Page 67 of The Love Penalty

“Let’s go home,” she says, leaning her head on my shoulder on the ride down the elevator.

“You’re staying with me until you heal, okay?”

She nods and says, “I’m tired of always taking care of myself. Do you think the cats will cuddle me even more now that I’ll be bedridden?”

I chuckle and kiss the top of her head. “I’m sure they will.”

THIRTY-FIVE

Olivia

The past weekhas been the most stressful time of my career, and yet I’ve been able to find peace in the quiet days with Robbie and the cats. Not one of them has left my side since we got back from the hospital. Robbie insists on making me food every day and attending to my every need. He’s washed and braided my hair, helped me get dressed, and held me as I cried the first couple of nights. While I felt useless in the beginning, I’m starting to get used to him tending to me. He’s spoiled me this week and I’m not sure how I’ll go back to doing things for myself.

I don’t remember much from the collision with Mitchell. One moment I was watching the play, and the next I was down on the ice. My helmet must have come off during my fall and I hit my head pretty hard. Robbie begrudgingly filled me in on the rest of the details, grimacing the whole time. I can’t imagine how hopeless he must have felt, seeing me unconscious and not knowing if I was okay.

What I do remember is bits and pieces from the arena and the hospital. And I remember Robbie, the way he skated up toask where they were taking me, how he showed up outside my exam room and told everyone he was my fiancé.

My head is telling me that he made a mistake by attacking Mitchell. Robbie got suspended for 10 games which means he won’t be able to play for the rest of the season. My heart is soaring because it knows Robbie would do anything for me, even give up the last of his career for me. He’s told the board that he doesn’t regret what he did and that he would have done it regardless of the referee being a stranger or a friend.

In the past week, I’ve been waiting for news. The AHL thankfully covered my medical bills since I got hurt during a game. They are also investigating Mitchell’s foul play. The cameras caught the angle where we collided, and there was clear intent to injure me. I decided I wouldn’t press charges, but that a hearing should take place and that Mitchell should be held accountable one way or another.

I called Grams and told her about my injury and that I planned to stay with Robbie for the first couple of weeks while I start to heal. I plan to take a flight back home and check on the house as well as pack more clothes to bring back to Grand Marquee. Robbie plans to fly out with me and help, and he’s all but wrangled me into living with him for the next five weeks.

I hear my phone buzz somewhere on the counter top and start to stand from the couch, but Caramel doesn’t want to move from my lap. A moment later a hand pops into my view and passes me my phone. “Thank you.”

“No problem, love,” he says and bends down to kiss the top of my head over the couch. The past few days, in between taking care of me and driving me insane, I told him to start focusing on something other than me, so he started looking over paperwork for the nonprofit. “Hello?” I answer the unknown number and as soon as I realize who it is, I break out into a sweat.

“Miss Wilson, my name is Jackson Veritas and I’m with the American Hockey League’s Player Safety Committee. How are you feeling today?”

“Doing better, sir. Thank you.”

“That’s great to hear. I won’t keep you long, Miss Wilson, I just wanted to let you know that Dustin Mitchell has been fined for his actions during last week’s game. On top of that, I believe he was also let go by the Vermont Vortices.”

“Wow, I don’t even know what to say.”

“Well, we certainly hope you will return next season, you have been an incredible asset to the AHL.”

“Thank you, sir.”

I’m still holding the phone to my ear long after the call ends and staring out towards the living room when Robbie comes and sits next to me.

“Hey, what was that call about?” he asks, nervously looking me over, expecting bad news. I blink back tears of relief and give him a smile.

“Mitchell got fined, and fired apparently.”

Robbie’s eyes widen and he gently hugs me so as to not hurt my ribs. “That’s amazing news.”

It really is. I was fully expecting Mitchell to tell the board about my relationship with Robbie and try to get me fired. In the end, I guess I was right. He was bluffing about having evidence.

“So, what are you going to do next?” Robbie asks, holding me on the couch.

“You mean if I survive five weeks of you babying me?”

He snickers and I laugh, lacing my fingers with his. “I think I’d like to stay here, with you, during the offseason. Do you think your brother is looking to hire someone at the restaurant?”

Robbie is quiet for a moment and I look up to see his contemplative face. I can almost hear the gears turning in his brain. “Actually, how would you like a job at the nonprofit?”

I slowly sit up straighter and give him my full attention. “Are you serious?”

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