39. Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Thirty-Nine

T he first thing I remember after was waking up in a hospital bed with the steady beep sounding around the room. I wince when I open my eyes, hoping the room isn't too bright. My boys must have already thought of that because the room is warmly lit, and I can see the bright daylight mostly blocked behind the curtains.

When I finally focus, I see there are eight bodies slumped around the room. Dean and Mac are on either side of the bed, their heads resting on the edge of my bed. Each has a hand on my thighs. I can't stop myself from weaving my fingers into their hair.

Dark, licorice locks cover my right hand as wavy dark chocolate strands cover my left. Damn, I love their hair. How do they keep it so soft and fluffy? They start to stir under my touch, and their eyes slowly open.

"Morning, sleeping beauties," I say in a rough whisper.

Their eyes pop before Dean jerks up with a shout. "You're awake!"

I wince, and Mac swats him with a grunt. "Stay quiet, you asshole!"

Dean looks thoroughly chastised as he whispers, "Sorry, Liz."

"You guys look rough. How long have I been out?" I grunt as I try to sit up in the bed.

Mac jumps up to press a button on the side of the bed. It slowly lifts, and I don't have to work so hard to sit up. "You've been out for a few days. The doctors said you needed the rest, and they set up an IV for nutrition stuff."

I grin at his description. "IV nutrition stuff?"

He shrugs with a small smirk. "I guard a post and hit hockey pucks."

I hear shuffling and notice the others moving in closer. There are two people in particular I notice missing. "Maxy and Fenni!" My eyes widen in realization that Samantha and Dannielle were supposed to be induced a few days ago.

Taz smiles. "They're good. The babies are great, and Moms are healthy. They wanted to wait for you to wake up before they visited."

"Right, that makes sense. What is today?" I have no sense of days or how long I'd been gone.

"It's been about a week and a half since you were kidnaped and brought to the hospital. You've only been here for three or four days, I think," Dean says helpfully.

I groan and close my eyes. "You've had two games since then."

"Don't worry. Danni has been taking care of us. She says your notes are always helpful," Vicy says from his spot on the edge of the bed.

It's been weeks since the incident, but the guys haven't left my side for even a moment. Emmitt was taken into custody, but his dad is trying to work his magic and grease some palms to get him out. With the amount of evidence against him, though, I don't think it will happen anytime soon. To be honest, I just want it over and to forget everything.

Today is the day before Christmas, and all I want is to get back to work with the team. Since I left the hospital, the guys have had several games, and I had to watch with the wives. I don't mind watching or the wives, but I miss my guys and working with the team.

I'm jerked from my thoughts when my phone rings. I look down to find Max's face on the screen. When did I take a picture of my boss to put in my phone? Then, I remember that Taz had stolen my phone to take pictures of everyone so their face would pop up when they call.

"Hey, Boss," I say with a laugh. "What are you doing calling me the day before Christmas?"

"We've got a problem, Elizabeth," he says seriously. I start to worry, but I see a smirk pulling at his lips even though he tries to hide it.

My brows still knit in worry, and I sit up straighter. "What's wrong? Did one of the guys hurt themselves? I can head right over if you need."

He chuckles before saying, "Always ready to work. I hope you can keep up that same energy when you come back to work after New Years."

I let out a squeal and do a little happy dance in my seat. "Are you serious?"

"Danni has done a great job with your boys, but it seems they want their athletic therapist back." He huffs out a laugh. "They've come into my office enough times, pleading for me to bring you back. I told them you needed some time to recover and heal."

Oh my gosh! This is the best Christmas present ever! "Yes! Yes, I would love to come back."

"Good. I'm tired of having ten hockey players traipsing in and out of my office, constantly bothering me. I'll see you after New Years, Elizabeth."

"Thank you, Max!"

He hums before saying, "I should be thanking you. I've never seen my boys as loyal to anyone as they are to you. You should count yourself lucky."

My cheeks hurt from grinning so wide. "I'm the lucky one, boss."

"I'll see you then, Liz," he replies before hanging up.

I jump from the couch with a squeal of happiness and do a dance in the middle of the common house's living room. The guys have practically refused to let me out of their sight or move too far away. And it's not even Mac and Dean who are the overbearing ones.

Doors slam in the hallway, and I look over my shoulder to find six guys standing in the hall staring at me, eyes wide.

"What the fuck was that about?" Taz waves a frantic hand in the air, gesturing wildly.

Vicy presses a hand to his heart. "You cannot scream like that."

"What had you screaming like that, Roe Roe?" Tuck asks.

I lift my phone in the air with a wide smile. "Max called and said he wants me to come back to work after New Years!"

The guys cheer as Dean and Mac come up to me with a smile. Both squishing me in a group hug. Mac chuckles and whispers, "I'm glad you're coming back."

Dean hums. "We've missed you."

"I have a question for you guys," I whisper back.

"What's that?" Mac mumbles into my ear.

"Do you want to come to Christmas with me tomorrow? As my boyfriends." My cheeks burn with the question.

"We went with you for Thanksgiving as your boyfriends," Dean says with an edge of mischief.

"As in my official boyfriends. I would tell my parents."

Mac kisses my cheek and pulls away with a smile. "I would love that, Chérie ."

"Official boyfriends, eh?" Dean teases with a grin.

I swat his chest as I huff, "Are you coming with me or not?"

He presses a soft kiss to my lips and says, "There's no place I would rather be, Ice Princess."

Christmas Day

My hands are beyond sweaty as we make our way up the drive to the front door. Why am I so nervous? Oh yeah... I'm about to introduce the two men with me as my boyfriends. I really hope my dad takes this better than my imagination keeps coming up with.

Fingers glide between mine before giving my hand a sure squeeze. I look over to find Mac smiling down at me. "Everything will be fine, Lizzy."

I bite my lip before confessing, "I'm starting to dislike you using my name. Which is not saying to not use it, but..."

Another hand tangles with my free hand as Dean says, "You like our nicknames for you, Ice Princess?"

I sigh as we reach the front door. "It seems I've grown attached to them."

Mac kisses the side of my head as he whispers, "Take a deep breath, Chérie . Everything will be okay."

I do as he says, and he knocks on the door, still keeping his grip on my sweaty hands. Good lord, why the hell is he holding my sweaty-ass hands? Before I can panic over my sweaty palms, the door opens to reveal my mom.

I give her a smile before saying, "Hi, Mama. I hope you don't mind I brought Mac and Dean with me again?"

She takes us in before looking down at our joined hands. A knowing smile graces her lips before she meets my eyes. "I don't mind, Iz. I had a feeling they would join you." She lifts a hand, and a frosting covered spatula suddenly appears, in which she proceeds to use to boop both Mac and Dean on the nose. "Hope you boys are treating my daughter right."

Mac is the first to recover as he lifts a hand to remove the dollop of frosting on the tip of his nose. "Of course, Mrs. Monroe."

She boops him again and chastises, "It's Kate to the men who are my daughter's boyfriends."

He doesn't clean his nose this time as he nods. "Yes, ma'am."

Dean is frozen still, gaping with wide eyes. To which my mother chuckles. "You alright there boy?"

He shakes off his thoughts before nodding. "Yes, ma'am."

My mother sighs. "We will work on this ma'am thing." She gestures over her shoulder with the spatula. "Your father is in the living room watching hockey replays from the last few weeks."

I release my grip on the guys as I push them into the house. They look at me with raised brows, and I grin. "Go keep my dad company. I'll help my mom with the food."

A look passes between them before they turn back to me. They each lean forward, kissing opposite cheeks before pulling away. Mac smiles softly. "If you need anything just yell."

Dean smirks before following Mac into the living room. "Don't push yourself, Ice Princess," he yells over his shoulder.

"Don't tell me what to do, Ghost." I grunt. A deep laugh echoes after him as I follow my mother into the kitchen.

The moment we are hidden in the kitchen, my mom drops the spatula on the counter. She turns to me suddenly and wraps me in her arms. It takes me a moment to realize what's happening before I wrap my arms around her in return.

"What's this for?" I ask in a hushed voice.

She pulls away from me with tears in her eyes. "I knew the moment I saw you with them on Thanksgiving that they were meant for you. I could see it in the way they looked at you and the way you looked at them in return." She pulls away, cupping my cheeks as she continues, "I was so afraid after what happened with Emmitt when you were younger and what happened a few weeks ago that you would strengthen the walls around your heart."

My eyes widen at her words. "Mom?"

"I'm so happy for you, baby." She presses a kiss to my forehead before backing away.

I'm still reeling from my mom's confession before I'm jerked out my thoughts. An apron is thrown over my head, covering my face, and I can't help but laugh. "What was that for?"

She gestures to my face as she grins. "You had this shocked, then dreamy look on your face. Either help me or get out of my kitchen and go to your boys."

I bump her hip with mine and chuckle. "I'll stick with you."

Hours of laughing and eating passed joyfully. There was a minor bump at dinner when my dad found out the two guys he'd been bonding over hockey with are my boyfriends. He opened his mouth like he was going to say a few words, but with one look from my mom, he'd shut his mouth and gave me a tight smile.

"Alright, are there any more presents?" My mother announces. It doesn't sound like a question but rather a prompt. All presents have all been opened, so I'm not sure why she's asking.

As if that's the magic word, my boys get up and pull two boxes from behind their backs.

Mac smiles down at the small box in his hands. "This one is from the team, well your team."

I reach out hesitantly. "This is from all the guys?"

He nods as he hands it to me. "It took forever for them to agree on something to get you."

"I should probably warn you that there is also a box set of a certain anime show that I'm not allowed to reveal from Vicy," Dean adds.

I snort as I open the small box. Inside is a shimmering silver necklace with a figure skate charm and a blue diamond set in the middle. "Oh... my..." I glance up at the guys before looking back down at the beautiful piece of jewelry. "This is beautiful guys."

"Would you like me to put it on you?" Mac asks.

I nod enthusiastically. The moment it's around my neck I reach for my phone. I quickly send a ‘thank you' text in the group chat before shifting my attention to Dean. He's smiling, but it looks a bit nervous as he hands it over. "I hope we didn't go over the top with this gift, but I hope you like it."

I quickly open the box and gasp. My eyes meet a pair of custom, baby-blue ice skates. I slowly take one out for a closer look. My eyes catch on the blades, and I bite my lip when I see ‘Ice Princess' etched into it. I gently lay the skate down and take out the other one. It's getting harder to hold back the barrage of emotions as I see ‘ Chérie ' etched into it.

The guys are watching me nervously when I look up. Mac gives me a hesitant smile. "Did we do okay?"

I set the other skate down and launch myself at them. I wrap my arms around both as I choke out, "That's the best gift anyone has ever given me." This will go down as the best Christmas a girl could wish for.