Pucking Strong: An MM Workplace Hockey Romance (Jacksonville Rays Book 4)

It’s been a whirlwind three days. Karolina was discharged from the hospital, and we finalized our travel back to the States. I also had to arrange the packing and storage of Petra’s apartment. Teddy helped me collect items for Karro, including some toys and clothes. Everything else that wasn’t perishables went into boxes. When the season ends, I’ll go through it all properly. For now, it’s just too painful. And we’re out of time.

Karro is sad to be leaving Sweden, but she perked up when Teddy told her I live less than three hours away from Disney World. She sits with him now on the private jet’s long sofa, her casted leg stretched out. She slept for most of the flight. They’ve been watching movies together for the last two hours. Teddy laughs when she confuses the words in the songs, singing in a silly mix of English and Swedish.

Before we began our descent into Jacksonville, he had the flight attendant make us all smoothies with a mix of fruit and veggies. I think he had her add a shot of vodka to mine. I don’t mind. In fact, I think it’s relaxing me. I take another sip.

The wheels rattle down in a rough landing, and the pilot announces our arrival. Tension builds in my chest as I peer out the window. Over at the private hangar, a small crowd waits for us. I curse under my breath. “What are all those people doing here?”noveldrama

Teddy peers out the window and smiles. “Looks like we’ve got a welcoming committee.”

“A what?” I look closer, and some of my tension eases. My mind immediately went to this being some kind of media scrum. We get those on game days, especially during the playoffs. I wasn’t about to bring Karolina down in a wheelchair to the flash of a bunch of sports reporters’ cameras.

But the people aren’t reporters; it’s my team. I see the Prices standing on the end, all four of them with their children. Mars holds the little blond child on his hip. Caleb squats next to them, helping their older boy hold up a sign that says “Welcome Home, Karolina” in bright colors. Langley is here too with his wife and daughter. Poppy St. James waits front and center. Like Rachel, she’s pregnant. She and her daughter hold hands, waving at us.

“Look, honey.” Teddy points out the window, helping Karolina sit up. We have to be careful with her cracked ribs. None of them are misplaced, but she’s still not meant to do any twisting or bending for a few more weeks. “See all the signs they made for you? Look at all that glitter. It’s like a parade for a princess, right?”

She smiles even as I sense her flash of nerves. Teddy talks quietly, pointing to the kids in the crowd, telling her their names. His words from the other day still sting. He told me I don’t know any of my teammates, and he was right. I play with these men day in and day out. I attend their weddings and their baby showers. But the details of their lives feel so far away. It’s not my life, not my routine, so I don’t really pay attention.

In contrast, Teddy pays attention to everyone and everything. He was only an intern for the Rays, and that was six years ago. I couldn’t tell you who was on the team six years ago. I bet he can. He knows their families too. He watches. He listens. He’s instinctively attentive to those around him at all times.

Feeling my gaze, he glances across the aisle. “What’s wrong?

“Nothing.”

“I bet you’re ready to get back on the ice, huh? Back to the routine?”

I nod. My whole life is run by my sport. My diet and exercise, my sleep and travel schedules, my holidays. I operate with the consistency of a well-crafted watch. Or I did. Now, I look across the aisle of this private jet, and I see two lives suddenly tied to mine. Two people. Two personalities with different wants and needs, different pulls on my attention. In the span of two short weeks, I went from being alone, a perfectly coordinated timepiece, to being … what am I now? A father? A guardian? Christ help me, a husband?

No, we’re not using that word.

Partner. Teddy O’Connor is my legal partner … at least until I can find a way to free him. Then I’ll pursue finalizing Karolina’s adoption on my own. Once the welfare court sees how happy she is with me, surely they must grant me full permanent custody.

But that’s a problem for another day. Any moment now, the plane’s side door will open, and I’ll walk down the airstairs with the man I just legally married. Teddy O’Connor is my partner, which makes me gay. It’s a lie, of course. When it comes to sexual attraction, I don’t think I’m … well, anything, really. Is that even possible? To be attracted to no one? I’ve always just assumed there’s something broken in me, some software update that never got properly installed.

“The stairs have a hydraulic lift,” says Teddy, distracting me from my thoughts. “And Rachel arranged a medical transport to get her home. She’ll be more comfortable than trying to get her into your sports car.”

Shit. Why didn’t I think of that? I drive a blue Porsche 718 Cayman. Ostentatious, I know. It was the one indulgence I allowed myself when I signed my first Rays contract. But it only has two doors. There’s no way to get Karolina in and out safely. I suppose I need a more versatile vehicle now. I’ll have my agent trade in the Porsche as soon as possible.

The flight attendant helps us get Karro’s wheelchair ready at the top of the lift. Teddy makes the transfer, helping her get situated with her casted leg propped up. She holds tight to Teddy the Bear, looking so nervous as she tries to find a smile. I brush my hand over her hair. “Hey,” I murmur in Swedish. “You know, you make me very happy.”

She nods, giving her bear a tighter squeeze.

“I’m glad you’re here with me, mitt lilla lamm. This is a new adventure for us both. Hold my hand?” I hold out my hand, and she takes it. I give hers a squeeze. “Don’t let go.” I nod at Teddy, and he smiles.

“Alright, Princess. Time to go greet your new loyal subjects. You ready with a royal wave? Hen, you gotta wave too.”

“Why do I have to wave?”

“Because you’re Princess Karolina’s court jester.” This makes Karro giggle.

“And what does that make you?”

“I’m her official food taster and popcorn maker,” Teddy teases.

Below us, the crowd of Rays all smile and wave, calling out in greeting.

“Welcome home, Karlsson!”

“Hey, Karolina!”

“Välkommen hem,” Lindberg shouts.

The flight attendant operates the lift, and we slowly begin our descent.

Teddy does a silly gesture with his hand that makes Karro laugh again. They’re both all smiles, treating the lift like a rollercoaster as we glide slowly downward. I can’t help but smile too. Shaking my head, I wave. A few people in the crowd laugh.

We get down to the bottom, and another attendant is ready to help us off the lift. Poppy’s daughter rushes forward, her blonde ringlets bouncing as she holds out a sparkly pink crown. “This is for you, Lina.”

“Oh, wow.” Teddy drops to one knee. “So pretty. Want me to help you put it on, honey?” Karolina nods and he takes the crown from her, fixing it to the top of her head. “This is Grace,” he adds, ruffling the little girl’s curls. “And see her mommy right there? That’s Miss Poppy. Doesn’t she look just like a pretty Barbie?”

Poppy St. James looks as glamorous as ever in a bright purple dress and lilac high heels. With her curled blonde hair and bright pink lips, she really does look like a Barbie. “Oh, aren’t you just a doll baby?” she coos, bending down with a smile. “I heard your favorite color is purple. Do you like my dress?” She does a little sway as Karolina smiles and nods, eyes wide.

Feeling protective, I give Karro’s hand a squeeze. “She’s a little shy.”

Poppy laughs. “Well, my Grace’ll fix that. Won’t you, baby cakes?”

Langley’s daughter isn’t shy either. She charges forward with another gift, talking in fast English. I’m sure Karro can’t fully understand. I would know Langley’s girl anywhere by her bright red hair. Her mother’s hair is just the same. Tess stands a few feet away, laughing and hugging Teddy.

As the little girls entertain Karro, the adults press forward. My teammates all welcome me home. Many of them shake my hand, offering their condolences. It doesn’t escape my notice how warm everyone is with Teddy. He gets hugs, while I only get handshakes. And it’s not just the players who welcome him. He knows their partners too. I hear him exclaim about how much some of the kids have grown since he last saw them, and I feel all over again the sting of his admonishment. I don’t know these men, and they don’t know me. They don’t even know what to say to me other than “welcome back” and “sorry for your loss.”

While I stand guard like a stone sentinel, gripping the back of Karolina’s chair, Teddy is surrounded, playfully shoving Novy’s arm off his shoulder and saying something that makes my teammates howl with laughter. How does he make it look so easy, so effortless?

While her men are busy laughing and teasing Teddy, Poppy steps in at my left.

“I’m sorry.” The words blurt from my mouth. “I know this was reckless. I know I’ve made work for you.”

She shakes her head. “Henrik, honey—”

“I had no other options.” Lowering my voice, I turn slightly away from Karro. “They were pushing me to put her into the foster care system.”

“I know.” She pats my arm. “Honey, I’m not mad. You did what you had to do. Now we spin it in the most positive way we can. But all that can wait a day or two, okay? I just wanted to wish you a welcome home. You need anything, day or night, the team is here for you, Henrik.”

“Thank you, Poppy.”

She smiles. “Well, I think we’ve bothered these fine airport people long enough, don’t you? Let’s get you two home.”

“Three,” I correct.

Behind her oversized sunglasses, I can see the raise of her brows. “Three?”

“Teddy is coming home with me. He’ll be living with us for now, until we figure out a plan of what to do.”

She pats my arm again. “Well, that knocks the first thing off my to-do list for our PR crisis meeting. Which is scheduled for Monday morning, by the way. I’ll expect you and your new husband in my office at nine o’clock. Don’t be late.” With that, she walks off to thank the ground crew.

By the time we get Karolina loaded into the medical transport, she’s been showered with more gifts. She now has a sparkly necklace to match the tiara, a row of colorful beaded bracelets up her cast, a pink Minnie Mouse purse, and her first official Pelly the Pelican stuffed animal, the popular Rays mascot.

Rachel Price steps in behind me as I’m handing Teddy the bags. “Hey, if you give Ilmari your keys, he’ll get your car back to the apartment so you can ride in the transport with Karolina.”

I glance over my shoulder to see Ilmari Price towering behind his wife. Making eye contact, we both nod. He retired from the League a few years ago. He was one of the few men on the team who ever understood me. I think it must come from us both being Northern European. He never minded my silences. And he speaks excellent Swedish. It was such a relief to know there was always someone I could speak to without constantly doing the labor of active translation in my head.

“I don’t want to inconvenience you,” I say to him in Swedish.

“It’s no inconvenience,” he replies in English, surely for his wife’s benefit. I’ve been doing the same thing with Teddy.

Rachel smiles, one hand on her pregnant belly. “He really doesn’t mind. We’re all headed that way anyway. Let us save you the trip back.”

I glance between them. “You’re headed which way?”

“To your apartment.” At the look on my face, her smile falls. “Wait … did Tess not clear it with you first?”

Tension coils in my chest. “Clear what with me?”

Heaving a sigh, she calls out. “Tess!”

Langley’s wife saunters over. “Hey, what’s up?”

Rachel levels her with a stare. “Tess, why do I get the feeling that Karlsson here has no idea there’s a potluck dinner happening at his house tonight?”

Tess schools her expression. “What, did Teddy not clear it with you?”

Teddy turns. “Did Teddy what? I just heard my name.”

Rachel turns to him. “Teddy, did you not tell Karlsson about the plans for the potluck dinner?”

Catching my glare, Teddy’s smile drops. “I—you said you cleared it with him,” he cries, pointing a finger at Tess. “Henrik, I swear to god, it was all her idea. I said you’d just want a quiet night in, but she insisted. They all did.”

“All?” I glance between them. “Exactly who is coming to my apartment tonight?”

There’s a positive twinkle in Tess’s eyes as she smiles. But it’s Ilmari who answers my question in Swedish. “Everyone.”

Everyone

Fuck.