Page 58 of Icebreaker
We held on to each otherin the aftermath, our hearts pounding inside sweat-slicked chests.Axel kissed my face and neck.
"I love you," he whispered. "Can't say it any other way. I love you so fucking much."
"Love you, too," I echoed. "More than anything."
We stayed like that for a long time, just holding each other, basking in the glow of our connection. It was where we both belonged.
I didn't want to be anywhere but in his arms, heart, and life. Today, tomorrow, and for all the days to come.
We'd tested our love, tore it open, and pushed it to the brink, butwhat we found wasstronger, more resilient, and more unshakable than we imagined.
As we driftedoffto sleep, our bodies intertwined, I knew that nothing, no force on earth or beyond, could ever tear us apart.
This was forever. He was my forever.
Chapter nineteen
Axel
Aswarm of butterflies took flight in my gut when I arrived at the arena for a game in early December. We were facing our new arch-rivals, the Seattle Kraken. The rivalry between Pacific Northwest cities was no surprise, and it was the night I'd been thinking about and planning for weeks. Now that it had arrived, my nerves were on edge.
I entered the locker room without fanfare. The usual shenanigans took place around me—hidden stick tape, day-glo skate laces, and snarky comments about unfortunate haircuts. None of it fazed me. Instead, I quietly sat by my stall and began to change into my gear.
While finishing a chat nearby, Quinn noticed my quiet behavior and failure to say hello. He crouched beside me with a familiar, concerned expression. "You alright, Axel?" His gentle, caring voice was always there for me. "You seem a little off."
I looked up. The warmth in his approach made me want to tell him everything, releasing the weight of my plans off my shoulders, but I couldn't ruin his surprise. "Yeah, I'm fine," I insisted. "Just trying to keep my focus on the game with all the crazy shit around."
He nodded slowly, and I knew I'd not convinced him. "Remember, you can talk to me anytime, and let me know if something's bothering you." He reached out a fist, and I bumped it with mine. "Together."
I bit my lip.
Quinn stared at me a few seconds longer. "Okay, well, I'm heading to the ice for some warmup skating. Please join me when you're ready."
"Will do." As he left, I did my best to add my voice to some joking chatter around me, but I couldn't concentrate. Instead, I ran through my plan in my head for the hundredth time.
When I finally hit the ice, the roar of the early arrival fans swept over me, helping dissipate my nervous energy. On the rink, I was always in my comfort zone. The ice beneath my blades was like an old friend, consistently there for me, smooth and solid.
When it was time for the opening face-off, the referee dropped the puck, and I threw myself into the game. The swoosh of blades cutting into the ice surrounded me. Along with the clatter of sticks and heavy breathing of teammates, it crowded out the drone of the crowd.
Quinn zipped past me into the opponents' zone. He was a blur of energy, his movements perfectly blending speed and precision. The entire team moved in sync. After a few quickpasses and a deft dodge left by our forward, the puck was in the net for our first goal. The arena erupted with bone-rattling cheers.
"Great pass to kick that off, Axel!" Quinn shouted over the noise. "Let's keep it going."
I nodded and grinned. "You got it. Only the beginning."
While we continued our pitch-perfect play, I lost myself in the surrounding sights and sounds. The scoreboard's flashing lights, the fans' chants, and the thunderous applause when we scored a goal fueled my smile.
During a time out, I skated over to the bench, working at catching my breath. Quinn threw an arm around my shoulders. "We're killing it out there."
"You bet." I reached out and patted his belly with my glove. "We've just gotta keep our heads in the game, and we've got this."
We kept to our game plan as the game continued, and our lead increased. We had the Kraken back on their heels. They pushed hard and tried to turn the tide with a few planned hard checks against the boards. I was one victim, but I stood firm and continued clearing the puck from our zone with dependable precision.
"Watch your left, Axel!" Quinn shouted to me. The Kraken's veteran forward tried to maneuver around me, but I was too quick for him. I stole the puck and sent it back across the center line.
Quinn caught the puck like it was a routine drill. He weaved past the defenders, and the crowd yelled louder as he approached the goal.
"Shoot!" I yelled.
