13. Sage

CHAPTER 13

SAGE

The night is cool and crisp and the last rays of sunset are fading beneath the purple sky stretching over Saint Paul. Shivering in my jacket, I hurry along the crowded street, keeping pace with Rhys.

We round the block's corner, and the street where the Slash house stands comes into view.

Rhys slips his hand in mine. "We weren't supposed to bring anything, were we?"

I lift his arm and duck under it, settling him around my shoulders, and snuggle into his warmth. "Nope, just ourselves. I told them dinner's on us next time."

We pass houses decorated with jack-o'-lanterns, skeletons, witches, and autumn leaves. The scent of smoke curling from a neighbor's fireplace wafts in the air.

Family dinners with the guys haven't been easy to schedule with training camps and pre-season games for two separate teams, but our schedules lined up tonight, and I can't wait to see everyone.

After spending most of the summer with Rhys at his lake house, we came back to the Twin Cities for hockey season and have split our time between Rhys's apartment and mine. Although I signed with the Metros over the summer, a one-way contract, no more playing for the Slash, I'm not ready to leave the little family I made here, or my quirky apartment in the big Victorian house.

Remy and Morgan signed one-way contracts with the Metros too, and they've also stayed at the house.

Gio, Phil, and Soren are still with the Slash, though Phil and Gio are talking about retiring after this season.

"Maxim, Jonas, and Quinn will probably want to get in on that." Rhys tucks the bag from the record store inside his jacket pocket. "Since they're so used to eating with us at my place."

"They're welcome to come to the house anytime. I consider them part of the family now." The trio are joining us tonight, and the plan is for the ten of us to carve pumpkins after dinner and watch a Halloween movie.

It's our last free weekend before the season begins. I intend to spend most of it with Rhys, wearing sweats, eating breakfast foods for all meals, playing guitar, listening to albums, and watching scary movies.

Rhys taps the wing of a sparkly purple bat hanging from our neighbor's tree. "Who's cooking tonight?"

"Remy." I hop over one of the large pumpkins flanking their driveway. "And according to the text I received, Jonas got there early, so he helped."

"Uh oh, we definitely should've had more than just coffee at the record store." He swoops down and kisses me. "I'm still having nightmares about the campfire chili they made at the lake house."

We reach the house and hurry up the walkway. Jonas, Maxim, and Quinn's cars are parked along the curb in front of the house, and a glance at the driveway shows my housemates are all here. The weeks the ten of us spent together at the lake house were some of the highlights of the summer. But Jonas and Remy's cooking adventures were a wild ride. "The addition of gummy worms really was interesting."

"They need to stop trying things they see in weird viral videos." He shudders and I laugh, slipping my keys from my pocket.

I open the door, poking my head in and calling out, "Hello."

"Kitchen," Phil calls back.

Footsteps sound in the hallway. I put our jackets in the closet and turn to find Jonas holding Benny.

The yellow bearded dragon looks happy in his arms.

"Hello, Benny." I gently rub his head. "Hey, Jonas."

His shirt is a brighter yellow than Benny, but the dragon still blends in. "Remy brought him down for inspiration. I'm attempting to carve Benny on my jack-o'-lantern."

Rhys clasps him on the shoulder. "Remy only has a million photos of the little guy on his phone. You needed a live model, too?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do." He lifts Benny so they're eye to eye. "Uncle Rhys just doesn't get it."

Rhys huffs a laugh. "Uncle Rhys had to chase him down when he ran out of the bathtub last week. The little guy moves faster than Sage skates, and that's saying something."

I press a kiss to his cheek. "You did a great job catching him. Moves that would make Soren and Pierre proud."

He slips his arms around me. "Thanks."

Jonas backs up. "When you're done being gooey, dinner is ready."

I'm not done being gooey, so I pull Rhys down for a longer kiss. We posted a photo of us together at the lake house as a way to announce our relationship, and I'm relieved I no longer have to be so careful over moments of affection. The team doesn't care. Coach is fine, and I think everyone sees that we play harder for each other.

Rhys traces his fingers along my cheek. "Love you."

"Love you too."

We walk together into the kitchen and the chaos of eight people dishing up food, passing around drinks, and Jonas and Remy taking a photo of Benny posing atop the pumpkins we'll be carving later.

I slip my fidget toy from the counter and into my pocket. The thing helped during my hand rehab and Rhys bought me a dozen more, so I have them in every space. My apartment and his, our travel bags, our cars, and some for my stalls at the arena and practice facility.

My Metros teammates have picked up on my Slash family's game of what's the worst that can happen ? Maxim added on a followup question of what's the best that can happen ?

It ends my spirals on an even better frame of mind.

I feel supported, all the time.

Soren joins us, sipping a green concoction rimmed with crushed green bits, decorated with a lemon slice and a cherry. "If you need more motivation this season, there's a reporter who's already put out predictions for who will win the Cup, for both our leagues. He marked us both down as unlikely."

"It's so early." I shake my head over the absurdity. "I could see that type of article coming out after the first half of the season, but not now ."

The Metros lost in the first round of the playoffs last season. Though I couldn't play, they let me sit in the suite at the arena with the healthy scratches for the home games. I know Rhys wants to win a Cup with his three best friends, and for his dad, and I hope we get another chance this season. Though from here, late April is very far away.

Soren takes another sip. "I may have told him that, but in much more colorful terms."

"Oh no." This is going to be like the thing with the bouncer from New Year's Eve all over again.

"It's okay. Jonas read it and said I was good." He grins at Jonas. "Then he commented, too. This man has a big following. We couldn't let his ignorance go unnoticed."

Jonas looks up from washing his hands. "We maybe made it worse."

Morgan slides a pan to the center of the table. "They totally made it worse."

Rhys pinches the bridge of his nose. "You did this tonight?"

"While I helped Remy cook."

Quinn waves at us, holding up his phone. "Their responses are hilarious. You should see the guys from the leagues chiming in. I'm proud. I may even comment."

"I already did." Maxim toasts us with his glass, also that green concoction. "Team building exercise."

Gio hands us two glasses of the stuff. "Remy found another recipe."

Rhys and I look at each other and groan.

Remy wanders over with Benny perched on his shoulder. "This one is good. It's a green apple cocktail. With Jolly Ranchers."

Him and his candy addiction. I take a tentative sip. Sour apple with a kick. "It's not bad."

Rhys does the same. His eyes widen and he takes a longer taste. "This is much better than gummy worm chili."

Remy's eyes light up. "You guys are staying here this weekend, right? Wait until you see what I'm making tomorrow. But only if I can secure enough Red Hots."

Wary for my tastebuds, I lean into Rhys's chest. "Cinnamon should be okay… right? I think? Maybe?" Why do I sound so unsure?

His arms come around me. "I'm reserving judgment on that until I see whatever it is."

Cackling, Remy picks up Benny. "I need to get him upstairs. You both need to comment on that article. We're all doing it."

I turn so Rhys and I are chest to chest and link my arms around his neck. "I don't know what to write."

"You always come up with something nice. I like that about you."

"Maybe I'll just comment that his enthusiasm for the upcoming season is appreciated?"

Rhys hugs me closer. "That's a good one. Maybe I'll keep being gooey, as Jonas said, and write something about how, obviously, I want to win, but having you, and the friends who have become my family, is what really matters."

I raise onto my toes and pull him down so we're sharing breath. "That really is gooey. And I love it."

And when his mouth closes over mine, I love that even more.