Chapter 26

Ben had an awaygame over New Year's Eve, and instead of sitting at home alone, I took a quick trip home to see my family.

"You've been gone too long," Mom says, pulling me into her arms the second I open the door of Dad and Pops' house, squeezing me with the tightest grip that it almost hurts.

"At least let the boy take his coat off before you suffocate him to death," MoMo tells her, but Mom doesn't let go.

"He can take his coat off after I've got my hug in," Mom retorts. Once she's had her fill, she steps back and puts her hands on my shoulders. "You look good. Happier than when you left. I take it your boyfriend has something to do with that?"

I smile at her and nod. "He's the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Mom fakes a gasp. "What about us?"

"Beside my family, of course," I assure her.

"Okay, move out of the way. It's my turn," MoMo tells Mom who rolls her eyes but steps aside all the same.

"I can't wait to meet the guy who has you smiling like that," MoMo says, hugging me fiercely.

"I'm hoping soon, but unfortunately, he had a hockey game this weekend."

"Our turn," Dad says with Pops standing beside him.

I hug them, take off my coat, and head into the living room where Katy is.

"How come you didn't greet me at the door like the rest?" I ask.

"And give you a bigger complex? As if," she replies, standing to give me a big hug. "But I have missed you. I hate that you had to move for the job of your dreams and meet an amazing guy."

"I'm sorry," I reply, and she waves me off.

"No, you aren't," she counters.

I shrug. "I'm not. But it's not like I live that far away. We'll still be able to see each other."

She sighs. "You're right, but that won't stop it from being hard occasionally. I've spent the last twenty-eight years seeing you all the time. It's going to take some time to adjust to the change."

I nod because she isn't wrong. There's a strong possibility it would have been harder on me had I not started hooking up with Ben so early in the semester.

"Maybe I should come down there for a hockey game and see how talented your man is," she suggests, and I beam at her.

"I'd love that. I'll text you his schedule, and then you just let me know what day works for you. I still have that spare bedroom you're more than welcome to stay in."

"That sounds awesome. I'll make sure to bring earplugs. The last thing I need is to listen to you and your boyfriend boning," she jokes.

"Probably not a bad idea. Ben isn't a quiet guy."

She scrunches her nose and shivers. "Too much information," she grumbles.

The parents join us with a crap ton of food, which explains why they disappeared. We spend the evening laughing, catching up, and just spending time together. I wasn't aware of how much I missed my family until now. Hopefully, the next time I visit, I'll be able to bring Ben. I'm certain my entire family will love him, and I'm pretty sure he'll love them just as much.

It's beena little less than two weeks since I saw Katy, and I'm beyond excited that she's coming to a hockey game. A bunch of Ben's friends are also sitting with us. I met Rio and Bronny a while ago since they're my boy's roommates, but Monster and Sasha are new to me. I'll admit, it's a little weird to be spending time with a guy who was my student last semester, but I'm sure the feeling will pass eventually.

"Holy shit, they're good," Katy says with a giant smile as the Koalas score a goal, and I nod.

"The first game I attended, the Koalas shut out the other team, and it was amazing," I tell her.

"It's because Ben is the best goalie ever," Rio states.

"He's fantastic," Katy agrees.

The puck flies across the ice in the grasp of the opposing team.

"Come on, Koalas!" Ben's friends shout as the opposing team approaches the Koala's net.

"You've got this, Ben," I say, even though it's impossible for him to hear my words of encouragement.

The other members of the Koalas are also in front of the net, trying to regain control of the puck but not succeeding for long. Both teams are fighting hard, but neither is gaining full control.

I'm not sure how long passes until it appears like one of our Koalas is about to make a break for it, but an opposing team member bulldozes into him, sending them both into the net with Ben, who falls, getting tangled up in the net.

Katy gasps and covers her mouth. "Holy shit."

"It's okay," Rio assures her. "Hard hits happen in hockey all the time. I bet everyone's going to be fine."

I've seen lots of hard hits since attending all the local hockey games, but none involving Ben, and it makes my stomach turn.

Other players of the Koalas start fighting with the members of the other team, probably pissed that their goalie was taken down like that. Even the two players who crashed into Ben are taking blows at each other now that they're up. People are screaming, and I'm not sure if I am the only one who notices Ben isn't getting up.

My heart is pounding the hardest it ever has. I can practically hear it.

Come on, Ben. Get up.

Eventually, the referees break up the fight, and people finally clue in that Ben is still lying in the net, barely moving.A medic comes out a moment later, and the arena quiets almost instantly as they assess him.

Everyone must sense that this isn't good.

"You said everyone was going to be okay," Katy yells at Rio as they help Ben off the ice on a stretcher.

I put my hand on my sister's shoulder to calm her down. "It's not his fault, Katy," I remind her, and she nods with a pout. I love that she hasn't even officially met Ben yet and is already protective over him. "I need to get down there and figure out what's happening. Can you catch a ride with Rio?" I ask her, then turn to Rio to confirm it's good with him as well.

"I've got her," he assures me. "You go be with your man."

I nod and rush out of the stands toward the area for players only. Of course, I'm stopped by a member of the Koalas team, but thankfully, they let me pass when I show them my GSU credentials.

"Ian," Calvin shouts, and I race over. Thank God he got the job on the coaching team so I know at least one person in this area.

"Where is Ben? What the hell happened out there?" I ask once I'm close.

"He's being rushed to the hospital. When the players hit him, he twisted his knee and couldn't put any weight on it. They need to do X-rays and other tests to figure out how severe the injury is. Obviously, it's nothing life-threatening, but depending on how bad things are, he might not be able to play for the rest of the season."

I suck in a breath, and he nods. This has the potential to really mess with Ben's head. Hockey means everything to him, and if he has to sit out for the rest of the season, he'll hate every second of it. If the team loses their winning streak with him out, he's going to blame himself.

"Okay, I'm going to go be with him," I state.

"I'll be there once the game is over," he assures me, and I dip my chin, rushing out of the arena.

It almost feels surreal that this is happening right now, but I don't have time to panic. Ben isn't going to die, and my sweet boy needs me to be his strength right now. I can be that for him.

It's what daddies are for.