Page 71 of Center Ice
“I think she wants to feel desired,” I clarify.
“Are you making her feel that way?” Colt all but growls.
“I know she’s like a little sister to you, so I’m just going to leave it at: I’m giving her what she needs in that department.”
His jaw ticks as he grinds his teeth together, but he looks away.
“Okay, so the sexual part of the relationship is taken care of,” Walsh says. “So how are you showing up for her in other ways?How are you showing her that you’re dependable—the kind of guy she can build a life with?”
I tell them about volunteering with Graham’s team and taking them out for cookies afterward, coming over when she didn’t feel good, and taking her to the pharmacy when she was sick.
“Oh good.” Walsh rolls his eyes when I’m done. “So you’ve done, like, three nice things for her, when it’s convenient for you, in at least as many weeks? Stellar start, dude.”
“I’ve also been on the road and sick myself in that time.” I don’t mention my mom and the time I’m spending with her because then I’d have to explain that situation, and I don’t want to derail the conversation. I think Walsh can legitimately offer me some good advice when it comes to Audrey.
“When you’re married, you don’t just get to show up when you feel like it. You’re there together every day. And if it’s a good relationship”—Walsh looks at Zach—“no one feels smothered.”
“Could have fooled me,” he mutters as he spins his Rebels cap backward, using both hands to position the bill behind his head.
“Sounds like there’s a story there,” Colt says.
“We’re here to dissect Drew’s love life, not mine,” Zach grumbles. I sense that, unlike Colt, he’s the type of person who likes to keep the details of his private life private.
“Okay, if you yahoos are done talking about how tonothave a relationship, maybe we can talk about how to build a good relationship here?”
Everyone stares back at him.
“So,” Walsh continues, “I think half the issue is that you’re too used to pulling women based on your good looks and the fact that you’re a hockey player. You don’t know what it means to actuallyworkfor a woman’s attention.”
I look at Walsh, who is not even close to the best-looking guy on the team, but has an insanely hot wife who seems incredibly happy, and beautiful children.
“You need to show her that you’ll be there for her, no matter what,” he continues. “And, if you ask me, the secret to a solid relationship is that you need to complement each other. Whatever she’s lacking or whatever her weaknesses, you gotta make up for those. And same for her. You gotta balance each other out.”
I consider what he’s saying, trying to imagine how I could be that person for Audrey. I think about how hard she’s worked to get where she is, what a wonderful mom she is to Graham, how close she is to her siblings.
“What if she doesn’t have weaknesses?” I ask.
“We all have weaknesses,” Zach says. “And if she isn’t showing you hers, she doesn’t trust you.”
“I think we already established that,” I mutter, as the rest of my teammates say, “Damnnnnn.”
“So there’s your answer, then.” Walsh looks at me like it’s so obvious.
“What’s my answer?”
“Show up for her. Give her reasons to trust you, to reveal her weaknesses so you can make up for them. Be the one to show her what unconditional love looks like.”
Chapter Thirty-One
AUDREY
The way Drew practically swaggers off the ice at the end of Graham’s hockey practice has me clenching my thighs together.
For the last hour and a half, I’ve sat in these stands, trying not to marvel at how a two-hundred-pound man who’s over six feet tall can look so fucking graceful on thin blades gliding across the ice. He shouldn’t be able to move like that—to pivot all that weight and speed so quickly, to stretch and bend like his body is elastic, or handle a tiny puck with enough finesse that he can slap it into whatever corner of the goal he claims he’s sending it to.
I’ve always enjoyed hockey, but watching Drew play is something else. And watching him share his love of the sport as he shows our kid how to play is a next-level turn-on.
Drew’s hand is on Graham’s shoulder as they step off the ice, then Graham looks up at Drew and says something. Drew nods, then peels off toward his bag. Jameson follows him, and the two chat as they take off their skates. I’m trying to judge if the conversation is more friendly than the last time I saw them together, but my attention is drawn back to Graham as he rushes up to me.
