Chapter 63: Bryn

It’s one in the morning by the time we make it back to the apartment. We’re all dragging our feet to the front door but stop short when we see Maddox’s coach waiting for us. He must have heard us because he turns toward us and starts storming our way.

“What the hell have you been telling people, boy?” He yells at Maddox.

“Coach I- “

“I don’t want to hear your excuses! You’ve embarrassed your team and me with the stunt you pulled today! Do you know how much talk went because of you?” His face is turning red the longer he yells at Maddox and I can’t stand it.

I move in front of Maddox and hold my hand up. The coach stops his rant and looks at me with confusion.

“I think you’ve said enough.” I say firmly. “You’ve not only embarrassed yourself by this display, but you have shown how unprofessional you are as an example for your team. No wonder only one of your players has ever been chosen to move on to the NHL. You don’t have a leg to stand on here, so tuck your tail between your legs and go home.”

The man is looking at me like he’s never seen a woman who speaks her mind before. It doesn’t last long though, and soon his face is turning that ugly red again.

“How dare you speak to me like that, young lady! Do you know what I could do- “

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence.” Sawyer says before he moves to stand next to me. “That’s my wife, and I don’t want to hear a disrespectful word from you about her. Do you hear me?”

The coach scoffs. “You don’t scare me, boy.” He moves to get into Sawyer’s face, but I step between them.

“Don’t make this worse, coach. Leave or I’ll be in my rights to force you to.” I warn him.

He laughs and shakes his head before zeroing on Maddox again. “You’re done. I want you off my team and if I see you on the ice again…you’ll be sorry.”

“Is that a threat, coach?” Sawyer asks but the coach scoffs again and gives Sawyer a look like he can’t be bothered with him anymore and storms off.

“That guy is a serious jerk.” I say and Maddox bursts out a laugh.

“Jerk? That’s the worst you could call him?” He asks.

His face is lit up with so much amusement that I can’t help but smile at him.

“Yeah, B doesn’t us fowl language.” Sawyer says. “She’s a too good for that.”

I whirl around and scowl at him. “There is no need for it when other words work perfectly fine, and you do well to remember that you won’t be using in front of this kid.”

I point at my stomach before letting out a huff and walking toward the front door. Sawyer says something to Maddox that makes him laugh, but I’m hungry, annoyed, tired, and that coach just ticked me all the way off. I need ice cream and I need it now. I unlock the door and walk into the apartment on a mission without waiting for the guys.

This is not how I expected today to go and I didn’t prepare for the disaster that it became. Lately I’ve been bringing snacks with me so that I don’t get hungry, and since I can’t eat just anything I have to make sure I do this every time I leave the house. The problem is, I ate that snack half way into the game tonight, not knowing I would be stuck at the hospital way past dinner. So now I’ve turned into an evil, hungry witch instead of a princess in rags.

That’s not a great comparison, but like I said…I’m not happy right now. I’m rummaging through the fridge when I hear the front door close and I don’t bother closing the door before I grab a spoon from the drawer next to the fridge and dig into my ice cream. Sawyer walks by me and closes the door as I move over to sit at the kitchen island. My first big scoop of ice cream has me moaning with happiness that quickly works its way through my body, causing me to do a little happy dance as well.

I quickly lift another big spoonful to my mouth and swallow it down, already feeling my mood getting better. It also has me really thirsty, so I grab the cup of water that has appeared in front of me like I thought it into existence.

“You want a beer, man?” I hear Sawyer ask Maddox and I finally lift my eyes to look at them.

Maddox is looking between me sitting at the island and Sawyer moving around the kitchen like he’s watching a show.

“What?” I ask him, feeling a little annoyed again.

What’s his problem?

“Nothing. It’s just funny watching you two. Sawyer closing the fridge door for you and getting you a cup of water exactly when you need it. Is this a normal routine for you guys?” He asks with a smile.

I look at Sawyer and see him smile behind the neck of his beer.

I’m pretty sure we don’t do this exact thing every night to the point of it seeming planned.

“She has her little quirks that I’ve picked up on.” Sawyer says with a shrug, like him saying he knows all sorts of little things about me isn’t the sweetest thing ever.

My eyes start to burn and I have to look down at my ice cream and stuff a bit in my mouth, so I don’t cry. I thought I was the only one who noticed all of Sawyer’s little things, but he knows mine, too. It’s weird when you have loved someone for so long thinking they don’t pay much attention to you and then it turns out you were wrong and they actually know you really well.

“Cute.” Maddox says and walks out of the kitchen and sits on the stool next to me. “Thanks for letting me crash here tonight.”

“Of course, man. Someone has to watch you so you don’t kick the bucket while you’re asleep.”

“Sawyer!” I yell and throw him a look fit for a very disappointed mother.

I’m getting good at those kinds of things. Motherly things I mean, and I’m not sure how I feel about it, to be honest.

“What? It’s true.” Sawyer shrugs and takes another swig of his beer.

I shake my head at him and turn in my chair to face Maddox. “How are you feeling? Do you want something for the pain?”

The nurse said we could offer him Tylenol if his head hurts too badly, and by the way his forehead is scrunched I think he’ll need it.

“Hang on.” I have to rest my hand on his leg to climb down for the chair, and he wraps his arm around my waist to steady me as well. “Sorry. I’ve been getting more off balance lately.”

True, but also being close to him is a little disorienting. He’s crazy handsome, sweet and big enough to be the best cuddling buddy ever. Would it be too weird for me to wrap myself around him like a baby koala? That’s how cozy he looks right now.

I have to push those thoughts aside for the moment so I can dig through my bathroom for some pain meds. I’m deep into my stash of random items in the bottom draw next to the sink when someone comes up behind me and rests their hands on my hips. I yelp and jump, nearly hitting my head on the counter. Thankfully, the culprit has the foresight to put their hand there just in case.

“Don’t do that!” I snap at Sawyer when I see it’s him.

I mean, who else would it be? Duh…*awkward laugh*

“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours, Little Bee.” Sawyer asks, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind and resting his hands on my belly.

We’re facing the mirror now, and I smile at our reflection. This is the sort of pose people do when they take maternity photos and I see why now. It’s pretty darn cute.

“Nothing.” I tell him.

“Don’t lie to me, B. I know you too well for that.” He reminds me.

I don’t want to tell him about the weird urge I’m having to cuddle Maddox, but I’m in a weird mood right now and I need it.

“Would it be weird if we had Maddox sleep in our bed tonight?” I blurt out.

Sawyer lifts his head and looks at me through the mirror. “What? You want all three of us to sleep in that bed? He’s a beast.”

He’s right. “Yeah, it’s too small. Nevermind.”

He tightens his hold on me when I try to walk out and rests his hold on my shoulder.

“We’ll make it work. If you want him there, then we can find a way.” He says before he leaves a kiss on my cheek and walks out.

My smile is so wide that it almost hurts. Score!