“Two.”
“What month is it?”
“March.” My brain’s working better now, faster. “We played Edmonton. I got hit. You came for me even though you’re mad at me.”
“I’m not mad.”
“You should be. I fucked up.”
“We can talk about this tomorrow.”
“No. Need to say it now.” I catch her hand and hold it against my chest so she can feel my heartbeat. “I love your hands. They’re perfect. Small and strong and they always know how to fix people. How to make them feel better. You do that for me. Make me feel better just by existing.”
She’s blinking away tears.
“I love the way you smell. I steal your shampoo sometimes just so I can smell like you.”
“Romeo—”
“I love your laugh. The real one. Not the polite one you do for other people. The one that takes over your whole face. The one you tried to hide from me at first.” The words won’t stop pouring out. “I love that you’re patient with those kids when they’re being brats. I love you even though you put ketchup on hot dogs.”
“Oh my god. You’re ridiculous.”
“It’s a serious character flaw, JuJu. I’ve chosen to overlook it.”
She laughs. The sound cuts through the pain in my head like light through fog. “You’re concussed and you’re still mad about the ketchup?”
“I will be mad about the ketchup forever. I will love you forever, too.”
“Go back to sleep,” she says.
“Kiss me first. Just one kiss. Please.”
She leans down and presses her lips to mine. Soft, gentle, it’s over too soon.
But it’s enough. For now it’s enough.
I close my eyes and let sleep pull me under again.
Four AM.
The alarm wakes us both. I can feel her moving, trying to reach for her phone without disturbing me.
“M’awake,” I mumble.
“How do you feel?”
Better than I did two hours ago. The room’s not spinning anymore. My thoughts feel clearer, more organized.
“Better. Still hurts but better.”
“Good.” She turns to face me and studies my face in the dim light. “Where are we?”
“My apartment. You brought me home from the game. Stayed with me because I have a concussion and someone needs to watch me.”
“What game were you playing?”
“Edmonton. Home ice. I was playing like shit. Got hit in the second period.” I reach up and trace my fingers through her hair. It’s a mess. I probably did that. “We left before the game ended. Don’t know if we won.”
