Page 87 of The Sin Bin

"Hockey culture takes some getting used to. And not all parts of it are worth preserving. The fighting, the casual violence—I've been around hockey my entire life, and I still struggle with parts of it."

Lauren felt like she found a kindred soul. They settled into easy conversation, Allison sharing stories about her grandfather's hockey legacy and her initial resistance to dating Kane. Lauren found herself laughing more than she expected, her initial nervousness gradually fading.

Nearly forty-five minutes and a second glass of wine later, the doors finally swung open. The players filed in—freshly showered but still riding the high of victory, some sporting visible ice packs and athletic tape. The energy in the room immediately shifted, conversations growing louder as the team arrived, their playoff-clinching mood elevating the collective atmosphere. Three more games to go, was the general consensus.

Three more games of this. Lauren wasn't sure her nerves were going to be able to take it.

At least when they were on the road, she could mute the obnoxious commenters.

Kane spotted them first. He came over and kissed his wife thoroughly before turning to her. "Hey Doc, you made it."

"Lauren, please," she corrected with a smile. "Thank you for the invitation."

"You're practically team at this point," he said, lowering his voice. "Figured it was time to make it official."

"Congrats on another impressive win," she said, feeling much better about things. It could have been the wine, but Allison and Kane's welcome had a lot to do with it too.

"Couldn't have done it without your man." Kane gestured behind her.

Lauren felt Jax's hand settle at the small of her back.

"Sorry I'm late," he said, his deep voice sending a pleasant shiver down her spine. "Medical wouldn't let me leave without extra treatment for the ribs."

Lauren turned, automatically assessing his condition. He'd changed from his game-day suit into dark jeans and a charcoal henley that somehow made him look both more approachable and more imposing. The careful way he held himself, particularly when turning, told her everything the team doctors wouldn't say.

Their eyes met, and in that brief moment of connection—amid the noise and bustle of the team celebration—Lauren felt a surge of emotion that transcended the room, the game, even the pain he was clearly masking. It was as if they'd created their own private world within the public one, a silent understanding that needed no words.

"How bad?" she asked directly, maintaining that gaze.

"Manageable," Jax replied, though the tightness around his eyes betrayed him. "Medical cleared me for tomorrow's practice with contact restrictions."

A shadow crossed his face, so brief that only someone watching closely would notice. Lauren picked up on it immediately. "What aren't you telling me?"

Jax sighed, dropping his voice. "Medical wanted to hold me out of tomorrow's game. I... convinced them otherwise."

The implication was clear—he'd downplayed his pain, perhaps even refused recommended treatment options. Lauren's stomach tightened with worry.

"That was quite a game," she said, switching topics. "Wilson seemed determined to provoke you."

"That was the goal," he grimaced. "At least three more games of this shit."

"You did good. I'm so proud of you," she said.

"That means everything to me," he said.

Their moment was interrupted by Dmitri throwing an arm around Jax's shoulders. "Let's get this party started."

Jax winced almost imperceptibly at the contact, and Lauren noticed how he subtly shifted to protect his injured side—a movement so smooth and practiced that it spoke of years accommodating pain.

"Pretty sure it was well underway before you got here," Allison said dryly.

"Is different with everyone here," Dmitri insisted, gesturing expansively to include Lauren. "Team complete now. Even Ethan is coming, though medical says no booze for his brain tonight."

Concern flashed through Lauren. "How is he? That hit looked brutal."

"Concussion," Jax said. "He'll miss at least the next game."

Kane called everyone to the tables arranged in a U-shape. Lauren was seated between Jax and Oliver, with Marcus directly across.

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