Page 58 of Love of the Game
He barked a laugh. “Yeah. Figured that out a while ago. But I didn’t want to scare you with proposing at some weird moment.”
“Like in a hospital?”
He gave me a gentle shove. “Exactly.”
Eventually, Gunner came back, and after a while, Jon’s doctor showed up and we got the schedule for his release and what needed to happen next, and a whole list of post-op items, including a visiting nurse who’d check up on him. Medications. You named it. Jon was exhausted by the end. “Fucking anesthesia. I always feel like I’m missing half my brain afterward.”
“How’d we notice?” I quipped, and he gave me another shove.
“Just for that,” Jon said, “can you go get me a coffee? A real one? There’s a coffee shop on the first floor.”
“God, yes,” I said. “Could use one, too. Gunner?”
“If you don’t mind, may I come along?”
And that’s how I ended up in an elevator with a living hockey legend. Whose son I was going to marry. I didn’t know what to say.
Gunner seemed tired but amused. “I took a red-eye to get here. I have no idea the time, except that I want to sleep, but can’t. Coffee will help.” His gaze met mine. “You’ve been so good for him. I’m very grateful for that.”
“I—” I shook my head. “Truth is, he’s been good for me. This is—I owe him this. I love him. This is a small thing.”
Gunner nodded. “Believe me, I understand that.”
That was a scary thought, because I wasn’t sure I did. We collected our coffees and headed back up to Jon’s room.
I’d like to say that soon after, we were able to take Jon to my place, but it took several more hours for him to be released, and it was past dinner time when we finally got back to the apartment that contained two very confused cats. They were as happy to see Jon as he was to see them, and he ended up in the living room talking to his father while Loki and Thor sat on him. I ordered takeout from a local Thai restaurant, and we eventually ate.
A yawning Gunner headed back to his hotel, leaving me with Jon and the cats. I joined him on the couch.
“Thank you,” Jon said. “So much. For everything. The cats. My laptop and clothing. Even the food you rescued.” He rubbed his head. “It’s a lot. Right after a game. Right before another.”
“You’d do exactly the same for me.”
“I would.” We met each other’s gazes, and I wrapped an arm—carefully—around him. “You should rest.”
“Drake?” Jon’s voice sounded small.
“Yeah, babe?”
“Don’t make me sleep in the guest room alone. I know maybe I should, but I’ve missed you, and I feel awful, and I just?—”
“Of course.” I wasn’t going to argue with him. “I’ll try not to roll around too much.”
Jon snorted. “Gone for a couple months, and you’ve forgotten that Loki and Thor are going to sandwich you in place.”
I helped Jon clean himself up, got his ice bath machine running, and once that was done, we crawled into bed. The cats followed, and yes, they sandwiched me in place.
“I love you, Drake Williams,” Jon said. “I fully intend to marry you and have lots of dinner dates for the rest of our lives.”
I knew it wasn’t the pain meds talking.
“I want that,” I said. “Whenever you’re ready.”
He laughed. “Oh God. Such pressure.”
I found his hand under the covers. “Not at all. We’ll know when it’s time. Just like everything else.”
“God,” he murmured again. “Yeah. Okay.” The last bit was a whisper, and I was pretty sure he was asleep after that.
