Page 47 of The Love Penalty

Ash looks away and shrugs “Whatever, leopard can’t change his spots and all that.” Robbie sighs in defeat and skates away but he doesn’t see the look of self-loathing on Ash’s face.

“You wanna know something about leopards?” Ash looks at me with curiosity and a little bit of doubt. “They’re magnificent and fight to win,” I say before skating away and sorting out all the penalties. Both Ash and the Vortices player get five minutes for fighting and Ash gets another two minutes for tripping, which means the Vortices are at an advantage, which Mitchell capitalizes on immediately and scores.

Ash must have heard my subtle advice, that he needs to focus on winning the game instead of fighting, because he scores his second goal of the night with a minute left in the period. On his way to the bench he gives me a wink and Robbie raises his eyebrows at the exchange. I just smile and shake my head. That boy is something else. He’s cocky and boisterous, but he’s damn good at what he does and he just needs someone to believe in him.

The third period is just as crazy as the second, except it’s the Vortices that spend the majority of the time in the penalty box. More fights break out and penalties get called, but both teams also score. The Manticores lead 3-2 with 5 minutes remaining in the game when Robbie scores on a breakaway. I smile to myself as we reset because that was a damn good goal, but Mitchell catches me and glares at me.

“Playing favorites, I see,” he says and spits at my feet. What a fucking asshole. I know I shouldn’t let his words bother me, but I can’t help it. I also can’t help the anger I feel every time he comes near me, which is why I say, “I can appreciate a good goal when I see one. Can’t say the same for you, though.” His face is beet red and he’s seething. I’m sure he’d like nothing more than to throw me down on the ice right now, but he knows he can’t. So I just skate away.

I expect him to retaliate somehow, but the next couple minutes are surprisingly docile on both ends. That is, until Mitchell hip checks Robbie so hard he goes flying and lands hardon his left side. The other referee calls the penalty as clipping since that was clearly a dirty hit. Robbie gets up on his own but he’s clearly in pain and Jordan helps him down to the tunnel.

My heart is beating so fast, and I can’t stop thinking about that hit. Mitchell is bitching about that not being a penalty when we all know he did it on purpose. The other referee gives him a major penalty as well and has him leave the game completely since there is not much left on the clock.

With Mitchell gone, the Vortices pull their goalie in an attempt to make a play, but all that leads to is the Manticores scoring an empty net goal. Ash is the one to score, which means he gets a hat trick. Too bad it’s not a home game where fans would actually throw their hats on the ice for him. We skate to the tunnel together and he says, “Thanks, for earlier. I appreciate you looking out for me.”

I nod but don’t quite know what else to say. My head is spinning about Robbie. I hope he’s not seriously injured. Ash must see the worry on my face because he adds, “Don’t worry, I’ll check on him and text you an update, okay?” I nod and then hurry to the locker room to get changed and wait in the lobby with my phone in hand. Hoping for good news.

A while later,a bunch of Manticores players and staff leave the arena, but I still haven’t caught sight of Robbie and his group. I’m pacing around the lobby when I finally hear them.

“That Mitchell guy needs to get suspended for that hip check. That was bullshit. You could have gotten seriously injured,” Jordan says hotly.

“He is seriously injured,” Elias says with a somber face. That makes me start to move in their direction and see Robbie for myself. How hurt is he?

As soon as I approach them, Elias and Jordan move out of the way and I come face to face with Robbie. His head is down, but when he looks up our eyes lock and I can see the exhaustion and sadness in them. Fuck, it makes me devastated to see him like this. I want to run and wrap my hands around him but I don’t know where we stand in front of his friends. So I lamely say, “Hey. How are you?”

Robbie doesn’t hesitate and walks up to me for a hug. His left arm is in a sling and my heart drops. I do my best to hug him back without hurting him. As soon as he drops his head in the crook of my neck he sighs and says “I’m much better now. Can we please get out of here?”

“Of course, but I need to know how bad it is,” I say, brushing his dark blonde hair away from his forehead.

“Nothing is broken or too serious. It’s just a sprain, but the team physician recommended I sit out for a couple of games,” he says miserably. I link my fingers together with his uninjured hand and we all walk outside where a van Jordan requested is waiting to take us to the hotel.

Once we get there, we all head to the bar and get a drink, the guys brooding about the game. I feel so bad for them, it seems like every time they play the Vortices, something bad happens and they can’t even enjoy the win they worked so hard for.

“So, you two made things official?” Ashton asks with a smirk as he sips his old fashioned. I blush and take a sip of my own drink as Robbie turns his tired eyes on me. He’s giving me the smile I love most on him, the soft one reserved just for me. His eyes trace my face, lingering on my lips and that’s my cue to get us out of here and into the same bed together.

Even if we can’t do all the sexy stuff we had planned since his arm is in a sling, I still want to spend the night curled up against him. I down the rest of my drink and stand up, offering a hand to Robbie, which he eagerly takes.

“Guys, if you’ll excuse us, I think this couple is going to head to bed,” I say with a grin on my face. Elias and Jordan give us smiles and mumbles of good night and Ash winks at us as we make our way out of the bar.

Robbie puts his good arm around my shoulder and drops his head on top of mine. We stand like that the whole elevator ride up to my room. Robbie brought his bag in here earlier since he planned on spending the night so I ask him, “Do you need help getting pajamas out, or washing up?” I ask that last part nervously.

“I usually sleep in my underwear. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, of course.” Like I would complain ever seeing him mostly naked.

“I probably should wash up a bit, I didn’t get a chance to shower at the arena,” he says on a yawn. “You don’t have to assist me if you feel uncomfortable.”

“Why would I feel uncomfortable?”

He shrugs but points at my right hand where I am fidgeting with my ring. Stupid habit. “You play with that a lot when you get nervous.” His face settles into a frown and he sighs, “I don’t want to make you nervous.”

“You’re not the reason I am nervous.” One corner of his mouth hitches up like he doesn’t believe me. “I promise,” I say, inching closer to him and untying his sling, “I’m nervous because I was thinking of the logistics of helping you. Like, I’d probably have to get in the shower with you.”

I take a breath and dare to look up at his confused face. “I’m nervous about you seeing me completely naked. I know we did stuff earlier, but it’s just different, I guess.” Now it’s my turn tofrown. I’m not sure where this insecurity is coming from, but I don’t want to disappoint him. Earlier the curtains were drawn and the lights were dim when we got intimate. But in the harsh bathroom light, I’m not so sure I measure up to his imagination.

“Olive,” he whispers and takes my hand in his, bringing it up to his heart. “We all have insecurities, but you know what? Whatever imperfections you think you may have don’t matter to me. I care aboutyou, your beautiful heart and soul. Your body will change with time, as will mine, but that won’t make me see you any differently. You’ll always be perfect to me.” He lets go of my hand to wipe the tear that escapes me and bends down to give me a sweet kiss.

He straightens out his arm a few times and winces a bit, so I gently bring it back in the position he had it in before I took the sling off. “Don’t make it worse, please.”

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