Axel (Carolina Reapers 1)

“You’ll do amazing,” I said, resisting the urge to squeal about his opportunity.

“I’m not rooting for Thurston to get hurt,” he said, standing from the bench and hanging the jersey behind him. He shook his head again when he saw his name on the locker itself.

“I’m not either,” I said, smacking his shoulder. “But you could at least be excited about this. If Gage gets to see you play—”

“This,” he cut me off, motioning to the Reapers jersey. “Is the closest I’ll ever get to the NHL, Langley.” He sighed, running his hand over his cropped, brown hair. “And I’m fine with that. I can’t believe you had him add that clause, Faith.” His eyes were soft, but his brow furrowed when he looked at his previous roommate.

“What?” she shrugged. “It was actually Eric’s idea. I called him, and he told me to make sure you had a try-out clause. You can’t get mad at a girl for wanting the best for one of her closest friends, Sawyer.”

“I’m not mad.” He stripped off his shirt with little fuss and opened his gear bag.

I got an eyeful of cut abs and smooth skin before I looked away. Apparently, Faith and Harper were used to it because they carried on the conversation like the guy wasn’t half naked.

“Good,” Harper stated matter-of-factly. “Because that clause means if you play tonight, you’re automatically invited to try out for next year’s roster. It was a stroke of genius, Faith.”

“Thank you, Harper, I was quite proud of Eric for suggesting it.”

Sawyer pulled on a fitted Under Armour tee, and I stopped averting my eyes. I’d never felt awkward in a hockey locker room, especially given my job, but I’d also never been someone’s wife before.

God, if I could sit in the locker room and watch my husband strip? I’d watch that show all night long.

“I’m just done with pipe dreams,” Sawyer said to the girls. “This night is amazing, and I’ll never be able to thank you enough for it. But I’m also a realist. Have to say, it means a hell of a lot that you two are here.” He smiled at me, “You, too, Langley.”

“We wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Faith stood and threw her arms around her friend. “Even if our guys weren’t the ones you were suiting up with, we’d be here for you.”

“We’re really glad it is, though, because statistically—” Sawyer pulled Harper into their group hug, effectively muffling whatever data she was about to ramble off.

“Sorry, Langley, no hug for you. Your husband is fucking terrifying,” Sawyer said with a grin over the girls’ heads. Guy was almost as tall as Axel, which was saying something.

The locker room doors burst open, and Gage glared at us as players filed in.

“We were just leaving!” Faith squeaked, slapping Lukas’ ass on the way out.

“Drinks after the game!” Sawyer called out, and Faith threw a thumbs up.

“Damn straight,” Lukas answered, slapping Sawyer on the back. “Damn, it’s good to see your face!” Sawyer was swamped with Reaper support, and I smiled.

Harper stole a kiss when Noble walked by.

Not a bad idea.

My husband walked in, all tall and gorgeous and sporting a shadow beard that made me wonder how it would feel against my thighs.

“What are you doing—”

I silenced his question with a kiss, loving that he leaned down before I even rose up. It was quick, soft, and chaste, but packed with meaning.

“Mooneyes!” Gage accused.

“Yeah, yeah!” I called over my shoulder. “Break some Shark hearts tonight, would you?” I asked Axel, letting my finger brush over his wedding band.

“Just because you asked so nicely,” he murmured.

“Get out of here Nyström!” Gage barked.

Axel’s eyes swung his direction.

“Not you, the other one!” Gage clarified.

I winked at my husband and suddenly felt a hell of a lot less awkward in Shark territory as I walked out of the locker room. It didn’t hit me until I found Faith and Harper that I hadn’t corrected Gage that time.

* * *

A couple of hours later, I left the Reapers to celebrate their win—some past and present Sharks gathering to catch up—and headed toward the one place I’d wanted to go since touching down in Seattle. Dread coiled in my stomach like a cold spring, but the reward would be beyond worth enduring the sight of my ex.

I reminded myself of that fact ten times on the elevator ride up to his flat.

What used to be our place, though I’d kept my own apartment close to the office in the instances of those long work nights. Kind of like I did in Charleston—but I hadn’t slept there once since marrying Axel. The most time I spent in the place was to grab items I wanted to move into the house.

Our home.

Axel’s and mine.

A ripple of warmth licked my skin, making my insides clench with want.