AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Are you sure you'regood?" Kris asks for the millionth time, watching me carefully as I walk with the team toward their entrance before the game. They've got five minutes until they hit the ice, and he's stressing out.
I couldn't keep much down today. Just the smell of food made my stomach churn. I've slept on and off all day, but I'm still tired. I don't tell Kris that, though. Right now, his attention needs to be on the game. We can worry about me after they win, and we're back on the plane, heading home.
"I'm fine, Kris." I turn a smile up at him. "I'm just nervous about the game."
He narrows his eyes, letting me know he doesn't believe me, but he doesn't push for an explanation. Instead, he pulls me to a stop against the wall, letting the rest of the team stream past us. Wes and Theo shoot us concerned looks, but Kris jerks his head toward the ice, letting them know to keep going.
"I want you to move in with me when we get back to Nashville," he murmurs once everyone has passed.
I blink up at him.
"Before you say no, you should know that it's because I don't want to sleep without you ever again." He tips my chin back, placing little kisses against the corners of my mouth. "I need to hold you in my arms as often as possible, princess. Last night was perfect."
"It was perfect," I whisper. Falling asleep on his chest and then waking up in his arms was the single greatest memory of my life next to him telling me that he's in love with me. I'll cherish it for the rest of my life. On the days when everything sucks, that's the memory I'll replay. That will be the one that instantly makes the whole world feel a little bit brighter.
"Then move in with me." He nibbles at my lips, quickly overwhelming my senses. "Make perfection a daily thing."
I hesitate for a split second, not because I don't want to say yes, but because a wave of dizziness rolls through me. I fight it back, trying not to let him see it. I press my face into his throat and take a deep breath.
"Princess?"
"Yes," I whisper, shaking the feeling off. I pull back, forcing myself to focus on Kris. He's staring at me in a mix of concern and joy. "Yes, I'll move in with you."
"Fuck," he breathes, his shoulders drooping as relief washes through his expression. He scoops me up into a hug, pressing his lips to mine in a hard kiss. "I'll find movers tomorrow.Hopefully, we'll have you moved by the time you see the hematologist next week."
My stomach flutters with nerves at the reminder that I'm going to the hematologist on Monday. One way or another, we'll know in a few short days whether I'm falling out of remission again. I'll know if I've made it to four years this time or if the clock stops for me again.
Please, don't let it stop, I pray.Please, don't let me be falling out of remission. I know it's a lot to ask when God already gave me Kris…but I'm greedy enough to ask anyway.
"Time to go, Kris!" Wes shouts from the mouth of the hallway.
Kris glances in his direction and then looks back down at me, his expression worried. "Take it easy tonight, princess," he orders. "If you need help handling anything, ask Jamie. She's here for Jonas. She can help you."
"I'll be fine," I say. "Stop worrying about me, and go win."
He stares at me for a long moment and then smiles. "I already won, Kelsey."
My heart flutters as he presses his lips to mine and then turns and heads toward Wes and the rest of the team. How did I ever think I could resist him?
"Why don't you learnto watch the freaking ice!" Laney shouts, scowling daggers at the ref who just threw Wes in the penalty box—or the naughtybox as she calls it—for interference. Jay Sevier from the Wilds intentionally ran into him, and Wes stopped him. The ref made a bad call.
Wes throws himself into the box, shouting what I imagine are obscenities. He's a hothead on the ice. He doesn't take any crap and plays aggressively. I almost feel sorry for Jay when he gets out of the box. Until Jay skates by the box and salutes Wes.
"Oh, I can't stand him," Laney growls, throwing herself back onto the bench beside me. "He did that on purpose."
"Yep," I agree, shaking my head. The game has been neck and neck for most of the night, but we're finally up by one with ten minutes left in the third. The Wild is doing everything possible to keep one of our guys in the box and out of the way. Tempers are flaring.
Even Kris is getting pissed, and he's usually the most levelheaded one on the ice.
"I hope Wes uses him as a puck when he gets out of the box," Laney mumbles.
When I laugh, she shrugs ruefully. "Maybe it makes me slightly crazy when they try to mess with him. I know he can take care of himself. He proves it every time he's on the ice, but it still makes me mad, you know?"
"I get it." I smile at her. "I threaten to kill them daily, but no one else is allowed to do it."
"Exactly!" she cries. "He's driving me nuts with that stupid baby book, but we're the only ones allowed to bully him."
My heart twinges as soon as she mentions the baby book. She's not showing yet, so it's easy to forget that she's pregnant sometimes. She's not in your face about it like some women are. I'm so happy for her and Wes. But I can be happy for her and Wes and be a little sad for me, too. They aren't mutually exclusive emotions. They don't exist in a vacuum. We'reallowed to celebrate with our friends and grieve for ourselves simultaneously.
