by Hughes, Maya
Now coming home to silence filled me with unease. I loved walking in to her talking on the phone, watching TV, or jamming to some study tunes while she went through her coursework for her summer classes.
She still worked hard, but she didn’t have to chain herself to her desk. We explored the city. I’d grown up here, but I’d never seen half the tourist attractions. The zoo, cannoli at the Reading Terminal Market and extensive research into the best cheesesteak in town were at the top of the list. So far it was a tie between Jim’s and Woodrow’s Sandwich Shop.
With her hand in mine, I didn’t care if we were in the middle of a bustling restaurant or sitting at home on the couch. Anywhere with her was where I wanted to be.
The rest of the guys had been busy. Emmett and Avery were preparing for the wedding of the century later in the summer, and Declan and Mak squeezed in a quick trip before she went back to med school. Kara got invited to a summer writer’s residency up in New York, so Heath tagged along. It had been ages since we’d had a Kings friendly match.
“What took you so long?” Declan called from the ice.
Heath whipped around the rink at Mach 5, always a bundle of energy.
A loud curse echoed off the rafters of the practice rink. Skates sliced across the ice, and the seriously pissed-off face of Colm appeared between the open doors to the rink.
“Is this your bullshit attempt to get us to kiss and make up?” Colm threw his stick down into the box, and it cracked off the side of the bench.
“I don’t want to fight with you.” I held up my hands.
“Maybe I want to fight with you.” His words were clipped and spit like nails.
The rest of the guys stood behind him on the ice like they were on the way to a funeral. Maybe they were. Maybe it was the death of the Kings as we knew them.
“Where’s Olivia?” He jerked off his glove and threw it down.
“She’s not here.” I backed up, waving my hands in front of me.
“Where is she?” he growled.
“She misses you, man.”
He dropped his other glove and looked over his shoulder. I thought maybe he’d come to his senses. Instead he whipped back around and charged at me. His glance back had been to make sure the guys were far enough back so he could get to me, but this time I was ready for him. He threw the first punch, and I leaned back, dodging it.
“Colm, stop, damn it. She’s home.” At least until we decided to move somewhere else.
His face contorted, and this wasn’t the Colm I’d grown up with, the one who’d taken me under his wing as a freshman in high school. This was a wounded animal. He rushed toward me, slamming his shoulder into my stomach. I tucked my hand under his arm and shoved him away to avoid engaging in a fistfight.
There was a sickening crunch and a howl. One of his legs stuck up out of the top of the box. My brain raced to piece it all together. When I’d shoved him, he must have fallen back over the wall to the box. Peering over the waist-high wall Colm had flipped over, I stared down at him, wide-eyed.
He clutched his knee, shouting. Bile rose in my throat. I’d probably just ended his career. My hands shook. I rushed toward him.
I slid my hands under his arms to try to lift him.
“Get your fucking hands off me,” he yelled, writhing in pain. The rest of the guys crowded in.
“It’s okay, man. We’ve got this.” Heath put his hand on my shoulder, looking more serious than I’d seen him look in a long time. I backed up and let them get Colm to his feet. Declan ran off and came back a few minutes later with Bailey, our team physical therapist, while I stood there helpless with my hands braced behind my head.
They got him strapped into a stretcher and out to an ambulance. His eyes caught mine, and he looked ready to jump up and break my nose. I was pretty sure he would’ve if he hadn’t been strapped down. Emmett went along with him. Heath, Declan, and I stood there shell-shocked as the ambulance drove away.
“We all saw what happened. No one blames you.” Declan turned to me with somber eyes.
“I shouldn’t have pushed him.”
“He shouldn’t have charged you, especially not when he’s only been back on the ice for a few weeks.”
“Shit, man, what the hell do I tell Liv?”
Heath looked over at me. “The truth.”
I nodded and we all got changed in silence. This wasn’t how the day was supposed to go.
“We’re heading to the hospital. We’ll let you know the news.”
The drive back to my apartment was the longest in history, other than when I’d rushed to Liv’s apartment the night of the fire. Each notch on my key sounded like an anvil dropping. I turned the knob and walked inside.
Music played on the Bluetooth speakers, and Liv’s voice filled the room. I turned the corner to the kitchen where she danced around, singing into her spatula. My lips tilted up.
She spun around and her eyes lit up. Looping her arms around my neck, she stood on her tiptoes.
“What’s wrong?” Her gaze ran over my face.
“Colm was there.”
Her arms dropped from around my neck. “How is he?” She rubbed her fingers along the back of her hand.
“Hurt. He got injured.”
Her eyes widened. “What? What happened?”
I relayed the whole story to her after she grabbed me a beer and sat down on the arm of the couch beside me.
“It doesn’t sound like it was your fault. Colm’s going through some stuff.” She stared up at the ceiling. “Maybe I should go to the hospital to see him.” She squeezed her hands in her lap.
“Emmett, Declan, and Heath are all there now, and they said they’d send over an update once they knew something.”
My stomach churned. What did she think of me? I’d not only alienated her from her brother, but now I’d put him in the hospital.
“Hey.” She grabbed my chin and turned my face toward her. “I don’t blame you. I know you’d never intentionally try to hurt him. It’s his fault for flying off the handle.” She ran her fingers along the scruff on my cheeks. “I love you, and nothing is going to change that.” Leaning into me, she pressed her mouth against mine. Parting her lips, she let me inside, opening herself to me, and I drank down her beauty one gulp at a time. “He’ll be okay. It’s just going to take some time.”
I ran my hand along her hair. “I hope you’re right.”
40
Liv
“Roll up your sleeves, you cheater.” I lunged across the table and grabbed at Grant’s arm. My fingers caught on the end of his sleeve.
“I’ll do no such thing. How long have we known each other, Liver? How could you ever think I’d do something like that?”
“Sylvia—”
“You’re going to call my mom on me?”
I tugged harder on his sleeve. The jingle of Scrabble tiles was a dead giveaway.
“How did those get in there?” His eyes widened in mock shock.
I pursed my lips and held out my hand as he shook his contraband out onto the table. “It seems the Scrabble tile fairy decided to pay you a visit, huh?”
“Must have.” He whistled and stared up at the ceiling.
“Did someone call my name?” Sylvia breezed into the kitchen and checked in the oven. The double chocolate chunk brownies baking inside made my mouth water. She used a knife to test their doneness.
“Nope. It was Liv sneezing.” Grant gave me the death stare that only came from daring your friend to get you in trouble with your mom.
“And it had nothing to do with you cheating at Scrabble?” She pulled the knife out of the center of the brownie pan and set them on the counter.
His mouth dropped open.
The click of the front door saved him from a sputtering excuse. Ford walked into the kitchen. His T-shirt stretched tightly across his broad chest, and I wanted to climb him like a tree.
“Look who I found outside.” He held out his arm.
The tall, la
nky brunette popped her head out into the doorway with a huge smile on her face. Grant rushed over to her, nearly knocking me into the table. What am I, chopped liver?
He wrapped his arms around her and swung her around.
Ford shook his head and laughed before making his way over to me. He planted a toe-curling kiss on me.
I pressed my hands against his chest and broke the connection. Panting, I stared into his eyes. Practices had started up again, which meant our lazy days at home were over.
“Could everyone stop making out with their significant others so we could eat?”
Sylvia spoke to us with her back turned.
“Let me help you with that,” Grant and Ford said at the same time.
“By all means, boys.” She stepped back from the counter and let the two of them get everything ready for dinner. Sitting at the table, she poured me and Laura some white wine.
“You two need to come to dinner every night, if it gets them doing all the work.” Sylvia winked and took a sip of her wine.
Laura leaned in, glancing between us like we were planning a heist. “I say next time, we get them to cook.”
Sylvia threw her head back. “I knew I liked you.”
The guys brought over the dishes, and we all sat down, devouring the meal Sylvia had made for us. My stomach had been rumbling after my four back-to-back classes at the studio.
Across the table, Grant and Laura were exchanging little glances and touches. My heart filled with the feeling that only came from truly being so happy for someone else’s happiness.
“They’re good together.” Ford’s words caressed the shell of my ear.
“I know.” I held out my fork and gave him the last bite of my lasagna.
“You’re just trying to fill me up so I won’t be able to eat brownies.”
I touched my hand to my chest and gasped. “I would never do such a thing.”
He laughed.
Sylvia pushed her chair back from the table. “Everyone ready for more?” She picked up the plate piled high with brownies.
“More than ready.” Ford threaded his fingers through mine under the table and squeezed my hand.
* * *
Ford’s arms wrapped around me, wrinkling the navy fabric of my dress. His smell washed over me as he peppered my neck with kisses. I held on to his arms, rocking back and forth to the music from the speakers.
“We should’ve stayed home.” He tucked some of my hair behind my ear and stared into my eyes like he was ready to take a bite out of me.
My stomach flipped, and I squeezed my thighs together. The beard burn between my legs sent a sweet, throbbing ache pulsing through me. Flickers of pleasure tingled along my skin. My fingers tightened along Ford’s back.
“You have to stop doing that to me.” He dipped his head, bringing his nose an inch from mine. His thumbs rubbed against the sides of my face with a fire burning in his eyes, and I nearly fanned myself.
“What did I do?” I stared up at him with all the innocence I could manage.
His fingers slipped under the fabric of my backless dress. The lace around my hips tightened as his hand ran down over the curve of my ass, palming it and squeezing me tighter against him.
“You know exactly what you do to me.” The insistent nudge at the front of his pants increased, pressing into my stomach. My mouth watered, wanting to taste him.
“Hey, enough of that. We don’t need another one of those videos going around,” Heath called out from the top of the steps.
Ford’s arm tensed around me, and he slid his hand out from under my dress.
I ran my hands along his shoulders. “It was a joke.”
Kara followed Heath down the stairs, her pale blue dress flowing with each step. Emmett and Avery burst out of the kitchen, his mouth covered in lipstick smudges. The left side of his hair stuck straight up, and Avery reached up to pat it down, her cheeks glowing a non-blush-colored pink. I couldn’t tell if it was from her near mauling or embarrassment—probably a combination of both.
The front door opened, and Declan held it open. “Hurry up, the car’s waiting.” All the ladies grabbed their bags, and the guys picked up their suit jackets.
“We’re one staircase picture away from looking like we’re headed to prom.” Mak laughed from inside the limo, her hand on the open door as it idled curbside.
The guys exchanged looks, and we all went right back inside the house. The limo driver was nice enough to serve as the cameraman for the couples shots, along with the all-guys and all-girls pictures with us standing along the staircase. I knew they would look good on my wall of pictures, the new memories I was making with my new family.
With tears of laughter in my eyes, I slid into the limo sandwiched between Emmett and Ford. “I can’t believe you made us do that.”
Mak tapped away on her phone. “I ordered five framed prints, and they’ll be delivered by the end of this week.” She leaned back and ran her hand along Declan’s leg.
The slow realization of why she’d ordered five sent silence creeping through the car. She looked up, her eyes darting to me and Ford.
“Sorry.” She shoved her phone into her bag. “Have you spoken to him?”
I shook my head. It had been almost three months. Classes started again for me in a few days. “Every time I try, he shuts me out.” Ford tightened his hold on my shoulder, his touch keeping the sadness at bay.
“Did Bailey ever get him to take his new rehab seriously?” Mak scooted to the edge of her seat.
“They’ll cut him if he can’t get back on the ice by mid-season.” Heath’s usually sunny voice cast a darker cloud over our group.
“His voice mail box is totally full. He won’t respond to any messages.” I stared into the eyes of everyone there, and they had the same lost look I had in mine.
“He needs someone from outside to get his ass in gear.” Declan threaded his fingers through Mak’s, and she held them on her lap.
“What about Imogen?” Avery’s head popped up from Emmett’s shoulder.
“Imogen?” Kara’s eyebrows shot up.
“She just finished her training as a physical therapist and rehab specialist. She went back to school after…after Preston.” Declan’s last words came out as a hoarse whisper.
“After all she’s been through, you want to subject her to a surly and pissed-off Colm?” Heath settled his hand on Kara’s lap.
“What’s the other option? Do we let him sulk and be an asshole to the point that he throws his career away? Or do we go for a Hail Mary pass that maybe she can knock some sense into him?” Declan looked to me, then Ford. “She’s the one person he might not automatically snap at.”
I stared up at Ford and the grim set of his mouth. The night had started off so well, but it was always something in the back of our minds. I’d hoped Colm would come around like Grant, but he seemed bound and determined not to even speak to us—hell, to any of the Kings, let alone try to reconcile with me or Ford.
Ford looked to me and nodded. “Call her, if you think she can help.”
I stared into Ford’s eyes before turning to Declan.
“We can call her tomorrow.” Mak offered a weak smile.
The limo pulled up to the entrance of the art museum. A red carpet covered the stone steps and photographers lined the path up to the massive bronze double doors at the top of the staircase.
“Here goes nothing.” Emmett shouldered the door open and held out his hand for Avery. She took it and stepped up.
The tension in Ford’s body radiated off him. I ran my hand over the back of his hand and laced my fingers through his. His hate for these events had lessened recently, especially when it was for charity. But it still wasn’t easy for him.
“It’ll be okay.” I smiled at him and scooted closer to the door.
He tugged me back against his chest. Everyone else climbed out, and flashes from the cameras filled the limo with light every few seconds.
I looked over my
shoulder at him. His eyes were fixed outside the limo through the partially closed door. The rest of the Kings and their queens stood outside the door, waiting for us.
Turning, I ran my fingers along his chin and pulled him closer. “Don’t worry about the cameras or the people screaming your name. You can do this.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he locked eyes with me. The tension creasing his forehead eased some, and his pulse, which was pounding against my hold on his hands, slowed. “I love you, Liv.”
“I know.” I grinned and shifted on the seat.
He pulled me back. “That’s all you’ve got to say to me?” Growling against my ear, his fingers tightened around my waist.
“We don’t want to keep your adoring fans waiting.” Slipping out of his grasp, I hopped out of the limo. Ford followed behind me, his presence unmistakable, along with the laser lock of his gaze.
Our group climbed the stairs of the museum. The guys were directed down the line of reporters and cameramen by the event organizers. Ford had microphones shoved in front of his face and answered each question, but his eyes never left me.
Kara, Mak, Avery, and I walked alongside them, soaking up the energy of the crowd.
“They look good, don’t they?” Kara sighed with a dreamy look in her eyes. Heath winked at her over his shoulder.
“They clean up nice. Maybe next time I won’t have to bribe Declan into a suit.” Mak clasped her hands around her clutch in front of her.
“More like bribe him out of one. I swear Emmett was born in a tux.” Avery tugged at the fitted waist of her dress. She’d have shown up in jeans and a T-shirt if she could have.
Ford glanced over his shoulder, his eyes promising retribution for my love snub. I welcomed it. My smile widened as he walked over to me, holding out his arm for me to take while we entered the gala.
Bypassing our table, he led me out onto the dance floor. One hand traced the small of my exposed back, the other holding my hand. I held on to his shoulder, my heels bringing me up to chin height.