ice, heading back towards the locker room. Brooks knocked his shoulder into mine as he caught up with me, not saying anything. It was just our quiet show of support with each other.

We weren’t on the starting line tonight, which meant that when we came back from warmups, both of us slid onto the bench next to each other. We’d be ready to hop into play fairly quickly as soon as the first shift on the ice finished.

I bounced my leg as we sat, watching the puck drop.Rhodes won the face-off, and the guys took off down the ice, passing the puck around Anaheim’s players, but it was stolen before they could make a shot on goal.

“You’re extra jittery tonight,” he muttered. “Need to expel some excess energy, Harps? Maybe Mav is right, you do need to get laid.”

“Hey,” I groaned. “Not you, too, Hendy.” I adjusted my sleeves, pushing them up to allow the cool air from the ice to hit my wrists and lower forearms. “It’s not like that.”

“You don’t want to sleep with her?”

“Fuck.” I was so fucking glad we weren’t mic’d up regularly for games. If we were, we definitely wouldn’t be having this conversation on the bench. “Of course, I do. But there’s more to it than that. And this isn’t the place to talk about it.”

“Breathe, man.” He patted my shoulder. “It’s all going to work out.”

I nodded, hoping he was right. Once we were on the ice, my mind would clear. The game always helped me achieve clarity, to get that crystal clear focus I needed to get through each shift.

A few moments later, Coach called out the line change and Brooks and I both hopped over the boards, skating out onto the ice and quickly throwing ourselves into the play.

I blocked a pass made by the other team and sent it sailing back down towards our ice.Icing. Damn. The whistle blew, and we reset, taking our spots at the face-off circle.

By the end of the first period, we were still 0-0. Anaheim’s defense was solid, and I was pretty sure I’d pulled something in my shoulder during a shot I’d blocked. I tried to massage it during the intermission, but it wasn’t bad enough to keep me out of play. At least we had tomorrow off, and I’d be able to rest. I shut my eyes as I sat back against the wall in the locker room, willing myself to focus on the game ahead and not the girl I’d left behind.

The apartment wasdark as I trudged inside, tired down to my bones from the last week of travel and sleeping in a hotel—not to mention playing three games. I rubbed at my shoulder, which was still aching despite seeing the team chiropractor after the game and being checked out. That last body-check against the boards had really done a number on me.

God, I couldn’t wait to crawl into my bed and fall asleep.

I didn’t bother turning the lights on in the apartment—it was late, and I was sure Ellie was already asleep, especially since she woke up before six most days to get ready for school.

We’d both always been early risers, though these days, I got up early just to spend time with my roommate.

Two weeks had passed since she’d moved in, and it felt sorightcoming home to her.

Opening the door to my bedroom, I dropped my duffel bag on the floor, the clothes from my body quickly following behind. I’d clean them up tomorrow. Right now, I just wanted to sleep.

I froze as I heard a light moan and the rustling of sheets. Looking up, the light from outside illuminated my bed, and there was an unmistakable lump under the covers.

The moonlight caught on honey blonde strands of hair.Ellie. In my room. Sleeping in my bed.

What was she doing in here? I marveled at the sight for a minute, because it felt so right. Had she missed me like I’d missed her?

Slowly, I pulled the covers back, sliding in beside her. I was grateful that she’d always been a deep sleeper and didn’t wake up, even as I wrapped my arms around her.

Pulling her tight against my body, I buried my nose in her hair, reveling in her scent. In the feel of her soft, lithe body pressed against mine.

I wasn’t ready to give her my heart again, but damn if I wasn’t halfway there already.

Exhaustion took me, and I fell right to sleep, holding the love of my life in my arms.

TWENTY-FIVE

Owen

THEN

Sophomore Year

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