Chapter 6: Road Game

The Frost flew to Chicago on a Thursday, and I flew with them as a line on the staff list.

The hotel put the players on the eighth floor and the staff on the ninth.

My room had a king bed and a window full of grey lake.

The bathroom had a glass shower big enough for a whole line change.

I stood in front of it with my keycard in my hand and thought about nothing.

At nine o'clock, my phone buzzed.

Axel: Left knee feels tight. Need you to look at it.

I stared down at it.

Then I typed: Room 912. Bring your own towel.

A minute later, he knocked.

I opened the door in a hotel robe.

He stood in the hall in grey sweatpants and a Frost t-shirt, with one towel folded over his arm and a very serious face.

"Is it the knee?" I said.

"It's definitely the knee."

"Come in, then."

I shut the door behind him.

He didn't even try to look at the bed.

He looked at the belt of my robe.

"I've got a rule for road trips," I said. "Everyone showers before I touch them."

"That's a good rule."

"Take your clothes off."

He had his shirt off before I'd finished the sentence.

The bathroom was bright white, with a rain head the size of a dinner plate.

He stood under it with his back to the tile while I turned on the water.

It came down hot.

I stepped in, still in my robe, and the cotton went dark and heavy against my skin.

He stared.

"You're going to ruin that," he said.

"I know."

I untied the belt and let it fall open.

The water ran down my bare skin, and his eyes followed every drop.

I pushed him around by the shoulders until he faced the wall.

"Hands on the tile," I said. "Over your head. Stay there."

"Yes, Coach."

I slapped his bare hip, once, not gently.

He laughed, and then he groaned, because I had just pressed my whole body against his back.

I slid my arms around his waist.

His skin was slick and hot.

I kissed the knot of his spine and the long scar below his shoulder blade.

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