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"No arguree, and nestle in so I can indeed watch my honey kick some ass on the ice

Chapter 21

Garrett

My legs are burning Feels like fucking lava flowing through my quads My line has already been out here for close to fifty seconds, but there hasn't been a sufficient break in the action to allow us to change up

This has been a hard-fought gaainst the Demonsthe second LA team we've played this week Every time they've scored, we've answered, but we haven't been able to pull ahead As the finalon their reserve fuel tanks, and I'd kill for someone to just ice the puck so the whistle will blow

Instead, a greater wish is granted to me

The Deer and it's als I pick the puck cleanly, and the first thing that flashes throughI think about is Oliviawondering if she's screa while she watches from her apartment

Just the thought of her givesht side Alex calls out from behind--on your heels--so I know someone's hot on my ass and Alex will be supportive down the middle

I close in on the goalie, a big, burly bastard who takes up too much of the net The Demon behind me reaches out in a half-assed attempt to hook me, but the blade of his stick scrapes har his stick and calling, "Dump it" He's an option, but I don't need hiether that I know he's doing that to get the De said Demon to commit to him instead

It works because I can literally feel his presence drop back and then it's justfor the upper pocket, and when the goalie stretches his frah the five-hole, clean into the net

The red light goes off, Alex practically tackles me from behind, and then I'm swamped by my other teammates And while this is usually one of ht is of Olivia and how I iht now

--

I walk out of the locker room shower, one towel around my waist and another over my shoulders, and I use one end to rub over my hair

"Dudeyou were on fire tonight," Alex says as I walk up to my locker, which sits next to his He's already half dressed, but I take my time I know the bus that will take us back to the hotel won't be leaving for at least another half hour, as so ice baths for their joints

Dropping the towel around my waist, I pull on my underwear and then sit down on the bench "Thanks, man"

Reaching for my phone, I turn it on and wait for it to boot up so I can check er to see what Olivia has left for ame the day before yesterday, I turned le exciting play that I had ood forecheck or it could have been an assist or goal, but her texts made me feel awesome

Holy hell, babe You are a

You totally smoked that douche

Can you hearfrom across the nation?

You are so hot on the ice I' it :)

My screen pops up, a photo of ether at Busch Gardens Her arms are wrapped around my waist, mine around her shoulders, the fronts of our bodies pressed in tight Our faces are turned toward the camera and my chin rests on top of her head Both of our smiles are a mile wide, and it's probably the best representation of what my relationship with Olivia has been like so far Fun, thrilling, co, of course, the parts that have been terrifying and stressful

Hitting the text icon, I'es from her In fact, there's been no response to the text I sent her just before the game A quick Miss you text

It's unlike her to ignore a text fro each other during aps e couldn't talk on the phone A small flicker of unease settles in my stomach, and never once do I even consider that she's purposely ignoring me That's not Olivia's style

Maybe she's having a rough night I mean, she had her second round of chemo just yesterday, so h, and she said her nausea had been well controlled but that she was feeling more tired than norame

I type out a quick text Are you okay?

After I hit "send," I set the phone down and start to get dressed, the general locker roo okay While I've had ah I know there's not much I could do for her if I was there, and I know she's well taken care of by her friends, it still chafes at irlfriend has cancer and I'm not there by her side when she needs me the most

"So, et my attention

I shoot hilance and let my eyes drop back down to the buttons of ood"