Page 84 of Breakout
She does as I ask. I fit my stuff inside before going to the passenger seat.
The hotel isn’t a far drive. We could have honestly walked, but I’m glad we didn’t. Boston at night isn’t always the safest place to be, and I’d rather not risk Peyton. Not when I’m not one hundred percent.
Once we park at the hotel, I meet her at the front of the car, wrapping my arm around her in spite of the pain.
I keep waiting for her to tell me to not touch her. That someone will get the wrong idea, but she doesn’t say a word. Instead, she leads me to the elevator, selecting a floor.
“I’m on the eighteenth,” I tell her.
She looks up at me. “I’m on the fourteenth. I figured you’d stay with me tonight. Kellan is with Cora.”
I wince as I think about how painful it will be to have sex, but I’m willing to suck it up for her. Anything for her.
“Yeah. You might have to do some of the work, but I’ll stay,” I tell her.
She frowns at me as the elevator dings open. “We aren’t having sex, Beck. You’re hurt.”
“Oh.” I follow her to the room, watching as she unlocks it. “I thought with the rules and all.”
She lets me inside the room, closing the door behind me. “Don’t be dense. The rules haven’t been followed for a long time.”
I swallow hard at her words. Could that mean she is actually falling for me? Is this real?
She squashes all hope with the next sentence. “At least as long as we are married, they haven’t been. Go get comfy. I’ll order room service, and then we can watch a movie.”
I do as she asks, listening as she orders some burgers with fries. I strip out of my clothes until I’m down to my boxers. Then I climb onto the bed under the blankets.
When she’s done, she moves around the room as she strips down. She leaves my jersey on but pulls her pants and bra off. Then she climbs on the bed next to me, handing me the remote.
Then her hands trace the bandages on my ribs.
“What’s the diagnosis?” she asks.
“Bruised ribs. It will hurt for a bit, but it will go away. I’ll be fine.”
She nods before leaning down and placing light kisses along the bandages.
It chokes me up a bit. I know logically it’s doing nothing, but I feel like I’m being healed with each touch of her lips.
When she’s done, she settles on my chest. “All better.”
I don’t argue with her. I do feel all better, and it’s all because of the woman in my arms.
eighteen
Bass thumps through the speakers as more bodies filter into the house.
This is insane.
Parties at the hockey house are always crowded, but tonight it’s next level.
“Is it just me, or is it a little too crowded?” Cora asks when I come to a stop next to her.
“It’s not just you. I was just thinking the same thing,” I admit.
“How have you been, roomie?” She leans on the counter next to me as we look out the back door at all the bodies.
“I’ve been all right. You? I haven’t seen you very much lately.”
